Having spent my career in real estate law, I’ve seen many different title insurance companies operate in the St. Louis area—some successfully, some less so. To an outsider, title insurance may feel like a straightforward commodity industry, making the differences between companies seem unimportant. But there are several areas in which your title insurance company […]
Don’t Fail Your Buyer! Ask These Questions Now
“But one of the reasons we bought the home was….” Imagine getting a call from a client that bought their dream home thanks to your efforts as buyer’s agent. You remember how excited they were to move in, how happy they were with your service, and how smoothly everything seemed to go through the closing […]
Should it Stay or Should it Go? Real Property and Personal Property
Differentiating clearly between real property and personal property can be a challenge to navigate in your contract. Check out our handy-dandy little guide, and share it with your clients when writing your next contract.
Don’t Get Caught Up in These Notary Risks
Getting documents notarized may seem like a pretty routine part of the job. After all, it’s a part of every buying or selling process, and it can be as simple as having your client take the documents to their local bank branch. But, like all aspects of buying or selling, there exist legal pitfalls that […]
One Way to Stay Out of Disputes Between Sellers & Buyers
Disclose, Disclose, Disclose – To Stay Out of Disputes Between Sellers & Buyers on “Failure to Disclose Allegations” If a real estate agent fails to exercise appropriate judgment when working with a seller intent on “under-disclosing” pertinent facts about a listed property, or a buyer’s agent fails to properly address a buyer’s noted concern about […]
1 Big Legal Headache – and How to Avoid It
I recently worked with a listing agent on an unexpected legal headache. Her buyer had discovered a defect in the property during inspection… just before closing. Because there wasn’t time to fix the problem, the agent recommended negotiating for a credit at time of closing. But during the negotiation, attorneys got involved. Here’s what happened: […]
7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Sign a Client
Real estate is tough business. Everyone comes to a deal with a different perspective, understanding and expectations. Interview prospective clients thoroughly to make sure you can maintain a healthy client relationship throughout the transaction! Here are seven critical questions to consider before you both sign on the dotted line: Does your prospective client have a […]