The CourthouseDirect.com Blog

What is a Good Faith Estimate?

  • CourthouseDirect.com Team
  • 11/27/2013
  • Mortgage
You have decided on a home. Now you need to find a way to pay for it. Like most of us you probably won’t be paying the entire price in cash, so you will need to select a lender. A few years back (1974) the Federal Real Estate Settlement ...
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How to Choose a Real Estate Attorney

  • CourthouseDirect.com Team
  • 11/25/2013
  • Legal
There are differing opinions on whether you actually need a real estate attorney for every home transaction. If your home sale/home purchase is straightforward with no hint of a problem, you probably don’t need one.
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Option Fees vs. Earnest Money: What’s the Difference?

Although every real estate market is different, buyers and sellers typically follow agreed-upon protocols during the delicate pre-closing dance. Option fees and earnest money payments are key aspects of this dance. Since they're relatively ...
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What is Strata Title?

  • CourthouseDirect.com Team
  • 11/20/2013
  • Legal
U.S.-based property owners might not have heard of strata title, but this increasingly common form of property ownership has taken some corners of the world by storm. Pioneered in the Australian state of New South Wales during the early ...
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A Step-by-Step Guide to Bankruptcy Proceedings

  • CourthouseDirect.com Team
  • 11/18/2013
  • Finance
While it's commonly advertised as a last resort for consumers and business owners who simply can't remain current on their debts any longer, bankruptcy is a surprisingly popular form of debt relief. If you've decided that a bankruptcy ...
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What Are Balloon Mortgages and How Are They Different from ARMs?

  • CourthouseDirect.com Team
  • 11/15/2013
  • Mortgage
A balloon mortgage is one where the monthly payment does not change for a particular period of time; then, at the end of that time, the entire balance of the mortgage comes due. For instance, a balloon mortgage of 7 years charges a monthly ...
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What is Possessory Interest?

Possessory interest is the right and intent of someone to occupy or control a plot of land but does not include ownership of the land. An example is a long term lease where someone has the legal right to occupy a home or building and ...
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3 Major Differences Between State and Federal Bankruptcy Laws

  • CourthouseDirect.com Team
  • 11/11/2013
  • Finance
Contrary to popular belief, filing for bankruptcy is not a "magic pill" that has the power to cure all of your financial problems. If you're struggling to make ends meet, it's up to you to do everything in your power to avoid insolvency. ...
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What is the Termination Option?

If you're currently looking to buy or sell a piece of real property, you probably have a lot on your mind. Real estate transfers are complicated affairs with multiple interested parties and way too many moving parts. Under these ...
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