Welcome to the ALT Title Blog
"Now more than ever, savvy home buyers are turning to the web to better understand the process of buying, selling and refinancing real estate."
-Frank Dowd, Founder & Former President of ALT
Why Buying a Home Online Could Be Costing You Thousands
There’s a trend that should concern both professionals and consumers. I’ve been in the real estate business since 1989. I started out selling homes until 1994, then moved into the…
Why ALT Title Built Our Own Title Insurance Calculator for Pennsylvania
We invested in building our own title insurance calculator so home buyers could compare costs fairly, nothing hidden, nothing left out.
Don’t Sign That Yet: The Hidden Costs of Affiliated Business Arrangements
Learn what Affiliated Business Arrangements (ABAs) are, how they impact homebuyers, and what to watch out for under RESPA guidelines. Make informed decisions when choosing title and settlement services.
5 Strategies for Minimizing Closing Costs and Maximizing Allowable Credits
2026 Homebuyer’s Guide to Savings 5 Smart Ways to Minimize Closing Costs & Maximize Allowable Credits Most home buyers overpay at closing, simply because they don’t know what’s negotiable and…
The Change in Real Estate Commissions. Who pays who?
Now more than ever, it’s crucial for buyers to understand upfront how their agent will be compensated. It’s no longer a given that their commission will be paid entirely by…
Can someone really steal your house?
Cleaning up title fraud can be costly. Title monitoring and enhanced title policy coverage offers homeowners protection at a fraction of the cost of litigation.
What’s Going On With Real Estate Commissions?
What’s Going On With Real Estate Commissions? In case you missed it, a jury in Missouri recently determined that the National Association of Realtors (NAR), along with a group of…
Is owner’s title insurance really optional?
Owner’s title insurance is optional, there is no law that requires it. But when you understand the benefits, you’ll realize that peace of mind isn’t as expensive as you might think.
Protect Yourself Against Wire Fraud
Beware of Wire Fraud As if finding the right house, lender and title insurance company weren’t complicated enough, now you have to be cautious of fraudsters thousands of miles away…
What to Expect From a Full Service Settlement Company
When you finally find the perfect home for you and your family and the seller accepts your offer, you’re not quite across the finish line. There is still plenty of…
What is Owner’s Title Insurance? Do I Need It?
Owner’s title insurance offers essential protection against the unknown. Legally, it is not required, but let the buyer beware…
What Happens at Settlement?
If you’re in the final stretch of buying a new house, it’s still not quite time to pat yourself on the back. You’ve made it this far and are inches…
3 Easy Tips to Make Closing Less Stressful
Is it better to schedule your closing at the end of the month or the beginning? There’s no monetary advantage either way, but if you avoid the last few days of the month you’ll be much more likely to have a smooth closing.
Is Shopping for a Title Insurance and Settlement Service Company a Waste of Time?
So, your realtor just referred you to a title insurance and settlement company. But that doesn’t mean that’s where you’ll get the best deal or the best service. “Homebuyers should…
Buying new construction? You’d better hire the right title company.
When you deal with a builder, you’ll need an experienced, independent title company to assist you in leveling the playing field.
Top 3 Reasons to Give Up Your Right to Choose
We’ve designed our website www.ALTtitle.com to be a resource for anyone who’s considering buying or refinancing real estate. From the more than one thousand people who visit our site every…
Why is my real estate agent so persistent about using her title company?
I just had a first time home buyer ask me the following question: We would all like to assume that it’s because her title company delivers great service at a…
Read this before signing a contract to use your builder’s title company
Choose an independent title company to represent you. They won’t be influenced by the builder when it comes to correcting title issues.