On Episode 6 of Seattle Real Estate Chat, we’re joined by Barbie Van Horn of First American Title and Escrow. Barbie address what title insurance is and why it’s important for Washington State home buyers. She also addresses sewer capacity charges for King County, Snohomish County and Pierce County.
Buying a Home Together Before Marriage: Vesting in Washington State – Updated 2026
May 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2013 and has been rewritten with current Washington State vesting guidance for couples buying a home before marriage.
More couples are buying a home together before marriage — sometimes years before, sometimes with no wedding planned at all. Whatever your timeline, if you’re not legally married when you close, Washington law treats your ownership very differently than it would a married couple’s. The deed itself is what determines what happens to the home if one of you passes away, or if you split up. This is worth thinking through before you’re sitting at the closing table, not during it. [Read more…]
How to Shop for Title Insurance or Escrow in Washington
November 29, 2011 by 3 Comments
Before I became a mortgage advisor, I spent 14 years working in the title and escrow industry — so I’ve seen this process from both sides of the closing table. I’m often asked by my clients if they can select their own title or escrow provider, and the answer is a big YES. Some people assume title and escrow fees are all roughly the same no matter who you use, but that’s not the case. In Washington, every title insurer and escrow provider is required to file their rate schedule with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner in Olympia — so a company can’t make up a one-off price just for your deal. But different companies file different rates, and I’ve seen those filed rates vary by hundreds of dollars between providers for the exact same transaction. That’s where the real opportunity to shop comes in.
Here are some pointers if you’re shopping for your title or escrow provider in Washington: [Read more…]
To All the Rock Stars at The Talon Group
August 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
It was announced a few days ago that First American is pulling in The Talon Group and Pacific NW Title. I’ve been thinking about all the fun and informative videos the group at Talon have created and thought I’d share “Rock Star” with you.
We get to enjoy these brands for a few more weeks until they’re official absorbed by First American on October 1, 2011, when they all “combine forces”.
For the record, I have enjoyed working with my escrow and title teams at The Talon Group for these past seven (?) years. I think you are all rock stars!
