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Austin unlocks top 10 ranking among&nbsp;U.S. cities with the most million-dollar homes.?Austin ranked No. 10 nationally with 24.7 percent of all active real estate listings for sale for over $1 million. No other Texas cities made the top 15.?The study looked at all available real estate for sale in the 30 largest, mid-size, and smallest cities in the United States, and categorized the listings by their $1-million-plus price tags.In the category for the smallest U.S. cities,&nbsp;Grapevine&nbsp;ranked No. 13 with 13 percent of all real estate listings for sale worth over $1 million.The largest cities also were analyzed for active real estate listings worth over $5 million.The study admits that luxury homes worth over $5 million are the true indicator of what "real luxury" looks like specifically for the largest American cities. In Dallas, only 1.8 percent of real estate listings fit that criteria, earning the city No. 8. Austin, with 1.5 percent, land just behind Dallas, at No. 9. The top 10 largest cities in the U.S. with the highest shares of luxury real estate listings worth over $5 million are:<ul><li>No. 1 – Los Angeles, California (11.6 percent)</li><li>No. 2 – Boston, Massachusetts (9.4 percent)</li><li>No. 3 – San Diego, California (7.6 percent)</li><li>No. 4 – New York City, New York (7.4 percent)</li><li>No. 5 – San Francisco, California (7.1 percent)</li><li>No. 6 – Washington, D.C. (2.1 percent)</li><li>No. 7 – Seattle, Washington (2.0 percent)</li><li>No. 8 – Dallas, Texas (1.8 percent)</li><li>No. 9 – Austin, Texas (1.5 percent)</li><li>No. 10 – San Jose, California (1.1 percent) </li></ul> See all of our Luxury Homes for sale <a target="_blank" href="https://greggklar.com/listings">HERE</a><a target="_blank" href="https://greggklar.com/listings"></a>??The full report and its methodology can be found on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.point2homes.com/news/us-real-estate-news/rank-us-cities-share-of-luxury-homes-for-sale.html" target="_blank">point2homes.com</a>.? ?

Austin ranks among top 10 luxury markets in the US

Austin ranks in another top 10 list

Austin makes top 10 for Luxury Homes

Today Show names Round Rock #1 Place to Live in the U.S. ?We think every day is a pretty good day here in our hometown, but&nbsp;today&nbsp;shined a little brighter as Round Rock was featured as the No. 1 place to live in the country on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.today.com/video/here-are-the-top-5-booming-cities-where-people-want-to-live-187308101588">live broadcast</a>&nbsp;of the TODAY Show. <div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure style="width: 614px;"><img src="https://quicktours-static.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/agent_richtext/20230712062819.jpg" alt="" data-rotate="" data-proportion="true" data-align="none" data-size="614px,410px" data-file-name="Round ROck.jpg" data-file-size="485174" data-origin="," style="width: 614px; height: 410px;"></figure></div> The segment, hosted by Hoda Kotb, highlighted the top five booming cities across the U.S. where people want to live, focusing on communities with top notch quality of life with low cost of living, high growth potential, great schools, job security and opportunity. Beating out the beaches of Sarasota, pacific northwest scenery of Tacoma and coastal living of Bridgeport among other places, Round Rock found its way atop the list based on its high quality of life amenities, solid economy and strong sense of community.?“It’s like a little bit of a secret,” Frances Katzen, a real estate expert and broker said. “If you missed out on the frenzy of Austin, which was the No. 1 place to live in 2022, you can get your fix here. It’s basically set up so you have Dell headquarters, you have Switch, you have Emerson working out of there so job security is really good. And then wherever you are there, you’re only ten minutes away from a park. Great outdoor activities, really solid schools, good community, great for retirees, nice climate.”“So it’s kind of the new Austin,” Hoda Kotb said.The five cities on the list included:<ol><li>Round Rock, TX</li><li>Sarasota, FL</li><li>Tacoma, WA</li><li>Bridgeport, CT</li><li>Raleigh, NC</li></ol>The full TODAY Show segment is available online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.today.com/video/here-are-the-top-5-booming-cities-where-people-want-to-live-187308101588" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.today.com/video/here-are-the-top-5-booming-cities-where-people-want-to-live-187308101588</a>?Copy and image courtesy of the City of Round Rock? <a href="https://www.today.com/video/here-are-the-top-5-booming-cities-where-people-want-to-live-187308101588" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> </a>

Round Rock makes the list of best places to live in the U.S.

