Hope Teller

Key Takeaways Property surveys establish the exact boundaries of a parcel and identify easements, encroachments, and improvements — essential for permitting, boundary disputes, and complex sales. A boundary survey establishes lot lines; a topographic survey maps elevation changes; an ALTA/NSPS survey is the most comprehensive and required for most commercial transactions. Lenders typically require an […]

Key Takeaways A stratified real estate market means different price tiers behave differently — the luxury segment may be cooling while entry-level homes are still in bidding wars. Understanding stratification helps agents price listings correctly: using comps from the wrong price tier produces inaccurate CMAs and overpriced or underpriced listings. Buyers and sellers in the

Key Takeaways Staging a condo presents unique challenges: limited square footage, shared common areas, and the need to make a smaller space feel larger without appearing cluttered. Condo staging priorities: maximize natural light (remove heavy drapes), keep furniture proportional to room size, and stage outdoor spaces (balcony or terrace) as additional living area. Virtual staging

Key Takeaways A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) was the pre-TRID disclosure form — replaced by the Loan Estimate in October 2015 for most residential mortgage transactions. The Loan Estimate (which replaced the GFE) must be delivered within 3 business days of a loan application and discloses projected costs for comparison shopping. TRID closing cost tolerances

Key Takeaways Homeowner’s insurance protects the structure and contents of your home; title insurance protects your ownership of the land and home. Neither is legally required, but lenders almost always require homeowner’s insurance and a lender’s title policy as conditions of the mortgage. Homeowner’s policies are paid monthly through escrow and travel with you when

Key Takeaways The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) was the mortgage disclosure document used before October 2015; it has been replaced by the Loan Estimate for most transactions. The GFE and its successor (Loan Estimate) serve the same purpose: helping borrowers compare costs across lenders before committing to a mortgage. Lender fees (origination, processing, underwriting) are

Key Takeaways A title company verifies the seller has the legal right to sell and issues title insurance; a settlement agent handles the actual paperwork that transfers ownership. In some states (and many DMV transactions), the settlement agent must be a licensed attorney or work for the title company directly. You have the right to

Key Takeaways You will encounter two underwriters at closing: a financial underwriter (loan approval) and a title insurance underwriter (deed-risk approval). The financial underwriter reviews your credit, income, debts, and bank statements to decide whether the lender will fund your mortgage. The title insurance underwriter examines the title search to decide whether to issue a