If you’ve ever been party to an official legal document that had to be signed, then you have probably utilized a notary at some point. However, did you know that there is actually more than one type of notary? In general terms, a notary is someone with some form of legal training who is licensed and authorized by the government to perform certain acts in noncontentious legal affairs—most commonly acting as an Read More
Florida Landlord Rights When a Tenant Refuses to Pay
Landlords are often portrayed as the bad guy when it comes to tenant disputes over rental property, but there are plenty of good landlords out there, and plenty of bad tenants. Furthermore, tenant-landlord cases are rarely as cut and dry as “bad vs good.” Sure, there are some people out there who maliciously seek to take advantage of others, but for the most part, each side of a rental dispute usually has fair Read More
Understanding Title Insurance
In the United States, people find ways to insure nearly everything they can. There’s home insurance, car insurance, health insurance, dental insurance, pet insurance, life insurance, and if you are buying a home, there is title insurance. Title insurance has been around in the US since the mid 19th century, and is meant to protect against adverse claims or defects in the title of a home, land, or other type of real Read More
5 Steps You Can Take to Avoid Foreclosure
In this world, bad things frequently happen to good people. Maybe you were in a car accident and suddenly unable to work. Maybe your company downsized and you were laid off. Whatever the reason, if you suddenly become unable to make your mortgage payments, you will find yourself in danger of foreclosure. If you stop making mortgage payments, your lender can legally force a sale of your home for the purpose of Read More
Renters: Protect Your Security Deposit
For landlords, a security deposit can be a great source of protection against renters who might damage their property or skip out early on the lease. However, for renters who maintain their home and fulfill their lease obligations, they can be an unbearable source of frustration, especially when your deposit is held by an unscrupulous landlord. Far too many renters are victimized by falsified claims against their Read More
3 Things To Consider Before Refinancing Your Mortgage
Refinancing your home loan can be a massive decision with far-reaching ramifications. The reasons a person might consider refinancing his or her mortgage are considerable. You may have loads of high-interest debt you need to pay off. Maybe you’re going through a divorce and you have to refinance to buy out your ex-spouse’s interest in the home. Maybe you just want a better interest rate. No matter the reason, you Read More
Five Issues to Consider Before Selling Your Home via Short Sale
If you are having a difficult time paying your mortgage, you might be considering a short sale. A short sale involves selling the home with the proceeds being less than the mortgage due on the property. Often your lender will accept the sale proceeds, which will keep you from foreclosure. While short sales are a good choice for many, you must be certain it is the best choice for you and your circumstances. Here are Read More
Buying Your First Home? Four Tips for a Smooth Closing Day
You have found the perfect home, researched the schools and neighborhood, and obtained a mortgage. Buying a home for the first time is incredibly exciting, but it can also be confusing if you are not aware of what is required in order to close the deal. Here are four tips to help you on closing day to make the process as seamless as possible. Ask Questions When you close on the purchase of your home, you will not Read More
Four Steps to Prepare for Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is never an easy decision, but if you have determined it’s your only choice, it is important that you are prepared. There are many steps you can take to ensure the bankruptcy process is as easy and streamlined as possible. If you plan to file, here are four steps to consider. Don’t Be in Denial When you get behind in your bills, it can be tempting to just ignore the phone calls and letters and be in a Read More
Miami Real Estate: How HAMP Can Help
If you are having difficulty paying your mortgage, or you are upside-down on your mortgage, the Home Affordable Mortgage Program (HAMP) might be able to help. HAMP is a government program that helps people who have increased expenses or decreased income stay in their homes. If you find yourself unable to pay your mortgage, or are behind in your payments, here is information about the program and whether or not you Read More
