Despite the ongoing housing slump, a poll released by real estate marketer Zillow shows that 42 percent of buyers still believe homes appreciate at a rate of seven percent per year. Zillow notes that housing prices have generally tended down in the the last five years and that even historical averages put appreciation at no more than two of five percent per year. While Zillow poll found most buyers generally knowledgeable about the buying process, 41 percent said they believed purchasers are required ti have private mortgage insurance and 56 percent didn't know the difference between and appraiser and an inspector. *Compliments of Old Republic National Title Insurance Co.

Title Junction, A Company That Can Help With Foreign Real Estate Seller Services, Opens New Office

The National Flood Insurance has been extended through May 31,2012 by the passage of H.R. 2055. As many of you already know this is the same highly controversial bill that extended the Payroll Tax reductions, so there was some doubt as to whether there would be another hiatus in the program. Our thanks to the team at ALTA who kept this issue in the forefront and helped all of us avoid the headaches of gap in this vital program.