Real Estate dictionary

This is a list of some words used in Real Estate and its meaning that you should know before you engage in selling or buying a house or land:

AAgent.- Is a licensed professional who can assist you in the purchase, sale or rent of a property, vacant land or investment property. Realtors are agents, federally registered members of the National Association of Realtors and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Appraisal.- A written opinion of a property’s market value done by a licensed appraiser
CClosing.- The process of executing legally binding documents, final signature of documents such as title, deed, mortgages, note or others associated with the property’s title transfer Closing costs.- Expenses for services for the sale or purchase of a property, such as sale commissions, loan fees, title fees, appraisal, survey, etc.
EEarnest Money Deposit (EMD).- Advance payment of part of the purchase price for a property Escrow.- When a third party (usually a title company or real estate attorney) handles legal documents and funds on behalf of a seller and buyer Estate.- A person’s possessions, the extent of a person’s interest in real property
HHomeowners insurance.- Insurance protecting real property or possessions in the home, also provides liability coverage against accidents in the home or on the property.
LLien.- A hold, claim or change allowed a creditor upon the land of a debtor, like a mortgage lien. Loan estimate.- A document of 3 pages sent by the lender with an estimate of the cost of the transaction.
MMortgage.- Instrument used to encumber land as security for a debt
NNote.- Instrument evidence of the debt, a note is usually secured by a security instrument, such as mortgage or deed of trust
PPoints.- A one-time special fee or extra charge paid to a lender in order to secure a loan or a better rate, it is expressed as a percentage of face amount of mortgage (Ex. 2 points = 2%) Prorate.- To allocate between seller and buyer their proportionate share of an obligation paid or due, such as property taxes
RReal property.- Land, together with fixtures, improvements and appurtenances (A mobile home on a rented lot is considered personal property, while a manufactured home anchored down and conveying on the sale with land can be considered real property)
TTitle.- Ownership of real property and stands against the right of anyone else to claim the property, evidence of ownership Title insurance.- Agreement to indemnify the insured against loss product of a covered defect in title of a particular parcel or property Title search.- Examination of public records, laws and court decisions regarding the ownership of the property. It can include  liens, judgments, open mortgages and other title issues
WWalk-through.- or pre-settlement inspection is usually scheduled before closing to make sure the property is in the agreed-upon condition.
ZZoning.- The right of a municipality to regulate and determine the compatible character and use of the property
Clarisa Moody – Realtor

If you would like to sell or buy a property in Florida, give me a call at 813 446 2003

Clarisa Moody

If you like this blog entry, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter and you will receive interesting information about Real Estate, finances and home management.

www.ClarisaMoodyRealtor.com

How to avoid fraud in real estate

Only in 2019, $221 million* were lost due to wire transfer fraud linked to real estate; this can be avoided with the following tips:

  • Work with a licensed Realtor; we have to pass a test, pass a background check and even leave our fingerprints so they can be checked by the FBI. We are licensed to protect consumer and we have to follow a strict code of ethics. If you have doubts regarding your Realtor license, check it in the following link
  • Work with a licensed Mortgage Loan Officer; the loan or mortgage needs to be handled also with discretion and professionalism by the MLO as they will have access to sensitive information. You can check your MLO license in the following link
  • Do the paperwork through a Title Company, they will get a title insurance for you once the paperwork is in order, the property needs to be free and clear so they can do the transfer of the title or deed
  • Never send money to the title company without confirming the wire transfer instructions in person or over the phone. If you want to know if the title you are working with is legit, check  this link

Looking to buy or sell your house, give me a call, will be happy to help you.

Clarisa Moody – Realtor 

813 446 2003

If you like this blog entry, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter and you will receive interesting information about Real Estate, finances and home management.

* https://www.alta.org/news/news.cfm?20200218-WTF-221M-Lost-to-Wire-Transfer-Fraud-in-2019

www.ClarisaMoodyRealtor.com

The importance of a home inspection

Without a doubt, purchasing a house is one of the most important investments we do in our lives, therefore we need to make our due diligence in order to know the condition of the house we are buying.

As a Realtor, my job is to protect my client’s interest and I strongly suggest a home inspection, even on cash deals, so the buyer can know exactly the condition of the house they are looking to buy. The inspection is performed by a licensed inspector; it can take 2 to 3 hours and have an average cost of $400. The inspector will check the main systems of the house, such as AC / Heater, plumbing, electricity, plus the roof and attic and crawl space (if there are available) and write a report on the condition of the house so the buyer and this document can be used to require any repairs to the seller, request for concessions toward repairs or simply for the peace of mind of the buyer that the house has no major problem.

Note: If the house will be financed, a wind mitigation report and 4 point inspection report are suggested as well, that will provide the lender more information about the condition of the house and can also provide you a discount on the home insurance. If the house was built before 1978, there is a lead based paint test that some home inspectors offer as well in the package

Are you looking to buy a house and need assistance? Give me a call, will be happy to guide you.

Clarisa Moody

813 446 2003

If you like this blog entry, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter and you will receive interesting information about Real Estate, finances and home management.

www.ClarisaMoodyRealtor.com