What is Title Insurance – and Why Do You Need It?

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Did you know that Amy Snook, one of our team’s leaders, is a licensed title agent?

Amy has more than 15 years of experience in the title business. So, she is uniquely poised to help our buyers and sellers navigate the closing process, and everything that leads up to this critical piece of the puzzle!

But, if you still don’t really “get” title insurance, what it is, and why you may need it… here’s a quick rundown for you:

Title insurance is a one time purchase. Factors like your contract, the county you are in and its norms will help determine who pays for it. It’s a fee you will see on the final closing statement.

It’s is an insurance (like the name says!). This policy is for life, and it insures that the people who are selling the home are legally able to sell you the home – that all mortgages, liens, judgements, encumbrances  that are attached to the property – are all paid off.

Why does this matter? It gives you the peace of mind that you legally have the right to own and enjoy that home, and that no one will come knocking one day and tell you you don’t!

Buyers sometimes ask “Do I have to have it?

… Do you legally have to have title insurance? The answer is no.. But as Realtors, we would never be involved in a transaction that doesn’t include it. Because, for the small one-time cost, you have peace of mind for life.

If you still have questions about title insurance, feel free to message us at [email protected] or call us at (561) 571-2289.

Want more details? Read more about this important subject here.

If you’re interested in buying – now or in the future – you can search listings here – and start to familiarize yourself with the buying process and the market!

Why we ALWAYS invest in Pro Photos for Our Listings

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Why does the the Amy and Noreen Team invest in professional real estate photography?  The answer is simple. We are professional real estate marketers, and we understand how buyers search for homes.

Also, we know that:

90% of buyers start their home searches online. (National Association of Realtors)

Buyers spend 60% of their time looking at listing photos, 20% on the listing description and 20% on the agent description. (The Wall Street Journal)

Homes with professional photos get 61% more views online. (Redfin)

Listings with professional photographs sell 32% faster, spending only 89 days on the market compared to 123 for other homes. (PR Newswire)

According to MLS statistics, properties photographed by drones (aerial images) sold 68% faster. (RIS Media)

 

Now you understand a little about the buyer’s online home shopping experience, and about how pro photos help us sell homes faster and for higher prices. So, would you want a Realtor to use amateur photos to market your home? (Nope!) 

Call us today at (561) 571-2289 if you’d like to learn more about how we will market your home if you list with us!

Or you’re just curious about what your home is worth today – you can request a no-obligation home value assessment here. 

 

6 out of 5 Stars!

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Amy and Noreen were outstanding – before, during, and after we purchased our new home. Their suggestions and advice made the process so much easier. They continue to help us navigate all the things we have to do after the purchase of the home, as well. If we could, we would give them six out of five stars!
– JOHN H.

SUMMER 2018 – PALM BEACH COUNTY REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORTS

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Summer is wonderful! It’s time to take vacations with the family, enjoy the summer heat, and take advantage of great summer specials around town.  And, it’s a great time to get your home ready for sale before the school season starts again.

We have good news as we evaluate the June market reports, which were released recently by the Realtors of the Palm Beaches and Greater Fort Lauderdale.

Inventories are still low…however, it does appear that the market maybe stabilizing. Indicators suggest the inventory crisis may not be getting any worse.  It isn’t getting better quite yet, but at least we may start heading in the right direction! The current low inventory does, of course, drive up home prices. But we are optimistic about it normalizing and look forward to the market reports for Palm Beach county for the next quarter. 
 
The market balance has not changed since we last reported these stats to you:

  • In the category of “under $400K,” we still have a seller’s market. If you are selling in this range, your home still needs to be priced properly and staged to sell. But if priced right, your home will go under contract!   



 

  • In the category of $400K up to $999K – it is balanced market. The best practices of good selling and negotiating prevail!

 

  • Over $1,000,000 – Sorry, sellers, it’s still a buyer’s market due to a plethora of inventory – 13 months’ worth in Palm Beach County, to be specific.  Sellers, in this category we must be strategic and patient in the process. Buyers will come but pricing, staging and marketing are very important given the positioning in this market.

 

Watch your neighborhood’s list prices to ensure your home is competitive. Analyze the neighborhood solds, too. Together we will determine the right price to sell, and help you reach your goals.

Contact us at (561) 571-2289 – or via [email protected] – if we can provide you with any additional market data that will help inform your decisions! We are here to help – with no obligation.