Key TakeawaysReal-estate closing rules vary by state — some require attorneys, some allow title companies, and a handful require title…
Key TakeawaysA condemned property is one that a local government has declared uninhabitable or unsafe — but this does not…
Key TakeawaysThe chain of title is the recorded history of every owner and document that has affected a property —…
Key TakeawaysThe habendum clause is the “to have and to hold” section of a deed that defines exactly what the…
Key TakeawaysAn easement appurtenant runs with the land — it is attached to a dominant estate (benefiting parcel) and a…
Key Takeaways'Pending' means the seller has accepted an offer and both parties are in the contract period — the home…
Key TakeawaysFIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) requires buyers purchasing from foreign sellers to withhold 15% of the…
Key TakeawaysA cloud on title is any defect — lien, clerical error, unknown heir, encroachment, ownership dispute, or fraud —…
Key TakeawaysThere are 12 types of real-estate deeds; the seven most common are quitclaim, deed of trust, warranty (general and…
Key TakeawaysA special warranty deed only guarantees clean title for the time the current seller owned the property — not…