Today Show names best place to live in the U.S.

Round Rock named #1

Austin Could become the fastest growing large metro area in the United States over the next 5 years.&nbsp; ?? Austin is already set to become the&nbsp;<a href="https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/austin-biggest-city-in-us/" target="_blank">third biggest metro area</a>&nbsp;by the year 2100, but what about on a much smaller scale? A new report has found the state capital will take the gold as the fastest-growing large metro area in the country by 2028, with two other Texas metros close behind. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown's&nbsp;total population in 2023 adds up to nearly 2.4 million people, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://info.siteselectiongroup.com/blog/us-metro-areas-with-the-highest-projected-5-year-population-growth" target="_blank">population growth analysis</a>&nbsp;by Site Selection Group. With a projected population growth rate of 13.55 percent (the highest out of all metro areas), that means Austin's population in the next five years could balloon to more than 2.7 million people. "Most population growth is occurring across the Sun Belt," the report's author says. "Specific to the large metro areas, eight of the top 10 growth markets are located within the Sun Belt [such as] Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas."Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land landed right behind Austin as the predicted second-fastest growing large metro area. The projected 9.62 percent growth rate means the metro's current population of 7.3 million will expand to over 8 million people in the next five years.<figure> </figure>Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington also made it into the top five; a 8.64 percent growth rate will stretch the Metroplex from 7.8 million residents to nearly 8.5 million by 2028. The top 10 fastest-growing large metro areas by 2028 are:<ul><li>No. 1 – Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown</li><li>No. 2 – Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land</li><li>No. 3 – Nashville-Davidson-Murfeesboro-Franklin, Tennessee</li><li>No. 4 – Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina</li><li>No. 5 – Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington</li><li>No. 6 – Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida</li><li>No. 7 – Salt Lake City, Utah</li><li>No. 8 – Charlotte-Concord-Castonia, North Carolina-South Carolina</li><li>No. 9 – Jacksonville, Florida</li><li>No. 10 – Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Washington</li></ul>The report was used to discover the American metro areas that will have the most "favorable long-term labor conditions." Each metro area was categorized into one of three groups based on overall population size: large (over 1 million people), mid-size (between 500,000 and 999,999 people), and small (between 250,000 and 499,999 people)."Although population growth does not guarantee success with hiring and retaining employees, it does provide validation that labor conditions could be trending in a more favorable direction," the report says.?An hour north from Austin,&nbsp;Killeen-Temple&nbsp;ranked the No. 8 fastest-growing small metro area. Killeen-Temple is expected to climb 7.35 percent from 479,286 residents to 514,514 by 2028. <div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"><figure><img src="https://quicktours-static.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/agent_richtext/20230711091407.jpg" alt="" data-rotate="" data-proportion="true" data-size="1271px,847px" data-align="none" data-file-name="download.jfif" data-file-size="1322101" data-origin="," style="width: 1271px; height: 847px;"></figure></div>? <div class="se-component se-image-container __se__float-none"></div>

A new report has found the state capital will take the gold as the fastest-growing large metro area in the country by 2028, with two other Texas metros close behind.

