What Is a Land Contract? A land contract, sometimes called an installment land contract or contract for deed, is an alternative way to buy a home without going through a traditional mortgage lender. Instead of borrowing from a bank, the buyer makes payments directly to the seller over time, and the seller retains legal title …
Why School Research Belongs on Your Buying Checklist Whether or not you have school-age children, the school district a home sits in can affect resale value, buyer demand down the road, and your own property tax rate, since school levies make up a significant share of most Ohio property tax bills. If you do have …
Read more What to Research About Local Schools Before You Buy
The First Rate Change in Over Two Decades For the first time since 2002, Ohio has updated its title insurance rate schedule. The new rates took effect for orders received on or after January 1, 2026, meaning any home purchase or refinance closing this year is subject to the updated pricing. If you bought a …
Ohio's Reappraisal Cycle, in Plain Terms Ohio law requires every county auditor to conduct a full reappraisal of all real property in the county once every six years, a process known as the sexennial reappraisal, with a triennial update conducted at the midpoint of that six-year cycle to adjust values based on recent sales activity …
Read more Ohio Property Reassessments: What Triggers a Higher Tax Bill
A Different Kind of Closing Closing on a newly built home involves several steps that don't typically come up when buying an existing house. Because the home and often the underlying lot are brand new, the title work, inspections, and financing process all look a bit different from a traditional resale closing. Title Considerations Unique …
Read more New Construction Closings in Ohio: What’s Different From a Resale
Inheriting Property Comes With Extra Steps Selling a home you've inherited is rarely as simple as listing it and finding a buyer. Before the sale can close, the title needs to clearly show that ownership has legally passed from the deceased person to the heirs or the estate, and that process usually runs through Ohio's …
Read more Selling an Inherited Home in Ohio: Probate and Title Considerations
The Core Coverages in a Standard Policy A typical homeowners policy bundles several distinct types of coverage into one package: dwelling coverage for the physical structure of your home, other structures coverage for detached garages, sheds, or fences, personal property coverage for your belongings inside the home, loss-of-use coverage for temporary living expenses if your …
Read more Homeowners Insurance 101: Coverage, Deductibles, and Claims
Two Policies, Two Different Purposes When you close on a home, you'll likely encounter two separate title insurance policies: one for your lender and one for you as the owner. While they sound similar and are often purchased at the same time, they protect very different interests, and understanding the distinction can save you from …
Read more Owner’s Title Insurance vs. Lender’s Title Insurance: What’s the Difference?
What Refinancing Actually Does Refinancing replaces your existing mortgage with a new one, paying off the old loan and starting fresh with new terms. People refinance to lower their interest rate, shorten or extend their loan term, switch from an adjustable to a fixed rate, remove a co-borrower, or tap into home equity. It's a …
Read more Refinancing 101: When It Makes Sense and When It Doesn’t
What Is an HOA Lien? If you're purchasing a home in a community governed by a homeowners association, unpaid dues, fines, or special assessments can result in a lien being placed against the property. Because an HOA lien attaches to the property itself rather than just the individual owner, it can follow the home into …