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

ALT’s Consumer’s Guide to TRID

By Frank Dowd | Aug 12, 2015

TRID: Get an overview of the new regulations that will reform the consumer mortgage and settlement process starting in October 2015.

The Current Real Estate Model Is In DANGER

By Frank Dowd | Jul 20, 2015

There are already some big hints at the decline of the traditional real estate model in the consumer’s mind, as over 90% of consumers initiate their home search by looking at online listings. There’s no doubt that the reputation and the relevancy of the entire industry is at stake, and real estate agents and brokers are approaching the crossroads.

There are 4 keys to selling your house. The rest is nonsense.

By Frank Dowd | Jun 12, 2015

There are four main ingredients to be successful in selling your house. All of the other nonsense is just personal promotion to justify hefty commissions.

Avoid the end of the month for your next real estate closing

By Frank Dowd | Jun 4, 2015

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.

When are my real estate taxes officially due?

By Frank Dowd | May 20, 2015

If you’re moving from Philadelphia to one of the outlying suburbs you’ll need to become familiar with the different real estate related taxes, when they’re due and who collects them. In Philadelphia there’s not much to it. Real estate tax bills are due in January and are based on the calendar year (January 1, to…

Start talking money…because I’m not really listening!

By Frank Dowd | Apr 30, 2015

Home buyers and sellers want transparency and information from their real estate agent, not a slick sales pitch. So get the price out of the way.

Can’t swing a new house because of equity?

By Frank Dowd | Apr 16, 2015

Can’t make a move because you have little or zero equity? You have 2 options to consider before giving up or depleting your savings to make it happen.

What is an Affiliated Business Arrangement (ABA) and are they even legal?

By Frank Dowd | Mar 19, 2015

An Affiliated Business Arrangement, a legal way to share profits in the real estate industry, limits consumer choice and drives up the cost of buying a house.

The Battle Over Real Estate Commissions & Fees

By Frank Dowd | Mar 5, 2015

When it comes to real estate and automobiles don’t try to distract me with percentages and monthly payment amounts. If you’re selling your $300,000 house, 6% doesn’t sound as expensive as $18,000. As a consumer I want to speak in actual dollars and I don’t want to pay you a penny more than I have to for your services.