Austin could become fastest growing metro over the next 5 years

Austin could become #1 metro

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Title Insurance: As a homebuyer, the term is probably familiar - but is it understood? What is your dollar actually paying for when you purchase a title policy?
Title Insurers, unlike property or casualty insurance companies, operate under the theory of risk elimination. Title companies spend a high percentage of their operating income each year collecting, storing, maintaining and analyzing official records for information that affects title to real property. Their technical experts are trained to identify the rights others may have in your property, such as recorded liens, legal actions, disputed interests, rights of way or other encumbrances on your title. Before closing your transaction, the title company will proceed to clear those encumbrances which you do not wish to assume.
This theory is different from that of most other insurance where, for example, rates and anticipated losses are based on actuarial studies and premiums are pooled on the assumption that a certain number of claims will be made. The distinction is important: title insurance premiums are paid to identify and eliminate potential risks and claims before they happen. Medical and casualty insurance premiums, for example, are paid to insure against an unpredictable future event, knowing that risks exist and claims will occur. Furthermore, title insurance involves a one-time premium, paid when you close the real estate transaction, while property, casualty and medical insurance require regular renewal premiums.
The goal of title companies is to conduct such a thorough search and evaluation of public records that no claims will ever arise. Of course, this is impossible -- we live in an imperfect world, where human error and changing legal interpretations make 100% risk elimination impossible. When claims arise, professional claims personnel are assigned to handle them according to the terms of the title insurance policy.
As in all competitive business environments, rates vary from company to company, so you should make comparisons before deciding on a particular title company. Your real estate professional can help you do this. In addition, there are many helpful customer services provided by title companies which you and your real estate professional may find helpful to your transaction.
The issuance of a title insurance policy is highly labor-intensive. It is based upon the maintenance of a title plant, or library of title records, in many cases dating back over a hundred years. Each day, recorded documents affecting real property and property owners are posted to these title plants so that when a title search on a particular parcel is requested, the information is already organized for rapid and accurate retrieval. This investment in skilled personnel and advanced data processing represents a major part of the title insurance premium dollar.
Article by CLTA

Title Insurance - Where Does Your Dollar Go?

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Wow what a year, and it's only March.&nbsp; Austin home sales so far for the year are off to an impressive start.&nbsp; The market just can't supply enough homes for the demand.&nbsp; Buyers are continuing the trend of relocation to the Austin metro area at a rate over nearly 200 a day!&nbsp; Yes, a day!&nbsp; Builders can develop and build fast enough and with COVID still a concern for many, sellers are holding off selling unless you just have to.&nbsp; This has created the very strong market we see today here in Austin.
To help make since of it all, lets chat about your plans to buy, sell, lease or invest today.&nbsp; Don't forget we serve Austin, Highland lakes, and our TX coasts in Corpus Christi and Port Aransas.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/idx-acnt-gs.ihouseprd.com/AR967446/file_manager/Feb%20report.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="1000" />
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February Austin sales numbers

As we roll into 2020, many of my clients have been asking me how the market did last year.&nbsp; Afterall we were up against a global pandemic, numerous shut downs, and other challenges we all had to deal with.&nbsp;&nbsp;
As you will see in the graph below we definitely felt the effects of the virus starting in April.&nbsp; However by June the market had begun it's recovery and never stopped.&nbsp; We ended the year with sales up double digits compared to the year prior!&nbsp; A few things at play here.&nbsp; One, our lives really changed and changed quickly.&nbsp; Working and schooling from home changed the way we use our homes and the spaces we need.&nbsp; Two, interest rates remain at all time lows, dipping even below 2 percent for some.&nbsp; Three, Austin continues to grow, faster now than ever before.&nbsp; We simply don't have enough&nbsp;homes for everyone here.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This trend looks to continue into 2021.&nbsp; Sales are off to very strong start with homes all over the city and price ranges receiving multiple offers.&nbsp; If you're thinking about selling, I can't imagine a better time.&nbsp; If you're thinking about buying, now is also a great time due to low interest rates, and more and more inventory coming on the market as we inch our way to spring.&nbsp; Either way, myself and team are all here to help guide you through the process and create the best stress-free experience for you.&nbsp; Let's chat about your plans today!

2020 Austin stats WOW! Push the marker higher in early 2021

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If you know exactly why you are selling then it is easier for you to follow the right plan of action for getting what you want.
If you are a seller who needs to close a sale as quickly as possible, then you should know that getting the highest price possible is not one of your priorities. It does not mean that you won&rsquo;t or cannot get the highest price, but it means that the price is not the deciding factor. A buyer who can give you a quick closing time will appeal much more to you than a buyer who can offer you more money but the negotiation and closing time drag on.
It&rsquo;s always good to know how low you will go in terms of selling price. This will help to eliminate some of the offers that you find simply offensive or ridiculous. Even though you should consider all offers seriously and take into consideration the terms of each offer, sometimes, if you know the bottom line and are strict about it, you can save yourself time.
Once you know what your limits and reasons are, discuss them with your agent so that they can help you set your goals realistically. If you decide to list your home on your own, make sure you do research on the current market, and you get the proper advice you need in terms of legal issues, etc. The key is to be realistic and to know what your goals are so they can be met.

