Will my lender or mortgage broker tell me if I qualify for a title waiver?

Not necessarily… and this is where things can get a bit murky. Some lenders and mortgage brokers have affiliated business arrangements with certain title companies, meaning they may receive financial incentives for directing customers their way. Although Pennsylvania generally expects mortgage lenders and brokers to act in their borrower’s best interest, whether it be title waivers or being aware that their clients can get a better deal through another title company, these relationships can make it challenging to maintain a clear balance between fiduciary duty and affiliated business interests. The key is to be aware the option is available for certain loans/lenders and that you need to ask.

Uncategorized - ALT Title

Why You Might Not Need Title Insurance When You Refinance

Traditionally in Pennsylvania, the answer has been yes. Anytime you refinance, even with the same lender, it will typically require a new lender’s title insurance policy. That’s because your old lender’s policy is tied to the loan you’re paying off, and it can’t be transferred to a new loan. But things are changing. A Fannie…

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We’ll prepare a Closing Cost Estimate for you.

We’ll email you a PDF of your worksheet and a link to view it online. Need to revise it? Create a free account to save the estimate. As your home search evolves, you can tweak the numbers anytime, or start a new estimate. Do you have either the MLS link or MLS # for the…

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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 the seller—if at all. If you’re the buyer, this could mean thousands of dollars in agent compensation may become your responsibility, and the agent you…

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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.

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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 the largest real estate companies in the country colluded with each other to inflate real estate commissions paid by consumers selling real estate. Prior to…

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Forms You May Be Asked to Sign That Have Nothing to Do With Your Offer

Let’s face it, there can be both excitement and anxiety when you’re making an offer on a new house. With all of that emotion, it’s so important to understand what you’re being asked to sign and how it affects the offer you’re making to the seller. Very similar to when you’re signing the paperwork to…

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Avoid the One Stop Shop

The one stop shop approach may sound convenient, but let the buyer beware. All-under-one-roof is rarely a cost effective way to shop for anything, especially a house.

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Realtor Lender Page

Supporting Real Estate Professionals Since 2002 Technology, Service & Savings for Your Clients ALT Title is a full service title insurance and settlement service company conducting business throughout Pennsylvania from our office in Montgomery County. Our staff has a combined 75+ years of experience in title insurance, real estate, contract review and mortgage lending. We…

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Getting Ready to Sell Your House?

Before you put your home up for sale, and certainly before having your first open house, here are 11 things to consider that most home sellers forget to think about and could cost you a sale.

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August 2017 Newsletter

Good Morning Everyone, This past June, ALT celebrated our 15th anniversary in business! We started the company with two primary goals. Provide the best service that our industry has to offer, and to make buying and refinancing real estate less expensive for our customers. While we’re extremely proud of the success we’ve achieved the first…

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Yes, It’s True – Fees Are Negotiable When Buying a House

When you’re buying a new house, the actual house itself isn’t the only thing you’re paying for—there are a number of fees that are rolled into the final price in order to make it officially yours. Although many experienced homebuyers are aware of the extra costs, there are plenty of first-timers who are hit with…

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It’s still a good time to refinance

For those who may be thinking about refinancing an existing mortgage, we’d like to share an email we sent out to our clients at the start of summer. In case you thought you missed out, it’s still a good time to refinance. A few things to consider: First and foremost, rates continue to drop! If your current rate…

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