Blog - ATG Title

New Service Announcement Title Insurance for Dog Houses

April 1, 2021 By Jeremy

To welcome the spring season this April 1st, ATG Title, the DMV’s leading title insurance, escrow, and closing company is proud to offer a new line of services for our furry friends: Dog house title searches and insurance!

Why are we offering this? Simply put, we went sniffing around and after pawing it over realized there is a begging need for it. After the executive team tugged around the rope they all agreed it is time our furry friends get the same protections we have.

It all started with a dispute over a certain doggy domicile when the land survey “dug” up an old marking from a few summers before. Fluffy the Bullmastiff was casually relaxing in her new home when Cujo the Chihuahua suddenly laid claim to the house. As you can imagine, it was a “ruff” situation!

When Fluffy first came to ATG for help, she appeared to be “crying wolf,” but after listening to her side of the story, we agreed that the situation was simply “for the dogs!” [Read more…]

7 Tips to Drive More Leads With Real Estate Photography

March 23, 2021 By Jeremy

Whether you’re listing in real estate marketplaces like Zillow and Redfin, or you’re using your landing page on your brokerage’s site, by being more creative with your real estate photography you can increase the amount of leads as well as improve lead quality.

Below you will find 7 techniques to make your listing photos more appealing to potential buyers. Some of these tips will help increase the quality of your leads (because who wants to spend time on buyers that aren’t serious) and others will help convert more people from website visitors to buyer leads. [Read more…]

13 Strategies to Get Started in Real Estate Investing

March 16, 2021 By Jeremy

13 Ways To Get Started In Real Estate Investing

If you’re ready to find a new path towards wealth and an early retirement, then real estate investing might be for you.

But how do you get started? And what if you don’t have a million dollars in the bank? Do you need to have good credit? These are common questions and fears that stop people like you from getting into real estate investing. The good news is that getting started is easy, as long as you choose the right strategy and many of the questions you have aren’t going to block you from starting.

Below you will find 13 of the easiest strategies to get into real estate investing. From no money in the bank to expanding your empire, we’ve got you covered! [Read more…]

7 Questions to Ask Your Real Estate VA Before Hiring Them

March 9, 2021 By Jeremy

Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) is essential at this point if you’re a new or experienced real estate agent and are looking to grow. You can hire locally, nationally, or overseas; talent is all over the place. But not all real estate virtual assistants are equal.

Below you’ll find 7 questions to ask your virtual assistant candidates before you hire them and what to look for in their answers. [Read more…]

5 Ways to Work With Toxic Buyer & Seller Clients

March 2, 2021 By Jeremy

We’ve all been there. A client comes prepared with a Pinterest board of what they want and insists you make their dream come true; even though their budget is 1/5 of what their dream home should be. Or it is a client that still views their house as their home and cannot see it from an outside point of view? They don’t want to remove a swing set or take down a political photo.

If you’re stuck in a similar situation and you are not able to get out of your contract, don’t sweat. We’ve all been there!

Here are 5 ways you can help to turn a toxic buyer or seller into a good relationship so that you can help them with their property and keep your sanity intact! [Read more…]

How to Become a Realtor Step by Step

February 23, 2021 By Jeremy

Becoming a Realtor is easy, and it only takes 5 steps.

Get your real estate license
Join a brokerage
Become a member in your local Realtor’s Association
Pay your dues
Take the required continuing education courses and pass the tests

Once you do this you’ll be able to add Realtor to your title.

Having the title Realtor also provides you with numerous benefits. Being a Realtor builds trust with your clients since you’re adhering to best practices and in many cases can let you charge more. You gain access to Realtor only networking events to grow your lead funnel and the esteem can make you more desirable to brokerages. Here is more information on the differences between a Realtor and a Real Estate Agent.

Now that you know the steps to become a Realtor and the benefits, here’s a bit more information on each step. [Read more…]

Hard Money vs. Private Money Lenders – What’s the Difference?

February 10, 2021 By Jeremy

Finally, you found the property you’ve been looking for and the owner is ready to sell, but you don’t have the cash on hand to buy it. That is when you probably came across both hard money lenders and private money lenders. Both can fund your investment property but each serves a different purpose and has unique risks.

In this post, you’ll learn the differences, similarities, and everything you need to make the right choice to fund your project.