Know Why You are Selling

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<h1>Biggest news in Austin and local area Real Estate</h1>
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<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/11/09/high-priced-homes-austin-gets-its-first-1-million.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin gets it's first Million Dollar Neighborhood</a>
<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/11/01/organization-finds-a-home-for-underrepresented.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boys and Girls Clubs of Austin get new Home Club facility</a>
<a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/11/09/report-wework-may-build-its-own-tower-in-downtown.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WeWork may build it's own office tower downtown on prime site.</a>
<a href="http://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/11-09-18-austin-restaurants-open-Thanksgiving-matties-second-bar-ciclo-carillon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leave THANKSGIVING to the pros, these Austin area restaurants are OPEN turkey day.</a>
<a href="http://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/11-08-18-austin-awarded-medal-as-best-us-outpost-for-military-veterans/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin slated as BEST PLACE for Military Veterans to live</a>
<a href="http://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/11-08-18-austins-oldest-hike-and-bike-trail-charts-new-course-from-downtown-to-the-domain-shoal-creek-trail-plan/#slide=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Austin's oldest Hike and Bike trail sets new path from Downtown to Domain.</a>
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Happy Thanksgiving Ausitn

How Much is your home worth in Austin, Texas? &nbsp;If you are planning on selling your home, that is a question you need answered. &nbsp;As your Local Austin&nbsp;Real Estate Expert, I can help you to learn the answer to that question. &nbsp;I will personally do the research on your behalf and provide you with a detailed Free Market Analysis. &nbsp;Please feel free to take a few moments to complete the basic information below and I will go straight to work for you. &nbsp;Or, if you prefer, please feel free to give me a call directly at 512-653-0488.
See:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/map-search">Homes for Sale in Austin, Texas</a>
FOR A COMPLETE MARKET ANALYSIS FORM:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/free-market-analysis">CLICK HERE (link to Free Market Analysis)</a> IMAGE OF A HOME

How Much Is My Home Worth in Austin, Texas

Plan to buy or sell a home soon?&nbsp; Find out why in my over 20 years of selling homes I think you should sooner rather than later in our Fall / Winter Home buying or selling reports.
The evidence is the clearest it's been in decades.&nbsp; Wait, and you'll end up paying more, here's why......
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; SELLING GUIDE&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;BUYING GUIDE
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Selling Guide
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Buying Guide
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Buying or Selling soon

Have you ever considered moving to beautiful Austin, Texas? &nbsp;Austin is a desirable community &amp; great location. &nbsp;Austin, Texas&nbsp;boasts a variety of local landmarks, excellent schools, parks and much much more. &nbsp;Take a look at some of the most popular searches in Austin, Texas&nbsp;and the surrounding areas.
See:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/map-search">Homes for Sale in Austin, Texas</a>
Not quite the location that you are looking for? &nbsp;That is okay. &nbsp;Through my website you can search for the exact home you are looking for in the exact city, county or community you are looking for. &nbsp;Search for your perfect home, in the perfect location by taking advantage of my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/advanced-search">Advanced Search</a>&nbsp;tool built directly into this website.

