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Equitable Mortgages in Massachusetts—What are they and how to “release” them from record title
By Mark A. Jones, Assoc. Senior Underwriting Counsel, Stewart Title Insurance Company Whenever reviewing title examinations, when we see a traditional recorded mortgage, we all know the process of getting the mortgage released of record. The payoff is ordered, funds...
Which Is Better : 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Or 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage?
Which suits you best? The 15-year fixed rate mortgage or the 30-year one? These tips may help you decide.
Simple Real Estate Definitions : Right To Cancel
Refinancing homeowners are granted a 3-day “cooling off” period.
Is An FHA Mortgage Better Than A Conforming One?
The FHA is insuring a greater percentage of loans than during any time in recent history. In 2006, it insured roughly 5 percent of the purchase mortgage market. Today, it insures one-quarter. “Going FHA” is more common than ever before — but is it better?
NAR Proposed Settlement of Class Action Lawsuit
By: Rhonda Duddy, Esq., Massachusetts and New Hampshire Underwriting Counsel, Stewart Title The recently proposed NAR settlement comes after several years of litigation. The plaintiffs in the lawsuits are home sellers alleging that NAR and other organizations...
The Top 5 Ways AI Elevates Real Estate Marketing and Sales
Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various industries, including real estate. Here is the top five ways AI can help real estate agents sell more houses: Predictive Analytics: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data, including market trends,...
How To Clean A Smelly Front-Loading Washing Machine
Because of the way most front-loading washers are built, they tend to pool water in their drums, which can be a breeding ground bacteria and mildew. Whether your front-loading washer smells “dirty” or not, you’ll want to follow proper procedures to keep it clean.
Isn’t That Loan Fraud?
The definition of loan fraud is simple. According to the F.B.I. loan fraud is any material misstatement, misrepresentation or omission relied upon by a mortgage underwriter or lender to fund a loan.
The definition does not make any exception for white lies, half truths, fibs or creative facts. It says any material misstatement, misrepresentation or omission. In most cases if you are involved in a real estate loan transaction, as a borrower, real estate agent, attorney or some other party, and you have to ask yourself or someone else “Is that loan fraud?” 95% of the time the answer is “yes.”
Tips For First-Time Home Buyers
YOUR FIRST HOME. Purchasing one is a rite of passage that most non-homeowners dream of. Besides the intangible benefits, homeownership lets you build equity, and is the single biggest tax break available to most consumers. Here’s our look at some smart strategies for getting in the door. Tips
The Real Estate Closing Process
The process starts with a real estate buyer with a property under contract. Once the settlement agent or closing attorney has been retained by the mortgage lender the begin the “title work.”