What is the Difference Between Hard and Private Money Lenders?

Hard money lenders are companies that loan money to real estate investors to acquire investment properties based on the potential gain from the buying price and the selling price.

Private money lenders are companies or individuals that offer a loan based on their own criteria and it could be simply to help you get started in your career. Private money lenders can be a friend, a family member, or even someone who sees your project as a good investment vs. being a licensed company or organization.

What do Hard & Private Money Lenders Have in Common?

Both hard money lenders and private money lenders are similar in that there are no government restrictions in the USA (as of 2/10/2021).

In addition to that they both have benefits including: [Read more…]

How to Wholesale Real Estate from Start to Finish

February 2, 2021 By Jeremy

Are you ready to make some money in real estate without having to flip a house or be a landlord? Then learning how to wholesale real estate properties may be for you. It’s a tactic many investors take advantage of, and for a good reason.

Wholesaling real estate is an excellent way to make money without having to invest a ton of cash or flat out buy a property. But there are also risks.

But don’t worry; we’re not here to pull punches and keep any tips to ourselves. We’re here to share with you the ins and outs of getting started so that you can begin to grow your portfolio and your bank account.

What You Need to Get Started

Wholesale real estate can be tricky. The whole process takes a keen eye, understanding the process and the market, and some connections.

While it is low-risk compared to other forms of entering into real estate investing, not being prepared is a surefire way to end up with a property you didn’t expect to purchase. So, before we get into the process steps, we should cover the groundwork.

The first question to cross your mind is likely going to be whether or not you need a license. The short answer is no. While it’s certainly helpful, it is not necessary.

However, a license will give you access to the MLS that shows listings before reaching the public. Considering you are looking for properties listed below market value, that’s a powerful tool to have.

Regardless of whether you have a license, networking is also an essential tool. Your goal here is to establish connections with industry professionals whereas a Realtor would want to make these connections in addition to home buyers and sellers.

Lawyers, lenders, title companies, other agents, and even movers are sources from which you can gather information on homes going up for sale. They can also help point you in the direction of buyers who are just as essential to building connections.

But networking will only get you so far. You also need to develop a comprehensive understanding of the market. [Read more…]

Dual Agencies: The Benefits & Risks You Take

January 27, 2021 By Jeremy

After listing a home for a seller, you’ll speak with many buyers who are interested in the property. In some cases you’ll likely meet a buyer who’s serious about the transaction but doesn’t have an agent to represent them. There is a very likely chance they’ll ask you for advice and to also be their agent.

This scenario offers you the potential to take part in what is known as dual agency. Though many agents may be aware of it, they may not fully understand it. We’re here to explain what it is and whether or not you should avoid it.

What are Dual Agencies?

By definition, dual agencies or a dual agent is when the same real estate agent or two agents from the same brokerage represent both the home buyer and the home seller.

The scenario above refers to when a single agent represents a buyer and seller at the same time. For this to occur, both parties have to agree that it is ok. This is the far more concerning form for many because a single agent stands to collect the commission, usually split by two. Many believe this aspect can influence their actions in either role and often calls for ethical concern.

Another form of dual agency is when two agents from the same brokerage represent both parties. [Read more…]

What a Listing Agent is and Who They Work For

January 20, 2021 By Jeremy

Whether you are getting ready to buy or sell a home, you’re going to come across the terms “listing agents” and “buyer’s agents.” And though many may believe that real estate agents all have the same job, there is a stark difference between the two.

We’re here to talk about what precisely a listing agent is. Below you will learn all about the role both people play, what their duties are, and why they are essential to the process of selling a property.

What is a Listing Agent?

By definition, a listing agent is a person that represents the seller in a real estate transaction. Their job is to list the home and help the seller find a buyer in basic terms. A listing agent works to get the seller as much money as possible for their property as quickly as they can.

A listing agent’s work sounds simple, but there’s a lot more to it than taking a few pictures and making an ad for your property. Their involvement with the selling process is far more intimate. They handle the majority of the process for you.

The Roles and Responsibilities of Listing Agents

One of the first things a listing agent does is sets the asking price of your home. Not having any emotional attachment to the house helps them take an unbiased stance to make a fair asking price. But, they aren’t there to let someone rip you off either. Remember, a listing agent wants to help you make as much money as possible, partly because it helps increase their commission. [Read more…]