Have You Ever Considered Purchasing a Home in Austin, Texas

There are so many different kinds of homes out there for families to choose from. &nbsp;Do I want to live in Austin? &nbsp;Or maybe you want to find a home in Austin. &nbsp;How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? &nbsp;Do you need a large back yard? &nbsp;A small backyard? &nbsp;Do I even need, or want, a yard at all? &nbsp;Don&rsquo;t even get me started on the front yard and curb appeal. &nbsp;Hardwood floors, tile, carpet. &nbsp;There are so many things to consider when looking for your dream home. &nbsp;How, then, do you find the right home for you?
The answer is to put me to work for you. &nbsp;That is what I do for my clients. &nbsp;Completing my basic&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/dream-home-finder">Dream Home Finder</a>&nbsp;I can immediately go to work for you. &nbsp;Of course you can take advantage of my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/quick-search">Quick Search</a>&nbsp;and my&nbsp;<a href="https://www.greggsteam.com/advanced-search">Advanced Search</a>&nbsp;tools to surf through all the homes for sale in Austin, Texas&nbsp;or the surrounding areas. &nbsp;By completing the Dream Home Finder, I can use additional resources at my disposal to locate homes for sale that may not be available in the public view. &nbsp;In addition you are a busy individual and my passion is to work for you to find that dream home and schedule tours for you. &nbsp;By working together as a team with your dreams and my resources, finding that dream home is only one tour away. &nbsp;It is my passion to find you that one right tour.

Find Your Dream Home in Austin, Texas

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By asking the right questions, and knowing exactly what your needs are, you can find the right loan for you. There are certain approaches that you can take while mortgage shopping that can cost or save you money.
It is still true that the better qualifications you have, the lower your interest rate will be. However, there are mortgages available for almost everyone; it's the interest rates or the down payments that vary.
Before speaking with a lender, know what monthly dollar amount you feel comfortable committing to. Then when you discuss mortgage pre-approval with your lender, it is easier for you to determine the monthly amount and what value of home the monthly amount translates into. Do not put yourself in the position where you will be paying more each month than you intended simply because the dream home requires it.
Do your research on the types of mortgages available to you and find the one that best suits your needs. There are a number of considerations to be made in terms of finding the best mortgage for each individual:
<ul>
<li>What type of market are you in? Are the interest rates falling or rising?</li>
<li>Do you want a fixed mortgage rate, where you will always know what your payment is going to be?</li>
<li>What are your long-term goals? Do you intend to resell the property? Do you only need the mortgage for a short time?</li>
</ul>

Avoiding Financial Stress

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1. Analyze why you are selling - If you understand your motives, you will be able to better negotiate and to get what it is that you want, whether it be a quick sale, high price, or somewhere in the middle.
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2. Prepare your home for the buyer - Maximize the strengths of your property and fix up its weaknesses. You want the buyer to walk away from your home with a lasting good impression.
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3. Find a good real estate agent that understands your needs - Make sure that your agent is loyal to you, and can negotiate to help you achieve your goals. In addition, they should be assertive and honest with both you and the buyer.
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4. Be prepared for negotiation - Learn and understand your buyer&rsquo;s situation; what are their motives? Can you demand a big deposit from them? Try to lock in the buyer so that the deal goes through.
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5. Negotiate for the best price and the best terms - Learn how to counter offer to get maximum value from every offer.
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6. Make sure the contract is accurate and complete - Be honest with your disclosures; you do not want to lose the deal because you were lying or diminishing your home&rsquo;s defects. Insist the buyers get a professional inspection. This will protect both you and the buyer.

