PLACE AN ORDER

There are many documents discussed during the closing process. One of those documents is the deed.

A real estate deed is a document designed to transfer a property from one person, known as the Grantor, to another person, known as the Grantee.

Regardless of the type of deed, it must contain basic information to be considered valid, including a legal description of the property being transferred, the identity of the person selling the property, and the identity of the person buying the property.

Still, there are various types of deeds that you may see, and each one grants the new owner certain promises from the previous owner.

What Types of Deeds Are There?

There are several different types of deeds that can be used during the sale of a property, including the following:

WARRANTY DEED

A warranty deed is a transfer of title where the seller pledges to the buyer that the property is owned free and clear of all liens.

This deed is the most commonly used deed with the issuance of title insurance.

SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED

A special warranty deed is a deed to real estate where the seller of the property warrants only against anything that occurred during their physical ownership.

In other words, the seller does not guarantee against any defects in clear title that existed before they took possession of the property.

QUITCLAIM DEED

A quitclaim deed is used to transfer an interest in real property from the Grantor to the Grantee if the Grantor has any interest in the property.

The Grantor does not, however, give any guaranties or “warranties” about the title and may not even own any interest in the property. The name comes from the fact that the Grantor “Quits” any “Claim” to the property.

This deed is often used to clear up defects in title and for transfers between family members or spouses.

Remember, we are always available to answer questions about your client's file and have attorneys on staff to assist you in choosing the right deed for your client.

We've created a digital document with the deed descriptions to help your client better understand these terms during the closing process.

Did you know that you can NOW act as a witness on your client’s next RON eClosing? Even if you are in a different location...

You can be remote from your Client and still be able to attend the closing as the witness!

When the closing is being scheduled for your clients, you have the ability to request that your Closing Team add you as the Witness and provide the video link for the RON eClosing.

Requirements:

  1. They will need your name and email address.
  2. (You will then get an email the day of the closing inviting you to join the RON eClosing)

  3. You will need to use a Laptop or Computer for this process.
  4. (You can NOT use a phone or tablet)

Want more information on relator witnesses?

Be sure to ask your local Hillsborough Title office for more information, or for complete details on the benefits and processes of a RON eClosing, click HERE.

 
The purchase or sale of a home can be intimidating. As a buyer or seller, we want to make sure fully understand everything happening throughout the closing process.

We can help you get better acquainted with each step of the closing process to help avoid surprises along the way. View our quick breakdown of the steps to close below and let us know if you have any questions:

  1. Submit the Title Order
  2. Once a buyer's offer has been accepted and the sales contract has been fully executed, Real Estate Agent will submit that contract to the title insurance agent.

  3. Open Escrow & Conduct Inspections
  4. Once a buyer's contract is submitted, they'll receive information on sending their earnest money deposit to be held in escrow for the closing.  We have several options available for the delivery of the EMD.  Please note: Buyers and sellers should always call to verify any wire instructions with the title agency and/or closing agent.

    During this time, the inspections are being ordered and completed, be sure to stay on top of all deadlines and critical dates per the contract.

  5. Start Title Search & Examination
  6. The title insurance company will search and examine public records, which include deeds, mortgages, liens, wills, divorce settlements, and more.

    After the search is completed, an examination is carried out to determine legal ownership, debts owed, whether there are any liens in place, etc.

    Once both of these steps are completed, a title commitment is completed and sent out.

  7. Process the File, Conduct Appraisal & Confirm Loan Approval
  8. Once the title commitment is issued to all parties, the closing agent will gather critical information needed to prepare closing documents.

    During this time, the appraisal and loan approval will also occur.

  9. Prepare the Documents & Schedule Closing
  10. Once the closing agent has all the necessary information and approvals, the Settlement Statement is prepared. Then, the statement will be sent to the Lender for review and approval, if applicable. Then, sent to the Real Estate Agents to be reviewed and approved and then to the client for review.

    During this time, the closing agent will contact the buyers and sellers to discuss the closing options and confirm the time/date for closing.

  11. Closing on the Home
  12. Before signing, the closing agent will review the documents with each party and confirm the buyer has received the wiring instructions from the Secure Portal.

    Once the necessary documents are notarized and all funds are received, disbursement will take place and copies will be available on the Secure Portal for the buyers and sellers.

We strive to make the closing process as stress-free as possible, if you ever have any questions about the closing process, feel free to contact any of our offices for personal assistance.

Open houses can bring the perfect buyer to the negotiating table or attract enough interest in your home to spark a bidding war. Here are six tips to help you pull off a flawless open house for your sellers:

  1. Deep Clean & Declutter

    Cleanliness signals to buyers that the home has been kept in great condition and is most likely in good repair. Remind your sellers to wipe down all surfaces and put away all scattered items. If the home feels suffocating or cramped, advise the sellers to remove some items for the open house.

  2. Spruce Up the Exterior

    Advise your sellers to cut the lawn, trim hedges, clear debris, pressure wash the exterior, repair any exterior issues, and touch up the paint. This will give a good first impression as potential buyers pull up to the home.

