Key Takeaways An easement appurtenant runs with the land — it is attached to a dominant estate (benefiting parcel) and a servient estate (burdened parcel) and transfers with both when sold. Common examples: a right-of-way across one property to access another, a shared driveway easement, or a utility corridor. Unlike a personal easement (in gross), […]
An Easy-to-Understand Guide to Easement Appurtenant Read More »
Key Takeaways ‘Pending’ means the seller has accepted an offer and both parties are in the contract period — the home is no longer actively available but has not yet closed. A pending home can still fall through: financing denials, inspection failures, appraisal gaps, and title issues can all terminate a contract during the pending
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Key Takeaways Real estate agents handle sensitive client data — financial records, SSNs, ID documents — and can be held liable under state consumer protection laws if that data is breached. Most states have breach notification laws that require prompt disclosure to affected clients; failure to notify can compound legal exposure. Practical protections: encrypted email,
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Key Takeaways FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) requires buyers purchasing from foreign sellers to withhold 15% of the gross sales price and remit it to the IRS. The withholding requirement applies regardless of whether the buyer is foreign — the buyer (or their agent/title company) is the withholding agent and bears the
How to Know if You’re Responsible for Withholding & By How Much Read More »
Key Takeaways Commercial title insurance is structurally similar to residential — one-time premium, lender’s and owner’s policies — but with stricter zoning and use scrutiny. Zoning rules change over time, so historic use does not guarantee current legal use — the title search must confirm the property is zoned for your intended purpose. Commercial policies
Commercial Title Insurance is Different Than Residential & Vital Read More »
This post was fact checked by Lisa Rogers, Principal Attorney at Ark Attorneys. Real estate agents, like you, can be a target for disclosure lawsuits when a buyer realizes that there are issues with their home after closing. As a real estate agent, extra diligence is needed to help you avoid legal issues, and there
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Key Takeaways During peak season (spring/summer), time management is the limiting factor for most agents — protect time blocks for prospecting, contract review, and client calls. Automate repetitive tasks: email follow-ups, listing syndication, transaction milestone notifications, and showing confirmations can all be templated and triggered automatically. Hiring temporary transaction coordination help during busy season costs
5 Workflow & Productivity Tips for Agents During Busy Season Read More »
Key Takeaways A notary signing agent (NSA) is a commissioned notary public who specializes in loan signing — they witness and notarize mortgage documents at closing but do not provide legal advice. NSAs are used when lenders want a mobile or remote closing option — the NSA travels to the borrower or uses Remote Online
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Key Takeaways Build-to-rent (BTR) is a real estate investment strategy where a developer or investor builds single-family homes or small multifamily specifically for rental, not sale. BTR properties tend to command higher rents than equivalent older stock — tenants pay a premium for new construction, modern appliances, and professional management. For individual investors (not institutional),
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Key Takeaways A durable power of attorney (POA) allows a designated agent to manage real estate transactions on behalf of someone who is incapacitated, traveling, or otherwise unable to be present. For real estate closings, the POA document must be reviewed and approved by the title company’s underwriter before the closing — submit it early,
Durable POA & Real Estate – Everything You Need to Know Read More »