Plan of Action

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Sellers of real property will have certain information regarding the sale reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
This required reporting is a consequence of the Tax Reform Act of 1986; it is intended to encourage taxpayer compliance and aid in audit and enforcement efforts by the I.R.S.
To help you better understand this subject, the Land Title Association has answered some of the questions most commonly asked about Required Reporting to the I.R.S.
<h3>Who is required to report to the I.R.S.?</h3>
Sellers of real property, under guidelines established by the I.R.S., are required to have their gross proceeds from the sale reported on a Form 1099S. When a settlement agent is used, the I.R.S. makes this agent responsible for the delivery of the information on the Form 1099S.
The settlement agent generally will be the escrow agent or title company; however, it may be an attorney, real estate broker or other person providing settlement services.
<h3>What is an I.R.S. Form 1099S, and what will be reported?</h3>
The Form 1099S is the reporting form adopted by the I.R.S. for submitting the information required by law.
The information will be transferred onto magnetic media by the settlement agent who will store the information and make the required report to the I.R.S. The settlement agent is also responsible for keeping a master copy of all transactions reported.
In general, information required by the I.R.S. falls into the following categories:
<ol>
<li>The name, address and taxpayer ID number (social security or tax identification number) of the seller(s)</li>
<li>A general description of the property (in most cases an address)</li>
<li>The closing date of the transaction</li>
<li>The gross proceeds of the transaction (even though gross proceeds do not correspond to taxable income)</li>
<li>Any property involved as part of the transaction other than cash or cash equivalent</li>
<li>The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the settlement agent.</li>
<li>Real estate tax paid in advance that is allocable to the buyer.</li>
</ol>
<h3>On what type of transactions is a Form 1099S required?</h3>
Currently, typical homeowner transactions covered include sales and exchanges of 1-4 family residential properties such as houses, townhouses, and condominiums. Also reportable are sales or exchanges of improved or unimproved land, commercial or industrial buildings, condominiums, stock in a cooperative housing corporation and mobile homes (manufactured homes) affixed to real property.
Specifically excluded from reporting are foreclosures and abandonment of real property and financing or refinancing of properties.
<h3>What happens if the seller(s) refuses to provide the taxpayer identification number for the Form 1099S?</h3>
The settlement agent is required to request the transferor&rsquo;s taxpayer identification number(s) (TIN(s)) before the time of closing. You may request a TIN on Form W-9 or use an alternative written request. The IRS has included sample wording of an alternative written request in the instructions for preparation of Form 1099S.
Should the seller fail to provide the identification number and certify its correctness, the settlement agent may choose to:
<ol>
<li>Delay the closing of the transactions until the information is furnished, or</li>
<li>Complete the transaction and report to the I.R.S. that an attempt was made to obtain the information from the seller.</li>
</ol>
<h3>How is the sale reported when there is more than one seller involved or when multiple sellers do not own equal interests in the property?</h3>
Multiple sellers may allocate the gross proceeds among themselves for purposes of reporting. If there is no allocation, an incomplete allocation or conflicting allocations, then the entire gross proceeds will be reported for each seller.
<h3>Where can I go for further information on taxation of real property?</h3>
The I.R.S. provides free publications that explain the tax aspects of real estate transactions. You may wish to order:
<ul>
<li>Publication #523 &ldquo;Tax Information on Selling Your Home&rdquo;</li>
<li>Publication #530 &ldquo;Tax Information for Home Owners&rdquo;</li>
<li>Publication #544 &ldquo;Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets&rdquo;</li>
<li>Publication #551 &ldquo;Basis of Assets&rdquo;
&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
To place your order, phone toll-free (800) 829-3676.
Article by CLTA

Required Reporting to the I.R.S.

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The price is the first thing buyers notice about your property. If you set your price too high, then the chance of alienating buyers is higher. You want your house to be taken seriously, and the asking price reflects how serious you are about selling your home.
Several factors will contribute to your final decision. First, you should compare your house to others that are in the market. If you use an agent, he/she will provide you with a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis). The CMA will reflect the following:
<ul>
<li>houses in your price range and area that were sold within the last half-year</li>
<li>asking and selling prices of houses</li>
<li>current inventory of houses on the market</li>
<li>features of each house on the market</li>
</ul>
From the CMA, you will learn the difference between the asking price and selling price for all homes sold, the condition of the market, and other houses comparable to yours.
Also, try to find out what types of houses are selling and see if it applies to your area. Buyers follow trends, and these trends can help you set your price.
Always be realistic. Understand and set your price to reflect the current market situation.