  3. Stay Away from the House

    Ensure your sellers understand the importance of staying away from the home during the open house. This includes pets, too. As friendly as they may think their pet can be, some people are allergic to animals or can get turned off from evidence of a pet. This is another reason to make sure the home is deep cleaned to rid the home of lingering pet evidence.

  4. Shine the Light

    Bright, open rooms feel more spacious and inviting. Open the blinds and put brighter light bulbs in lamps to help brighten the space.

  5. Team Up with Other Professionals

    Ask a local lender, home repair specialist, decorator, or representative from your closing/settlement agency to attend the open house and provide information about their services.

  6. Provide Property Details

    Have property fact sheets with photos and local comparables available for everyone who visits your open house.

Hosting an open house doesn’t have to be stressful. If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to find success and sell your listing fast.

As a real estate agent, your brand is your business, and having a marketing team is vital when creating content that correlates with your brand. But what do you do when you don't have a marketing team?

Not every real estate agent has a full marketing team to help with their branding and marketing materials, so here are four free Canva templates to help you build and create content for your audience.

Social Posts

Canva offers templates for multiple social channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. You can even create Facebook or Instagram Stories. Want to make creative Reels for your Instagram account? Canva has a template for that, too - and it's FREE.

You'll never have to worry about whether your content will display correctly on any social platform. Canva takes care of the dimensions so that all you do is click and customize your post with beautiful graphics, pictures, and text. Users can also choose between animated or static images when creating content.

Video Edits

Video posts on social media get 48% more views than posts without video included. However, it can be intimidating to figure out how to shoot and edit videos. With Canva, you can easily upload a video shot from your phone and make edits using any of Canva’s video templates. You can customize your video to any social platform and any size dimension. The best part is you don’t need graphic design skills. Anyone can create an aesthetically pleasing video for a social media feed. Canva has graphics, shapes, and text that you can plugin to create the perfect video for you and your brand.

Marketing Materials

Canva has every real estate agent covered with marketing material. They have free templates for brochures, business cards, and flyers, as well as digital assets like email banners and social media ad templates. There’s even an option to print your designs out. Canva takes the hassle out of making sure your flyers and other marketing assets are the proper size for printing, emailing, or posting.

Presentations

Gone are the days of boring PowerPoint presentations. With Canva, you can create sleek and colorful presentations to showcase your business. Canva's presentation templates are customizable with graphics, pictures, and video to fit your needs.

As an entrepreneur, you wear multiple hats most days. That includes taking on the role of Marketing Director. We know how important it is having resources and tools in your back pocket. That's why we offer our own free resources and Apps for real estate agents. For more information, view our available resources now.

Did you know, as a named tropical storm or hurricane approaches, most insurance companies will suspend writing homeowner policies until the storm has passed? And often, the suspension will last a few days after the tropical storm or hurricane hits.

Even if the tropical storm or hurricane isn't moving directly to the area of your new home, insurers usually suspend issuing homeowner's policies for that area. Since there are no regulations governing suspension timeframes, your insurer can choose to hold off on issuing a policy right in the middle of the closing process. This means you won't be able to show proof of insurance to your lender, and your closing gets delayed.

Here are a few tips to help save your closing during hurricane season:

  • Consider binding your homeowners insurance prior to your closing date.
  • Thoroughly review your coverage and have a good understanding of what is and ISN'T covered. This brings us to the next point.
  • Be sure you've purchased flood insurance to go along with your homeowner's insurance. If you need or plan to purchase flood insurance, be sure to do so at your closing. You'll find yourself in a 30-day waiting period if you don't.
  • Be sure to check for coverage of any screened enclosures ahead of time.
  • Review your deductibles and make sure you are prepared for the out-of-pocket expense if a claim should occur.

The closing process can be stressful on its own, let alone adding the uncertainty of a tropical storm or hurricane. Don't be afraid to discuss your closing options with your closing agent. We will work with you and have options to help close on your home, even if you have to evacuate.
 

Utilizing text messaging in your real estate business can help you attract new customers and maintain a happy customer base. Here are tools to take your text messages from a form of communication to a marketing tool.

Texting Automation to Utilize in Your Business

Text messages have a 98% open rate, making them a better option for communicating simple & direct messages to your customers. With automation, you have a "set it and forget it" system to assist your sales process.

Here are some text message automation ideas to get started.

  1. Sending Custom, Personal Messages

    Contacting past and potential clients is crucial in real estate. With text message automation, you can set up flows and triggers to send personal messages such as birthday wishes, congratulations on closing, or a follow-up after your client's closing date.

  2. Contacting Potential Leads 

    When potential clients visit your website, set up a text message automation to get a conversation started. If leads are filling out website forms, you can automate a welcome text or a message asking for more details.

  3. Appointment, Class, Open House, & Important Date Reminders

    Want to make sure your buyers are filing for homestead on time? Want to let your buyers know there's an open house happening tomorrow? Set up automation to send out valuable information based on times and dates.

  4. Gathering Online Reviews

    Setting up text message automation can help grow your online reputation without much leg work on your end. Set a trigger to send a link to review your services a few days after a client's closing.

