Home Surety is now offering remote online closings!
In July of 2019, legislation became effective allowing the lawful use of digital and online notaries to be used for the closing of real estate transactions in the state of Tennessee. We are now offering digital closings anywhere in the U.S. to provide the most convenience to our clients to close on properties located in the state of Tennessee.

If the client has access to a computer with a webcam and has an internet connection, we can watch them sign documents digitally and complete the transaction within a timely manner. We are proud to say that this is something unique to Home Surety, that is only offered by a handful of title companies across the state. Being forward thinking to best serve our clients is at the core of our culture and we look forward to opening the possibilities that RON's (Remote Online Notaries) will expose; close on properties from the comfort of your home, in between flights at the airport, and virtually anywhere with internet access.

Contact our office to learn more about digital closings and why you might not even have to come to our office to close your real estate transaction!

Our office will be OPEN on Monday, July 3rd.

Home Surety Title wishes you a wonderful weekend, and a Happy Independence Day!

In observance of Memorial Day, our office will be closed Monday the 29th. Normal office hours will resume on the 30th.

Thank you to the brave men and women who have given their lives for our country,

     A wire transfer is a fast way to send money electronically. When you send a wire, your money is moved directly from one entity to another, usually using a bank or credit union. Because it is electronic, no physical currency is involved, making it very easy to send large sums of money securely! The funds from a wire transfer can be used as soon as they are received, making them ideal for closing real estate transactions.
    
     The only risk associated with transferring funds via a wire is when the money is initially sent. You'll know where to send your money after receiving wiring instructions from your settlement agent. Very rarely, a scammer will try to send you fake instructions to trick you into sending your money to them, instead of your intended recipient. To avoid scams and the potential loss of funds, always make sure you confirm your wire instructions with your closing attorney's office. This should be done using a trusted form of communication that cannot be faked or intercepted by an outside party. Two great ways to do this are to call your closing attorney's office directly, or confirm instructions in-person at the closing.

     Once the instructions have been confirmed, and your funds have been sent, you can have peace of mind that you have sent your funds as safely as possible. 

     Happy closing!

​Have you ever wondered why you need title insurance? Your home may be new to you, but every property has a history. A thorough title search can help uncover any title defects tied to your property. And, subject to the terms of the policy, your title insurance provides protection for you from title problems that may become known after you close your transaction. Some of these common title issues are:
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1. Errors in public records
To err is human, but when it affects your homeownership rights, those mistakes can be devastating. Clerical or filing errors could affect the deed or survey of your property and cause undo financial strain in order to resolve them.

2. Unknown liens
Prior owners of your property may not have been meticulous bookkeepers — or bill payers. And even though the former debt is not your own, banks or other financing companies can place liens on your property for unpaid debts even after you have closed on the sale. This is an especially worrisome issue with distressed properties.

3. Illegal deeds
While the chain of title on your property may appear perfectly sound, it's possible that a prior deed was made by an undocumented immigrant, a minor, a person of unsound mind, or one who is reported single but in actuality married. These instances may affect the enforceability of prior deeds, affecting prior (and possibly present) ownership.

4. Missing heirs
When a person dies, the ownership of his home may fall to his heirs, or those namedwithin his will. However, those heirs are sometimes missing or unknown at the time of death. Other times, family members may contest the will for their own property rights. These scenarios — which can happen long after you have purchased the property — could affect your rights to the property.

5. Forgeries
Unfortunately, we don't live in a completely honest world. Sometimes forged or fabricated documents that affect property ownership are filed within public records, obscuring the rightful ownership of the property. Once these forgeries come to light, your rights to your home may be in jeopardy.

6. Undiscovered encumbrances
When it comes to owning a home, three can be a crowd. At the time of purchase, you may not know that a third party holds a claim to all or part of your property — due to a former mortgage or lien, or non-financial claims, like restrictions or covenants limiting the use of your property.

7. Unknown easements
You may own your new home and its surrounding land, but an unknown easement may prohibit you from using it as you'd like, or could allow government agencies, businesses, or other parties to access all or portions of your property. While usually non-financial issues, easements can still affect your right to enjoy your property.

8. Boundary/survey disputes
You may have seen several surveys of your property prior to purchasing, however, other surveys may exist that show differing boundaries. Therefore, a neighbor or other party may be able to claim ownership to a portion of your property.

9. Undiscovered will
When a property owner dies with no apparent will or heir, the state may sell his or her assets, including the home. When you purchase such a home, you assume your rights as owner. However, even years later, the deceased owner's will may come to light and your rights to the property may be seriously jeopardized.

10. False impersonation of previous owner
Common and similar names can make it possible to falsely "impersonate" a property owner. If you purchase a home that was once sold by a false owner, you can risk losing your legal claim to the property.

See the original article on First American's website.