It's a rare person who invests time to actually read a deed of trust.

Most borrowers just sign their loan documents without reading them. They know if they don't sign, they don't get the loan. And besides, the paperwork that's involved with a loan is simply enormous.

But every once in a blue moon I end up working with buyers who want to read everything they sign, like everybody really should do. Nine times out of ten, questions arise about the deed of trust. Probably the number one question I hear is: "What is a trustee?" Followed by, "And how is a trustee involved in my deed of trust?"

Good questions. Borrowers don't realize that the trustee possesses power of sale. But wait, don't you own the home? How can a trustee sell it? To understand the provisions behind a power of sale and how a trustee becomes a third party to a trust deed, . . . read more about a Deed of Trust.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• About Title Insurance Policies
  
• Property Deeds That Transfer Title
  
• Tenants in Common vs. Joint Tenants

_{©Big Stock Photo}

Technorati tag: deed of trust

Make no bones about it, selling in a foreclosure and short sale market is tough.

Generally, the only sellers who put their homes on the market in areas dominated by foreclosures and short sales are sellers who genuinely need to sell. This includes those sellers who accepted a job transfer, are going through a divorce or are retiring. For whatever reason, these types of sellers usually can't wait for the market to turn around. They need to sell now.

Sellers want to know how much of a hit they will have to take to move that home in a market filled with distressed sales . . . read more about Selling in a Foreclosure and Short Sale Market.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub:

• Foreclosure and Short Sale Deficiency Judgments
  
• How to Price a Short Sale
  
• Do Banks Prefer Short Sales Over Foreclosures?

_{©Big Stock Photo}

Technorati tag: Selling in a Foreclosure and Short Sale Market

The home buying process is pretty simple and straight forward, but I probably think that way because I'm so accustomed to working with home buyers that the entire path is ingrained in my brain.

For home buyers who purchase maybe one or two homes in a lifetime, the path to home buying can appear complicated and confusing. Some wonder if they should first call a lender or a real estate agent. What happens after an offer is signed? How long does it take to close, and are there any hoops to jump through?

I've laid out the steps from A to Z for you -- detailing the entire home buying process -- answering all those questions and more. In some states, buyers prepare an offer letter and conduct home inspections before entering into a purchase contract. But the basic procedure is still the same.

If you follow each of the 18 steps, even if some are out of order as I have listed them, you will still end up receiving the keys to your dream home. But you can't leave out crucial steps out of the home buying process without asking for trouble . . . read more about Home Buying Process.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• Reasons to Buy a Home
  
• 12 Ways to Find a Down Payment
  
• How Much are Buyer's Closing Costs?

_{©Big Stock Photo}

Technorati tag: home buying process

As a home seller, do you feel comfortable writing ad copy to advertise your house for sale?

Many home sellers freeze when they think about advertising their houses. Sellers wonder:

• Which print publications are the best for advertising homes for sale?

• What should the ad say to attract home buyers?

• Does direct mail draw and where would I get a direct mail list?

• How can I create a flyer and post it on the Internet?

One of the easiest ways to come up with good ad copy is to look at how other home sellers advertise and make your ad message better than everybody else's. But that doesn't mean exaggerate. How often have you read about a "peaceful, serene setting," and discovered the home sat next to the railroad tracks? Sure, it's peaceful, when the trains aren't running . . . read more about House Advertising.

More Articles by Elizabeth Weintraub, click below:

• Home Pricing Basics
  
• Home Selling Without Equity
  
• Dealing With Seller's Remorse

_{©Elizabeth Weintraub}

Technorati tag: house advertising