Tools for Starting Your Texting Automation 

Here are five text message automation software to get started.

  1. EZTexting
  2. SimpleTexting
  3. SlickText
  4. Textedly
  5. Twilio

Scripts to Use in Your Real Estate Text Marketing 

Here are some texting scripts examples for real estate agents:

  1. “I have 8 amazing listings that won’t break the bank! They range from $_____-$______. We can get you in to see them immediately. Would you like more details on any of these homes?”
  2. “[Insert name] thank you for visiting our website. We look forward to connecting with you soon. In the meantime, feel free to text us here. Otherwise, we’ll be in touch shortly.”
  3. “Hi [insert name], thanks for registering on our website. How can I help you with your search?
  4. “I look forward to meeting you tomorrow on our tour of the houses you have interest in viewing. The first address is 222 Main St, Anywhere, FL 12345. Let’s start there at 10 am and go there. Text me here if anything comes up.” 
  5. “Hey [insert name]! What is your availability this week? We could set up an appointment to browse a few homes. This way, you can get a better idea of what’s out there.”
  6. “How long have you been searching for a home? It can completely be a tedious process. Let me know the basics and I can send you what we have right now!”
  7. “Hey [insert name], I have a free webinar tonight on how to get the most for your house, register for a spot at www.____.com.
  8. “It’s a HOT, HOT, HOT summer market. What’s your home worth? Text back for home evaluation!”

 

Our Closing Experience Technology Enhancements: Making it Safe, Secure, and Faster

While we all hoped and crossed our fingers, toes, and everything in between that we would be returning to a sense of normality in 2022, we know that you still need closing options to keep you and your clients safe.

Through this tough time, we have been able to create safe closing options and learn to bring you a more enhanced closing experience using secure technology.
We are offering a variety of ways to complete your real estate transactions while decreasing the number of in-person interactions needed to close your deal safely and securely.

Here are our enhanced closing options we have that makes closing with us your top choice:

  1. Electronic EMD Delivery, without the need to bring a check in-person to one of our offices.
  2. Remote Online Notarization (RON) Closings allow customers to close from anywhere they want. These closings are 100% secure and completed in less than an hour with one of our trained RON closers, ensuring you get the same closing experience you would as if you were in person. This is our preferred closing method during this time for everyone’s health and safety, and FAN is leading the charge on increasing the adoption of RON statewide. Your Account Executive can advise you on if a RON closing is an option for you!
  3. Alanna.AI virtual Closing Assistant is available to you and your clients 24/7 via text message or chat feature on our website. Real estate agents can get answers anytime of the day or night. Text Alanna.AI now at 813-710-4126.
  4. Faster commission checks are now available. We will wire your commission checks directly to you. With a few documents in place, this can reduce your wait time to receive a check by mail or a trip to one of our branches. Let your closers know if you’d like to receive your funds via wire on your next transaction.

From start to finish, our investment in secure, easy-to-use technology helps to reduce unnecessary trips to our office.

 

 

On November 1, 2021, the FR/BAR Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase (the FR/BAR "As Is" Contract) underwent several changes reflecting an intent to level the playing field between buyers and sellers of residential property. In case you missed it, here are some notable changes. PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a comprehensive or exhaustive view of these changes. The Contract has further updates, new riders, and other changes that you should familiarize yourself with and contact legal counsel for further information.

Section 8(b) – Loan Approval Period

Two tasks must now be completed during this period: The buyer must obtain approval for financing as described in the section (as before) with a new requirement that the buyer’s lender must receive a satisfactory appraisal before the approval period expires. This aims to prevent a low appraisal from ruining a transaction up to and including at the time of closing. It also aims to ensure that the property can return to market much sooner to find a new buyer, should funding fall through.

Make sure you’re ending the loan approval period well before the closing date!

Section 19, Standard O – Delivery Methods

Under the revised contract, methods for delivery notice have changed. They can now be delivered by fax or email, in addition to the by mail or via personal delivery options that remain in place. Other electronic delivery methods have also been deleted, such as text messaging. Texting cannot be used to provide notice under this new contract! They are unreliable in terms of providing evidence that a notice was delivered by erasure or tech ‘fails.’

Other Notable Changes Include, but are not limited to:

The definition of "Personal Property" now includes thermostats, doorbells, TV mounting hardware, and storm protection items.
FIRPTA withholding and reporting costs have been added as an item to be paid by the seller.

  • The definition of closing now includes that "all funds required for closing are received by the closing agent and collected pursuant to STANDARD S".
  • And of course, due to our new way of life in a pandemic, STANDARD G -Force Majeure has been revised to include "governmental actions and mandates, government shutdowns, epidemics, or pandemics."
  • Along with these changes, there have been several updates and additions of new riders including Mold Inspections, Seasonal/Vacation Rentals/Pace Disclosure Riders, and others. Please keep in mind that this list is an overview of changes and NOT a comprehensive list. Should you have any questions on the contract, please contact legal counsel for advice.

You can review a full breakdown the contract changes here.

 

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