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Sally Taylor

Staging For Curb Appeal

02-04-09
Sally Taylor

Before putting your house on the market for sale, you need to take some time "pretending to be a potential buyer." Get in your car and drive up and down the street in front of your house (don't worry about what the neighbors think...they'd do the same thing!) and imagine that you are seeing your home for the very first time. What could you improve?

The photos that your agent will take are equally important. Most buyers use these photos to help determine if they even want to visit the house. If the home isn't properly staged for the photos, you could lose some potential buyers.

The most common needs are small changes, like new door hardware and a fresh coat of paint on the front door, a new porch light and house numbers, or trimming back shrubs. Look closely-a potential buyer certainly will! Remove any dead or dying plants or trees, fertilize the lawn, put fresh mulch in the flower beds and hide the trash can. Adding a pot of brightly colored flowers near the front door or on the front steps can help, too.

By the time you're finished and ready for your agent to take photos, your home should be calling out "Come in! You want to see me!"

If you're thinking about selling, visit our website: www.taylorhometeam.com for a wealth of useful information for the selling process.

What Is Title Insurance, And Why Do I Need It?

11-06-08
Sally Taylor

Potential clients and first time buyers usually ask this question. It's not one of the easiest answers to give. Most of the time a mortgage is required, so the lender requires a title policy. In some types of ownership transfers, title insurance is not required, or necessary. A good title company can help you determine your needs.

Listed below are a few of the hidden risks that are covered under an owner's policy:

  • Documents executed under false, revoked or expired powers of attorney;
  • False impersonations of the true property owner;
  • Undisclosed heirs;
  • Improperly recorded legal documents;
  • Prescriptive rights in another not appearing of record and not disclosed by survey;
  • Defective acknowledgments due to improper or expired notarization;
  • Corporate franchise taxes as liens on corporate real estate assets;
  • Gaps in the chain of title;
  • Mistakes and omissions resulting in improper abstracting;
  • Forged deeds, mortgages, wills, releases of mortgages and other instruments;
  • Deeds by minors;
  • Deeds which appear absolute, but which are held to be equitable mortgages;
  • Inadequate legal descriptions;
  • Errors in tax records;
  • And many more.

Owners Policy-Homeowner

Just as lenders want security with their loan policy, you should want to protect your investment with an owner's title policy. For a low, one-time premium you can receive an owner's title insurance policy to protect your property against hidden risks or undiscovered interests.

The Owner's Policy Provides:

  • Protection From Financial Loss due to covered claims that may be asserted against the title to your property, up to the face amount of the title policy.
  • Payment Of Legal Cost if the title insurer has to defend your title against a covered claim.
  • Payment Of Successful Claims against the title to your property covered by the policy, up to the face amount of the policy.

Peace Of Mind

Title insurance adds security and peace of mind to your ownership. Remember that a policy issued by Kendall County Abstract Company can help you prevent the potential loss of your property due to these causes as well as many others. If you have any questions about title insurance, call your local title compnay. They will be happy to answer your questions.

Owning real estate is one of the most precious values of freedom enjoyed in this country. When you decide to buy any type of real property, you want to be sure the property will be yours and that no one else will have any liens, claims or encumbrances against your property other than those disclosed to you or arranged by you (such as a mortgage).

If you are buying or selling real property, having a title policy protect the transaction gives everyone involved peace of mind.

If you are considering buying or selling real estate in the Texas Hill Country, check out our website: www.taylorhometeam.com

The Mortgage Loan Process....

10-20-08
Sally Taylor

If you've never bought a home, or maybe you did...but don't get deeply involved in all the details, the loan process for getting a mortgage might be a bit mysterious to you. With all the focus on the mortgage industry lately, we decided to simplify and demystify this process for the average person.

The Typical Mortgage Loan Process:

1. Get Prequalified! Call us and we will help you connect with highly reputable mortgage professionals. As we have seen in recent weeks, they are NOT all created EQUAL! A referral from your Realtor is your best bet.

2. Start shopping for homes....we will be happy to show you any available homes in your price range that will suit your needs & wants. Once a home is selected, we will help you negotiate the contract for purchase.

3. Make sure you provide all personal documentation requested by your Mortgage Professional and sign and return your typed loan package promptly. Delay in these steps can actually delay your closing, or possibly cause you to lose the contract on the home you are purchsing if not careful.

4. Your Mortgage Professional's Loan Processor will verify your employment, assets and income.

5. Your Realtor, Mortgage Professional, and Title Escrow Officer will see that the title commitment, tax certificates, wiring instructions, survey, and appraisal are ordered and on track to be ready for closing as required.

6. Your Mortgage Professional will submit your loan file to the underwriter.

7. Make sure you discuss interest rates with the Mortgage Professional throughout this process and be prepared to lock your rate 30 days in advance.

8. Once the underwriter has issued the Final Approval, your file will be submitted to the Loan Closer.

9. The Loan Closer will prepare closing documents for your final signature at closing.

10. Your Realtor or Mortgage Professional will contact you with your closing costs so you can prepare your certified funds for closing. You will then go to the specified title company (or Fed/Ex is sometimes used for out of town buyers) and sign your closing documents. As soon as funding occurs, you will get the keys to your new home!

A little humor...

09-18-08
Sally Taylor

It seems like times are tough all around, and we feel that it's important to keep a good sense of humor to ease the tension. With that in mind, we hope these jokes will make you laugh!!

~If you really want to know exactly where the property line is, just watch the neighbor mow his lawn!

~If you think nobody cares you're even alive, just try missing a few house payments!

~The trouble with owning a home is that no matter where you sit, you're looking at something you should be doing!

~By the time you pay off a home in the suburbs, it isn't!

Cheers!

Do Unto Others.....Be Good to Your Buyers

08-29-08
Sally Taylor

It can be really hectic moving out of your old home, and into a new one. There are a few things most buyers actually WANT sellers to leave behind. A thoughtful seller can make it a lot nicer when they leave a few items for the new owners such as:

1. Owner's manuals for appliances

2. Warranty info for anything that is in the house and still under warranty

3. Contact info for service providers that the seller used, like pest contro, pool maintenance, cleaning services and yard work, even a good veterinarian referral if the sellers and buyers have pets

4.Schedules for trach and recycling pickup and mandatory watering conservation schedules

5. Info on neighborhood events, like block parties and annual parades & festivals.

For more community info, and links to Texas Hill Country resources, visit our website at www.taylorhometeam.com