Setting the Price

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<h3>What&rsquo;s in a name?</h3>
When a title company seeks to uncover matters affecting title to real property, the answer is, &ldquo;Quite a bit.&rdquo;
Statements of Information provide title companies with the information they need to distinguish the buyers and sellers of real property from others with similar names. After identifying the true buyers and sellers, title companies may disregard the judgments, liens or other matters on the public records under similar names.
To help you better understand this sensitive subject, the Land Title Association has answered some of the questions most commonly asked about Statements of Information.
<h3>What is a Statement of Information?</h3>
A Statement of Information is a form routinely requested from the buyer, seller and borrower in a transaction where title insurance is sought. The completed form provides the title company with information needed to adequately examine documents so as to disregard matters which do not affect the property to be insured, matters which actually apply to some other person.
<h3>What does a Statement of Information do?</h3>
Every day documents affecting real property--liens, court decrees, bankruptcies--are recorded.
Whenever a title company uncovers a recorded document in which the name is the same or similar to that of the buyer, seller or borrower in a title transaction, the title company must ask, &ldquo;Does this document affect the parties we are insuring?&rdquo; Because, if it does, it affects title to the property and would, therefore, be listed as an exception from coverage under the title policy.
A properly completed Statement of Information will allow the title company to differentiate between parties with the same or similar names when searching documents recorded by name. This protects all parties involved and allows the title company to competently carry out its duties without unnecessary delay.
<h3>What types of information are requested in a Statement of Information?</h3>
The information requested is personal in nature, but not unnecessarily so. The information requested is essential to avoid delays in closing the transaction.
You, and your spouse if you are married, will be asked to provide full name, social security number, year of birth, birthplace, and information or citizenship. If you are married, you will be asked the date and place of your marriage or registered domestic partnership.
Residence and employment information will be requested, as will information regarding previous marriages or registered domestic partnerships.
<h3>Will the information I supply be kept confidential?</h3>
The information you supply is completely confidential and only for title company use in completing the search of records necessary before a policy of title insurance can be issued.
<h3>What happens if a buyer, seller or borrower fails to provide the requested Statement of Information?</h3>
At best, failure to provide the requested Statement of Information will hinder the search and examination capabilities of the title company, causing delay in the production of your title policy.
At worst, failure to provide the information requested could prohibit the close of your escrow. Without a Statement of Information, it would be necessary for the title company to list as exceptions from coverage judgments, liens or other matters which may affect the property to be insured. Such exceptions would be unacceptable to most lenders, whose interest must also be insured.
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
Title companies make every attempt in issuing a policy of title insurance to identify known risks affecting your property and to efficiently and correctly transfer title so as to protect your interests as a homebuyer.
By properly completing a Statement of Information, you allow the title company to provide the service you need with the assurance of confidentiality.
Article by CLTA

