Yes, today all mathematicians around the world will be celebrating...but whether they choose to eat PIE is another story!!  For those who don't know  π, it is the ratio of circumference to diameter of a circle. Also known as, 3.14.....hence the date attached to it March 14th (3/14).  Click HERE , to see many ways to celebrate this day. From sending an ecard to watching a video with dominoes.  Any way you SLICE it, whether it be pi or PIE....ENJOY THE DAY!!!

How much does Title Insurance cost? The one-time premium is directly related to the value of your home. Typically, it is less expensive than your annual auto insurance. It is a one-time only expense, paid when you purchase your home. Yet it continues to provide complete coverage for as long as you or your heirs own the property. Do I need Title Insurance? Most definitely! Title insurance is a means of protecting yourself from financial loss in the event that problems develop regarding the rights to ownership of your property. There may be hidden title defects that even the most careful title search will not reveal. In addition to protection from financial loss, title insurance pays the cost of defending against any covered claim. Why Do You Need It? Buying a new home is one of life's most gratifying experiences. As you approach the big day of closing, however, all the details can be a little overwhelming. You might easily overlook the single most important step in ...

The recovery in the housing market continues to pick up steam, as home prices posted the biggest percentage gain in more than two years in the latest reading of the closely followed S&P/Case-Shiller index. The index showed prices up 4.3% in October compared to a year earlier. That's the best improvement since May 2010. But that earlier increase was due to a temporary spike caused by a homebuyers' tax credit of up to $8,000 on homes purchased in late 2009 and early 2010. This latest rise comes as the housing market has shown numerous other signs of recovery in recent months. A combination of near record-low mortgage rates,lower unemployment and a drop in foreclosures to a five-year low means there are more buyers interested in purchasing fewer available homes. That in turn has lifted prices. October marked the fifth straight month that the index has been up on a year-over-year basis.  The improvement in housing market fundamentals has ...

Many first time buyers ask, why do we need Title Insurance? What are the benefits? Here are very important reasons, why you need Title Insurance: 1.      A title insurance commitment for title policy will disclose the status of the real property taxes on the subject property.  2.      A fire destroys only the house and improvements. The ground is left. A defective title may take away not only the house but the land on which it stands. Title insurance protects you against such a loss. 3.      A deed or mortgage may have been procured by fraud or duress. 4.      A deed or mortgage made under an expired power of attorney may be void. 5.      Title insurance covers attorney’s fees and court cost for defending your title. 6.      Title insurance helps speed negotiations when you’re ready to sell or obtain a ...

If buying a home is on your New Year’s Resolution list for 2013, know this: your biggest challenge will almost certainly be coming up with your down payment and closing costs. Whether you’re trying to scrape by with 3.5 percent for an FHA loan or you’re planning to put down a full 20 percent, saving for a down payment might be the largest savings endeavor you ever undertake, after retirement planning. But don’t let that daunt you. Look at it as more of a challenge or a game than a slow-slogging deprivation-driven chore. In fact, I suggest that you add something to your scrounging and saving: scavenging . Finding your down payment money hidden in resourc es that are right in front of you can be a fruitful and fun angle t o take on an otherwise overwhelming goal. Use this short list of oft-untapped down payment treasure troves to open your eyes to funds that might be hidden in plain sight: 1.  Your budget’s biggest line items. I like to get maximum bang for my buck. And I like to ...

What's missing from your current home? Storage space? Decent parking? Privacy? There's no such thing as too much storage No one ever walked out of an open house thinking, "Nice place, but too many closets."  Visually strip away the furniture in a for-sale home and place your furniture and belongings. Or simply measure -- both the rooms and the closets -- and compare it to what you have now.  Ditto for kitchen cupboards, pantries and counter space. Those counter tops may look spacious until you get out all of your kitchen toys and discover there's not enough room, he says. Really look at a kitchen in terms of what you need when you cook to make sure the home offers the counter space you need. Test the commute BEFORE you commit You're only 15 miles from work. How long is that in traffic time?  Try the commute a few times, driving both ways, before you buy, at the times you would be normally commuting.  How well will you "fit in" with the ne...

