There are all sorts of stories out there about predatory lenders being sued for fraud against homebuyers. On the other side of the coin, however, a study by CoreLogic found that fraud by mortgage applicants is also rising. According to the study, approximately 0.92 percent of all mortgage applications during the second quarter of 2018 included fraudulent elements, more than in the second quarter of 2017, when an estimated 0.82 percent of applications did. Even a

A property deed is a legal document that transfers title or rights of ownership from one party to another. It’s the official proof of transfer document that gets recorded, usually by your local county government. A deed should include an indication that it is a deed, a description of the property, the signature of the individual or entity transferring the property, and information on who is taking the title. Every property transfer requires some type of

Imagine you’ve found the perfect home or piece of land, but you find out there’s an easement on the property. What do you need to know? An easement gives someone the legal right to use your property in a specific way. For example, your next-door neighbor might have access to drive across your land to get to theirs. The utility company might have the right to dig up your lawn to install power lines. Easement duration

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community say they fear discrimination when buying a home, according to recent research from Freddie Mac. Survey respondents who identified as LGBT were largely positive on homeownership, with three-quarters saying they believe home ownership is a good investment. In fact, 72 percent said they want to own a home in the future. But 46 percent said they fear discrimination in the process. When buying a home, they ranked

What if you want to invest in real estate, but don’t have any experience or a mentor to guide you? What if you live in a high-cost location and can’t find reasonably priced properties to invest in? And what if you want to invest in real estate but don’t want to do any of the active management? In recent years, turnkey real estate providers have emerged, offering to solve all of these problems for would-be investors.

It’s one of the facts of community living: Where you have neighbors, you can have problems. There are some things you can do about annoying neighbors and some things that could land you in legal trouble. Start by talking to your neighbor. Share what’s bothering you. Keep your composure and try to approach the conversation from a place of kindness and curiosity. You could even help rectify the situation if you’re willing. For example, if you’re

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are evolving technologies that could transform the financial industry and, by extension, the real estate industry. Only time will tell how significant the impact will be. But as you’re probably hearing these terms more and more in the media, it’s a good idea to get an understanding of the basics. Technology fundamentals A cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin or ethereum, is a digital currency exchanged over the internet. These currencies provide a secure way

Smart lock technology is changing the way realtors show your home. These Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled locks allow users to lock and unlock their door remotely, using a mobile app. As a homeowner, you can use a smart lock system to manage guest access, giving people digital power to unlock your door for a single entry or an extended period of time. Similar technology has been designed for the real estate industry. The Prempoint mobile app

iBuyers are investors who use technology to make a fast offer on your home, sight unseen, based on a proprietary valuation model. iBuyers, such as OfferPad, Opendoor, and Zillow Instant Offers, provide an alternate sales model for people who want to sell their home fast, sometimes in as little as three days. How it works iBuyers operate in select major markets. Sellers request a home offer, and then these investors use public information, seller-supplied information, and