Statements of Information

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<h2>What kind of lender is best?</h2>
If you ask a loan officer, &ldquo;What kind of lender is best?&rdquo; the answer will be whatever kind of company he works for and he will give you a list of reasons why. If you meet the same loan officer years later, and he works for a different kind of lender, he will give you a list of reasons why that type of lender is better.
REALTORS&reg; will also have differing opinions, and those opinions have and will continue to change over time. In the past, it seemed like most would recommend portfolio lenders. Now, they usually recommend mortgage bankers and mortgage brokers. Most often they direct you to a specific loan officer who has demonstrated a track record of service and reliability.
This article discusses the advantages and disadvantage of different types of institutions, not the individual loan officers. However, it is often more important to choose the correct loan officer, not the institution. The loan officer has many responsibilities, one of which is to act as your representative and advocate to the lender he works for or the institutions he brokers loans to. You want someone who has proven dependable and ethical in the past.
Regarding the institutions, the truth of the matter is that each type of lender has strengths and weaknesses. This does not even take into account the variety of other factors that influence whether a lender is good or bad. Quality can vary, depending on the loan officer, the support staff, which branch or office you are obtaining your loan from, and a variety of other factors.
<h3>PORTFOLIO LENDERS</h3>
Savings &amp; Loans are quite often portfolio lenders, as are some banks. Portfolio lenders generally promote their own portfolio loans, which are usually adjustable rate loans. They will often pay more compensation to their loan officers for originating a portfolio product than for originating a fixed rate loan. You may also find that they are not as competitive as mortgage bankers and brokers in the fixed rate loan market.
However, it is often easier to qualify for a portfolio loan, so borrowers who may not qualify for a fixed rate loan may be able to obtain a loan from a portfolio lender. A borrower may be able to qualify for a larger loan from a portfolio lender than he could obtain from a fixed rate lender.
Portfolio lenders also can serve as niche lenders because certain things are more important to them than meeting the more standardized underwriting guidelines of a mortgage banker. An example would be a savings &amp; loan, which is more concerned with an individual&rsquo;s savings history than being able to fully document income and other things.
If you apply for a loan with a portfolio lender and you are declined, you usually have to start the process over with a new company.
<h3>MORTGAGE BANKERS</h3>
If we are talking about the larger mortgage bankers, you can count on them having several strengths. For the biggest ones, you will recognize the brand name.
Usually, they are much better at promoting special first time buyer programs offered by states and local governments, that have lower interest rates and costs than the current market rate. These programs are often available to buyers who have not owned a home in the last three years and fall within certain income guidelines.
Mortgage bankers may incur problems because they are just too big to manage, or they may operate like well-oiled machines.
If you are buying a home and you need a VA or FHA loan and the development you are buying in has not yet been approved, they will be better at getting it approved than other lenders.
If your home loan is declined for some reason, many mortgage bankers allow their loan officers to broker the loan to another institution. However, because your loan officer is so used to promoting the company&rsquo;s product, he may not be familiar with which institution may be the best one to submit your loan to. Another reason is because wholesale lenders do not expect to get many loans from direct mortgage bankers, so they do not expend much marketing effort on them.
<h3>BANKS and SAVINGS &amp; LOANS</h3>
Their major strength is that you will recognize their name. In addition, they will usually be operating as a mortgage banker, a portfolio lender, or both, and have the same weaknesses and strengths.
<h3>MORTGAGE BROKERS</h3>
The major strength of mortgage brokers is that they can shop the wholesale lenders for the best rate much easier than a borrower can. They also learn the &ldquo;hot points&rdquo; of certain wholesale lenders and can handpick the lender for a borrower that may be unique in some way. He will be able to advise you whether your loan should be submitted to a portfolio lender or a mortgage banker. Another advantage is that, if a loan gets declined for some reason, they can simply repackage the loan and submit it to another wholesale lender.
One additional advantage is that mortgage brokers tend to attract a high number of the most qualified loan officers. This is not universal because mortgage brokers also serve as the training ground for those just entering the business. If you have a new loan officer and there is something unique about you or the property you are buying, there could be a problem on the horizon that an experienced loan officer would have anticipated.
A disadvantage is that mortgage brokers sometimes attract the greediest loan officers, too. They may charge you more on your loan, which would then nullify the ability of the mortgage broker being able to shop for the lowest rate.
<h3>WHOLESALE LENDERS</h3>
Borrowers cannot get access to the wholesale divisions of mortgage bankers and portfolio lenders without going through a broker.
<h2>When REALTORS&reg; or Builders Recommend a Lender</h2>
If your REALTOR&reg; or builder makes a suggestion for a lender, be sure to talk to that lender. One reason REALTORS&reg; and builders make suggestions is the fact that they have regular dealings with this lender and have come to expect a certain amount of reliability. Reliability is extremely important to all parties involved in a real estate transaction.
On the other hand, a recent trend in mortgage lending has been for real estate companies and builders to own their own mortgage companies or create &ldquo;controlled business arrangements&rdquo; (CBA&rsquo;s) in order to increase their profitability. These mortgage brokers sometimes become used to having what is essentially a captured market and may not necessarily offer you the lowest rates or costs.
Some real estate companies also offer different types of incentives to their REALTORS&reg; in exchange for recommending their company-owned mortgage and escrow companies or lenders with whom they have CBA&rsquo;s. Dealing with one of these lenders is not necessarily a bad thing, though. The builder or real estate company often feels they have more ability to expedite matters when they own the company or have a controlled business relationship. They cannot usually influence the underwriting decision, but they can sometimes cut through red tape to handle problems or speed up the process. Builders are especially forceful on having you use their lender. One reason is that there are certain intricacies in dealing with new homes. If you use a loan officer who usually deals with refinances or resale home loans, he may not even be aware of how different it is to close a mortgage on a new home and this can lead to problems or delays.
It is in your interest to know if there is any kind of ownership relationship or controlled business arrangement between the real estate or builder and the lender, so be sure to ask. Do not automatically disqualify such a lender, but be sure to be more vigilant on getting the best interest rate and the lowest costs.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Make sure to do a little shopping. By knowing the interest rates in your market and making sure your loan officer knows you are looking at rates from other institutions, you can use that as leverage to make sure you are obtaining the best combination of service and the lowest rates.

The Advantages of Different Types of Mortgage Lenders

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