So you have decided to purchase a home, but you have no idea what ensues between now and the time you legally own it? Well, the next step is to obtain title for the property from a title company. Why, because a title gives the owner the right to possess and use the property. Though before you receive title, the title company will have to complete the following: Earnest money:  To show the seller and his agent you are a serious buyer, you will be asked to give the title company a deposit called earnest money. If the sale goes through, the earnest money will be applied towards the down payment. If the sale falls through, then, it is possible, that the earnest money will not be given back unless it is stated in the offer to purchase that it is refundable. Title search:  A title search is a detailed check of the records concerning the property. It is performed to verify the seller's right to change ownership. A title search will uncover any faults, demands and other pri...

You have prospects who contact you expressing an interest in purchasing a home, but how do you know if they’re really serious, or able, to purchase a home? MRIS, a large multiple listing service serving the Mid-Atlantic region, asked its real estate member network for some of the best signs for understanding whether potential buyers are really ready for the task of taking on home ownership. Here’s what they found: Buyers are increasing their savings: MRIS suggests home buyers save enough money for six months of mortgage payments and at least 3.5 percent of the purchase price for a down payment and closing costs. Buyers also haven’t forgotten about moving and possible home repair costs in setting up a savings plan for a home purchase. Buyers have their credit in shape: Home buyers know their FICO score and know how it can impact the mortgage rate they get. Buyers know what they can afford: Home buyers are alrea...

Aurthor: Washington, March 06, 2012 Housing affordability conditions have reached the highest level since record keeping began in 1970, according to the National Association of Realtors®. NAR’s Housing Affordability Index rose to a record high 206.1 in January, based on the relationship between median home price, median family income and average mortgage interest rate. The higher the index, the greater the household purchasing power. An index of 100 is defined as the point where a median-income household has exactly enough income to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced existing single-family home, assuming a 20 percent down payment and 25 percent of gross income devoted to mortgage principal and interest payments. For first-time buyers making small down payments, the affordability levels are relatively lower. NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami, said this latest data underscores buyer opportunities in today’s market. “T...

Buying a home is euphoric and scary. On one hand, you are moving into a property you own. On the other, you are committing to the repayment of a lot of money. How to Avoid Buyer’s Remorse Buying a property can throw your emotions all over the place. First, you are ecstatic when the seller agrees to your offer. Soon thereafter, you start worrying about the price, potential problems and the commitment you have made to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next 10, 15 or 30 years. It can be a monstrous rollercoaster for your emotions. You need not have buyer’s remorse. The first issue giving rise to remorse is almost always the purchase price. If it makes you feel any better, the seller almost always thinks they should have asked for more. In truth, the agreed upon price is almost always pretty fair if you obtain a mortgage loan. The lender is not going to give you a loan well in excess of the value of the home, so you can rest assured you probably got a fair price. Yes, you...

Congress has given itself two more months to come up with long-term solutions for the debt-burdened federal program that provides insurance for homes and businesses in areas subject to flooding. A voice vote in the House Wednesday extended the life of the National Flood Insurance Program for 60 days, assuring that people in flood-risk areas will continue to have access to the flood insurance they need to close on mortgages or obtain refinancing. The program is slated to expire Thursday. The last full-scale reauthorization of the NFIP, a wing of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, occurred in 2004. Since 2008 the insurance provider has stayed alive through a series of 16 short-term extensions while lawmakers debate how to restore its fiscal soundness. To read Jim Abrahms full artice, CLICK HERE Title Junction is hoping that come July 31st, that Congress will extended it for a SOLID 5 more years!

Straight from the famous Queen lyrics! We want it all and want it now! Don’t we?! You might be starting your home search and think that you’re pretty level-headed about what you want. Most people do. I did too when I was looking for my last home. When I ask someone what they’re looking for, it makes me chuckle after minutes go by and they suddenly realize their list kept getting longer and longer and longer! What I encourage every buyer to do is to write down the following list: 1.) One column for Must-Haves 2.) One column for Can Live Withouts 3.) One column for Indifferent Once you’re done making that list, rate them all highest to lowest priority in each column. For instance, if you had 13 must-haves, put them in order of what you would want first, 1-13. I know it sounds crazy, but there’s a reason behind it. Let’s say a pool and tile floor is on your must-have list, but they were ranked 9 & 11 in that column. These are things that may have been deal breakers before this ...

