FAN’s Amy Gregory Featured in ALTA’s Monthly “Title News”

Amy Gregory, the Chief Administrative Officer/President for Florida Agency Network, is featured in the February 2020 edition of American Land Title Association’s (ALTA) “Title News.”

In the article entitled “Finding the Diamonds in the Rough”, Jeremy Yohe, Vice President of Communications for ALTA, highlights recruitment in the title insurance industry. Yohe explains how Gregory got her start in the title industry and the progression of her career.

The article goes on to explain what recruits are looking for from future employers and eight characteristics it takes to succeed as a title agent.

 

Click to read the full article – “Finding the Diamonds in the Rough.”


What can RON do for your clients?

Young operator

Who can you help with eClosing technology?

For months, your Title Agent has told you about how 2020 is the year of remote online notarization (RON), and we’re proud to be the first title company in Florida to offer completely paperless eClosings! While it’s certainly a cool new way to complete your closing, the real question is – how can WE help YOU help YOUR customers?

We’ve put together a few examples of real world customers that would benefit from our eClosing and RON solutions.

Closings with Multiple Signers

Florida has one of the highest rates of inherited properties, and many times, the children who are inheriting these homes live all over the country or even abroad. This can create confusion and lengthy procedures because, under a typical closing, the title agency must provide a mail-away package or arrange for each person to visit a separate closing room. Now, all parties involved can sign at the same time, regardless of physical location – saving everyone involved time and money!

Sellers Traveling or Stationed Internationally

Traveling or working out of the country is usually planned well in advance, but sometimes, members of the military, those with jobs that call them abroad, or even vacationers can get caught with a closing before they make it back to the States. While there are solutions available for out-of-country sellers, it usually requires finding a notary at a US Embassy/Consulate, and there have been cases where transactions fell through because this wasn’t possible. RON is an excellent solution to help facilitate this and can help make the process that much easier.

Have you ever traveled and needed to sign documents for a closing but can’t find a witness to assist the Notary? With the new RON technology, witnesses now potentially can be anywhere in the US using this technology!

Older Individuals Who Cannot Travel Easily

For some customers, the simple act of traveling to one of our 20+ offices can be too cumbersome to manage. Completely mobile closings are popular and offer these customers the ability to close in the privacy of their own homes without requiring them to invite strangers onto their property. RON is an excellent solution for them and allows them to complete a secure closing without ever leaving home.

As you can see, there are many ways you can add RON and eClosings to the toolbox of services that you offer your clients. If you’d love to learn more about RON, the eClosing process, and what we can offer you in this new digital age of closings, simply schedule an in-office training for your team. To set up one of these educational events, contact your Title Rep today!


7 Unique Valentine’s Day Gifts for a Home

unique gift collage

It’s the season of love, and what better way to celebrate than with gifts? We’re not talking the boring chocolates and flowers type of thing. No, no, no! Home is where the heart is, so why not focus on a gift for a home?

We’ve come up with a shopping guide that includes unique – and quirky – gifts to get for someone you love, especially if that someone is yourself!

Mistaken Lyrics Coasters

One of our favorite past times is singing the wrong lyrics to songs. Why not spread the joy alongside house guests with these Mistaken Lyric Coasters?

Mistaken Lyric Coasters from Etsy

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer

Take “Suzy/Sam Homemaker” to the next level with this Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer. Never worry about continuously stirring the sauce and free up your hands to prep other items for your recipe. Or, go ahead and get back to your Netflix binge while the sauce cooks. (We won’t be held liable for any burnt sauces, though.)

Automatic Pan Stirrer with Timer

Florida Botanical Embroidery

Nothing says “I love Florida” more than Florida-themed embroidery. This botanical creation shows others the pride you or your loved one has for the State of Florida. And, it gives the opportunity to explain that not everyone in Florida is like “Florida Man.”

Florida Botanical Embroidery

The Worst Case

First-aid kits? No, you need The Worst Case kit. (Well, keep the first-aid kit too!) This carefully crafted survival kit is everything someone would need if there were ever a zombie apocalypse, an opportunity to be on Survivor, or you find yourself up THAT creek without a paddle.

The Worst Case

The Burrito Blanket

Ever wanted to be wrapped like a burrito and left alone on the couch for a few hours? Well, now you can! Take Taco Tuesday to the next level in a Burrito Blanket. With micro-fiber fleece, this blanket will keep you or your loved one warm and cozy!

The Burrito Blanket

Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park Oil Painting

Because who doesn’t want a shirtless oil painting of Jeff Goldblum contemplating life while surrounded by dinosaurs?

Jeff Goldblum, Jurassic Park Oil Painting

Swarovski Crystal Master Yoda

Yeah, Baby Yoda is cute and all. But, have you seen a Swarovski Crystal Master Yoda figurine? Step up you or your loved one’s Star Wars collection with this classy Jedi Master.

Swarovski Crystal Star Wars - Master Yoda

 

 

 

 

 


What’s in a Name? When It Comes to Your Deed, Everything.

couple holding key to new home

We all remember the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet. It was a story of love, tragedy, and (SPOILER ALERT) a SERIOUS lack of communication. While tragic in the end, it’s a great story to recall around Valentine’s Day, and it’s one that can be used to help your customer make sure their story has a better outcome.

Sometimes even a star-crossed couple will make the largest decision of their lives – the decision to purchase a home. While many couples will pool their assets, get a joint mortgage, and take title together, sometimes that’s not possible or one spouse already owns a home before marriage. In pre-marriage ownership scenarios, if one spouse solely owned the home before the marriage, their new, non-owner spouse will need to sign a deed and/or mortgage on the property for the owner spouse to sell it or mortgage it – unless they get a divorce prior to the sale. (Hey, Romeo & Juliet WAS a tragedy after all!)

So, in Florida, even if a spouse is not going to be on the title or a promissory note to repay a mortgage, they still need to sign the deed when selling the property or getting a loan. That’s because, unlike the Capulets and Montagues, today’s couples have something that Romeo and Juliet didn’t – the Florida Constitution.

Article X, section 4, of the Florida Constitution, also known as the Homestead Exemption, is a powerful law that offers many benefits to Florida citizens. You may already be aware of the tax benefits of declaring your “homestead” that are outlined in section 6, but section 4 has some other, lesser known, and noteworthy protections, including:

  1. Exemption of Forced Sales, Even at Death
  2. Restrictions on Wills & Estates
  3. Rules on Alienation or the Voluntary Act of Disposing of a Property

Section 4 helps guarantee that a Florida homeowner cannot be forced to sell their home to repay a debtor in most situations outside of mortgage repayment, mechanical liens, and outstanding property taxes. It also allows tax protection when the couple sells their home and intends to use the profits to buy another home.

To protect as many citizens as possible under these laws, married couples are required to sign the deed to the property when they sell the home. This means that if the Capulets had ever convinced Juliet to leave the Montague she married, she could not have sold their home without Romeo knowing about it. Also, neither she nor Romeo could leave the home to a minor child in their will, without the other party waving at least a portion of their rights.

So, while we are sure that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, make sure your customers understand why both spouses’ name should be on any deed once married and stay tuned for more tips to help your customers to come as we move further into the year.

Until then, parting is such sweet sorrow…..