Deed Fraud Is Rising: How Ohio Homeowners Can Protect Their Title
What Deed Fraud Actually Looks Like Deed fraud, sometimes called title theft, generally happens when someone files a forged or otherwise fraudulent deed with the county recorder's office, attempting to transfer a property's title away from its rightful owner entirely without that owner's knowledge or consent. It often targets vacant land, rental properties, homes owned …
How Rising Interest Rates Are Shifting Buyer and Seller Leverage
Where Rates Stand Right Now The benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been holding in the mid-6% range through much of 2026. Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.67% as of August 13, 2026, down slightly from 6.69% the week before, and up from 6.58% a year earlier. Forecasters …
What Happens When the Appraisal Comes in Low?
Why Appraisals and Purchase Prices Sometimes Diverge A low appraisal simply means the appraiser's independent estimate of value came in under your agreed purchase price. It happens more often in fast-moving or low-inventory markets, where buyers compete aggressively and bid above recent comparable sales. It can also happen if there aren't enough truly comparable recent …