A home-buying tracking service reports all-cash buyers moved into the market at a record pace last year, purchasing homes for themselves and other properties as investments. The Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey found a record 33.2% of transactions were all-cash, up from 29.6% from a year earlier. Among investor homebuyers, the proportion of cash buyers was 74%. The survey said cash buyers were driving down prices because they offered shorter and more reliable closings. HousingPulse also indicated many of the purchases were of distressed properties, where banks are more likely to negotiate settlements in an effort to get them off their books. Article brought to you by Old Republic, Real Estate Digest, April 2012, Vol 38 Do you see this as a trend in your business, let Title Junction know!

Since the September 2008 conservatorship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have completed nearly 1.1 million loan modifications, according to the FHFA’s fourth quarter 2011 Foreclosure Prevention and Refinance report. Overall, the GSEs have completed more than 2.1 million foreclosure prevention actions since the same time period. “Data from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency show that in the two years ending in the third quarter of 2011, modifications on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans accounted for 40 percent of all loan modifications,” said General Counsel for the FHFA Alfred M. Pollard in a written testimony before congressmen Monday. For just the 2011 fourth quarter, about 71,100 loan modifications were completed, compared to about 83,500 in the third quarter. Pollard said a contributing factor to the decline in modifications seen may be that the initial backlog of eligible borrowers in 2009 has been addressed to some extent, and added the GSEs offer substantial incentive pay...

What are your thoughts about the NEW iPad3 coming out so soon after the iPad2? Are you buying one, updating the one you already own, or could just really careless?? Title Junction wants to know!! Also, if you do have one or are looking into purchasing one ~ what will be your main use for it? and what are some of your favorite Apps?

Here's a great article I found in the Real Estate Digest that I thought you might finding interesting. More offers are coming with a contingency: The buyer wants the house but the seller has to give them more time - 30 to 60 days, possibly - to try to sell their own home before they'll make the deal final, more estate professionals are reporting. "In a strong real estate market, it's harder to get away with (a sell contingency)," Eric Tyson, co-author of Home Buying for Dummies told the Chicago Tribune, "It adds element of uncertainty to the deal." Many sellers will continue to show homes to potential buyers during the contingency period, but since the contingent offer is listed in the multiple listing service, some buyers might be less apt to take look. "Most contingency agreements contain a kick-out clause: If your dream home's seller receive a non-contingent offer during the set time period, you typically have a day or two to rescind the cont...

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 To Open An Office Downtown Title Junction will be opening a new satellite office in downtown Fort Myers in Jan. 2012. Jennifer is excited about being able to provide her clients with top notch professional service. She will be able to accommodate clients with closer and more convenient locations. Watch for updates for upcoming details and an official office opening date. We also would like to thank each and everyone during this Holiday Season our thoughts sincerely turn to those who have made out progress possible. It is with much appreciation we say: Thank you and Best Holidays and a Happy Successful New Year!

Join Us for Coffee & Doughnuts Wednesday December 14, 2011 Title Junction will be hosting our final class this year titled: "Year End Review" This class will be held at our Fort Myers office. Jennifer will be discussing: HUD-1 & GFE, and the importance of FIRPTA. So mark your calendar and bring lots of questions, Jennifer will be happy to answer them all. What a fantastic way to start your day with great conversation, coffee and of course who doesn't like doughnuts! When: Wednesday December 14, 2011 Where: Title Junction, 6225 Corporate Court, Suite A-100, Fort Myers, FL 33919 Time: 10:00 am - 11:00am To RSVP: please visit www.title-junction.com on or before 12/13/2011 We look forward to seeing you here! Watch out for new details for next year, Jennifer will be launching a new series of classes.

Real estate title companies are impartial service providers to everyone involved in the transaction. From realtors and buyers to sellers and mortgage lenders, the title company does not have a personal interest in the property. This impartially ensures that a legitimate title search is conducted and that each party involved in the transaction receives the same treatment. A title agent’s job is to ensure that all paperwork is in order, that the people involved are who they say they are and that no money changes hands until all of necessary documents and paperwork have been signed. This safeguards everyone’s interest in the property. The buyer and the lender have assurance that they are purchasing a clean title and that the escrow funds do not get paid out until the property is closed and the seller has the guarantee that the buyer is committed to the property purchase. It’s not unusual for title insurance agencies to employ notary publics and offer notarization services. By providi...