Today’s blog is both a resignation to our recently shattered rainfall records and a shout out to a former Associate of our Firm who opened his own firm in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, Virginia, as an Estate Planning Specialist. John S. Burton, Esq., wrote the following pithy newsletter to educate consumers on the need for…
What good is it if a lender claims to have the “highest customer satisfaction ratings” if the customer service surveys they use are all obtained immediately after closing? Sure, it was so simple to close with X, Y, Z lender, so few documents! they even sent a notary to my house to show me where…
Many experienced home buyers, sellers and investors are still surprised to learn of the new closing requirements concerning funding. For years, the gold standard at closings was to bring funds by a “certified check”, “cashier’s check”, or other paper draft of a bank account. Unfortunately, while these legitimate real estate moguls have been out there…
A potential client writes to our firm: Dear Anderson & Pittman: Good Morning. I have been discussing a deed transfer with my mother. Perhaps you can tell us if we even need to do a transfer of deed. I live in a home my mother owns and have paid the mortgage on the home from…
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!!! Your realtor is in a unique position to help identify problems that call for further investigation. Consider the surveyor to be like a good law enforcement officer. Even your closing attorney can’t help unless the realtor alerts him to issues that presented themselves at home inspection, walk-thru, or when…
Yes and No! Dying does relieve you personally from having to ever pay another penny for your Timeshare or another maintenance fee. However, your heirs may not appreciate the fact that your estate remains liable for these sorts of contractual obligations and it may affect the legacy that you leave to the next generation. It…
With whole cable TV channels dedicated to the theme of Real Estate Investment, it is not surprising that the ranks of investors are growing crowded in many markets. There are still great deals to be had, but finding them, being the first to get a good written contract with the owner, and not “giving away…
The CFPB is one of those federal entities that is truly known by it’s initials. Even more so than FBI or CIA, you have to think for a minute to remember what it stands for. . . . ? Consumer . . . .??? Now to make things more difficult, the head of the CFPB…
While our beloved Commonwealth of Virginia prides itself on keeping up with the Joneses in all matters of E-Commerce, we have taken more of a “wait and see” attitude toward the most electronic of closing technologies. Naturally, big states with fewer Notary Publics per square mile would need to take the lead on electronic notarizations. …
My closing attorney never required wires from me in the past, why does he require a wire now? Why can’t I give him a cashier’s check? Don’t take it personally. The wire is becoming the soul source of funding because it is the fastest way to deposit money that is available in the shortest time. …
