When to shop for a cheaper closing...

This article some great points but a few things to point out--title insurance rates are set by the title insurance company here in GA; we use Old Republic Title as they offer solid service/reliability and great common-sense underwriting (and fair fees too!). For the record, most title companies in GA do not offer re-issue rates so ignore that part of the story.

One other comment that needs to be 'tweaked' is about closing on the last day of the month. YES you'd save the most in interest if you close the last day of the month or close to it (call me and I will explain). BUT how much is your time worth? Or better yet-how much is your STRESS level worth? I can guarantee that MOST closing issues are due to rushed deals such as on month-end or for FRIDAY closings. If it were me (after 20 years doing closings) I'd prefer to close the week of the 25th or so on a Wednesday. Why Wednesday? People think they have to close on Friday so they can move the next day. If there is a problem with your closing (perhaps your wire didn't come in time) then you won't fund. If you have no money, you're not getting keys! Back when I closed for a National builder, if you don't have money, you don't get keys (actually the best policy). Did they care about that $150/hour moving company idling in the cul-de-sac? NO. If you close on Wednesday, you STILL move on Friday and you also have 2 bonus days to 'fix' problems like missing wires, walk-through issues, etc.

Finally, DO check into the firm where you're 'told' to close. Are they customer-service driven like us? If not, why are you closing there??? Give us a call today and schedule YOUR closing with US!

A quick refresher on how to title your property

This LINK should take you to a question asked online. It was answered by another real estate attorney and I added my thoughts as well. Between the two, this should give you some points to ponder re: how to title your home.

Have a great weekend! Bo

We're # 6!

I'm surprised we were only in the top-10 once! We all know Atlanta traffic is always a mess; this article makes it "official"! So be careful out there as you travel; avoid 285 and you should be fine ; ) I sure wish the Northern Arc was not so politicized in the past! We could really use a 'relief' road between I-85 and I-75 on the Northside of ATL but that fell apart years ago... Oh well...

Real Estate Lawyers versus Witness Only closings

I couldn't write an article on this subject as clearly as this one, as it references a court case in Massachusetts. I applaud their efforts and I am hopeful that efforts to stop the same activities in Georgia will be successful in the future. Yes, I know this sounds incredibly 'protectionist' of me--it is. Yes, I want to ensure that as a closing attorney I have a job.

BUT in all honesty these witness-only firms are not held to the same standards as I am. I try to leave a title cleaner than I found it--I either fix a title issue (open loan deed, etc.) or have detailed notes to share with a future lawyer who finds an issue with my file. In essence, I care about the actual practice of law (and I truly feel that the closing process is a 'start to finish' proposal--not just sitting at the table with a blue pen and my notary stamp). For that matter, who is going to fix the title issue caused by some out of state company? When you go to sell your house you may find that your last closing created a huge error that will be costly to fix! I find issues all the time--even one refinance uncovered a situation where the gentleman actually owned NOTHING (a long story, but after a month or so I was able to fix the problem).

Final thought--witness-only closings (or closings handled by out of state companies, with or without a lawyer involved) are not always the cheapest option. Costs in Georgia are very competitive (at least in the ATL area). It may seem like a good deal to have a 'one-stop' shopping experience but after 15 years I have seen that you either 'get what you pay for' or you can also get screwed. Choose wisely--choose to close with a fully licensed real estate law practitioner.

The end of "Left Lane Bandits"?

I like the fact that the Georgia Legislature is considering a fine on left-lane bandits. No, that's not what the legislators called it, it's my term (actually, a term stolen from Car & Driver). If you are driving under the speed limit in the left lane (a/k/a passing lane) you will be fined $75. I love it! As we all know, Atlantans are apt to speed; there are those who like to park in the left lane because it's their right, dammit, to impede traffic (usually in the name of 'safety'). Their logic is flawed, however, as people will STILL speed past and since the LLB is blocking the correct passing lane, the speeder will have to illegally pass on the right (and as they are already speeding, they may make this move dangerously). So spare me your righteous bleating that the speeder is breaking the law; the LLB is the one who is MORE dangerous! If you want to drive slowly, go for it--there are lanes on the right for your meandering pleasure. As for me, I like the European model where the left lane is empty unless/until you pass. You get in, you get out. That's my 2 cents anyway... Happy Thursday :)