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San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Public Auction – Wednesday March 19, 2014

Every March, the San Diego County Tax Collector has a public auction, selling off parcels of unimproved, and improved property in which the owners have defaulted on their property taxes.  This is a way for the County to recoup some of their lost revenues.  Last year, the auction generated roughly $2 million for the County.

If you are a Real Estate Investor in San Diego, you may want to look into the list of properties being sold at auction.  This year, the Auction is being held on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at the San Diego Convention Center.  The auction begins at 9am.

From a Title Insurance perspective, these properties are nearly impossible to insure, because of the nature of the sale.  However, there could be “diamonds in the rough” where someone might be able to pick up an improved property for under current market value.  You’re encouraged to do your due diligence and understand the sale process completely.

If you’d like to receive Title information on any of the properties going to sale, please be sure to contact me at 858.232.5976 or greg.ives@corinthiantitle.com.  You can also find a list of these distressed properties here.

Remember, if you are buying, selling, or refinancing San Diego Real Estate, or if you are a Real Estate Professional looking for a new Title Insurance Rep, give me a call!

 

Little Italy’s Hottest New Restaurant- Top Chef Winner!

Who says San Diego Title Insurance has to be all work and no play?  If you know me, I LOVE TO EAT!  And I’m very excited about the newest restaurant coming to Little Italy coined “Juniper and Ivy”.

It’s freshly opened by Top Chef Winner Richard Blais and it’s sure to be a hit.  I know I’ll be going there soon to check it out.  It’s open kitchen format should be a great way to change around the normal vibe of eating out.  The drinks are sure to be special and the scenery equally tantalizing.

I will be mixing in plenty of blogs here that are about the hottest events, restaurants, fundraisers, and other local generally fun things to do.  Stay Tuned!

If you are buying, selling, or refinancing your Real Estate in San Diego, please consider me for your San Diego Title Insurance needs!

To read about the Opening of Juniper and Ivy click here

How do you feel about “Affiliated Business Relationships” in San Diego Real Estate?

Every professional in San Diego Real Estate is familiar with “In-House” Real Estate services.  If you are a Buyer or Seller of Real Estate in Southern California reading this blog, you may not be.  Here’s the short and sweet version of it: It’s basically an “affiliated business” which is partially owned, operated or in some way intertwined with the Managing Broker and Owners of a Real Estate Firm.  These in-house services (Title Insurance, Escrow, Mortgage and Lending and Homeowners Insurance) appear to be a “convenient” way to help you close your transaction.  They tout “superior” service and “value”.  Is this practice and set-up the best thing for Buyers and Sellers of Real Estate in San Diego?  I’ll leave that for you to decide.

By law the Brokerage is obligated to disclose to the Buyers and Sellers of a Real Estate transaction that their closing services are affiliated with the company helping you buy or sell your home.  They even disclose that it may be in the “Financial Interests” of the principals in those brokerages to refer business to those affiliated services.  This raises a very interesting topic of conversation.  Who really benefits in this relationship?  Should the client take it upon themselves to seek out their choice for those services?  Are there inherent benefits to choosing those services?  As a consumer or as a Realtor, the choice is yours.

Corinthian Title and Greg Ives are very proud that we are not affiliated with any brokerage in San Diego or in Southern California.  I transact a significant amount of business with Brokerages with these Affiliated Business Relationships because their Realtors understand and believe in the value, knowledge and expertise I bring to their transaction.

I encourage you to read about a recent case that is being heard by a Federal District Court regarding an In-House Title Insurance Relationship with a large Real Estate Brokerage.

Click the blue link to read this article about a Top Producing Brokerage Facing Class Action RESPA Lawsuit for Alleged Kickbacks

Understanding Title Insurance

Thanks for the taking the time to read my 1st Blog on SDTitleGuy.com!  I figure we should start with the basics about WHAT is Title Insurance, WHO needs Title Insurance and WHY do you need it when buying or refinancing your home.

What is title insurance?

Title insurance protects real estate owners and lenders against any property loss or damage they might experience because of liens, encumbrances or defects in the title to the property. Each title insurance policy is subject to specific terms, conditions and exclusions.

Who needs title insurance?

Buyers and lenders in real estate transactions need title insurance.  Both want to know that the property they are involved with is insured against certain title defects. Corinthian Title and SDTitleGuy provides this needed insurance coverage subject to the terms of the policy.  The seller, buyer and lender all benefit from the insurance provided by title companies.

Why Do You Need Title Insurance?

To protect possibly the most important investment you’ll ever make – the investment in your home. With a title insurance policy, you as owner, have an indemnity contract that will reimburse you for loss in the event someone asserts a claim against your property that is covered by the policy.

How can there be a title defect if the title has been searched?
Title insurance is issued after a careful examination of copies of the public records. But even the most thorough search cannot absolutely assure that no title hazards are present, despite the knowledge and experience of professional title examiners. In addition to matters shown by public records, other title problems may exist that cannot be disclosed in a search.

What title insurance protects against
Here are just a few of the most common hidden risks that can cause a loss of title or create an encumbrance on title:

  • False impersonation of the true owner of the property
  • Forged deed, releases, Instruments executed under invalid or expired power of attorney;
  • Undisclosed or missing heirs; Mistakes in recording legal documents
  • Misinterpretations of wills Deeds by persons of unsound mind
  • Deeds by minors
  • Deeds by persons supposedly single, but in fact married
  • Fraud
  • Liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income or gift taxes

What protection does title insurance provide against defects and hidden risks?
Title insurance will pay for defending against any lawsuit attacking your title as insured, and will either clear up title problems or pay the insured’s losses. For a one-time premium, an owner’s title insurance policy remains in effect as long as you, or your heirs, retain an interest in the property.

What this means to you
The peace of mind in knowing that the investment you’ve made in your home is a safe one.

Call SDTitleGuy Today!
If you have any questions concerning title insurance coverage, please call Greg Ives at 858.232.5976. I am here to assist you.