At Proper Title, we believe in the power of giving back and expressing gratitude to our loyal clients who have placed their trust in us. That's why we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Proper Giving Charity Nomination, an initiative designed to make a significant impact in the communities our clients serve. Throughout 2023, we invite our valued clients to nominate a charity close to their hearts to receive a generous $2,500 donation through Proper Giving. This is an incredible opportunity for Proper Title to pay it forward and support the causes that truly matter to you. As the charit ..read more

Last week, the Illinois General Assembly enacted Public Act 102-1135, which will go into effect on July 1, 2023, requiring an increase to the Rental Housing Support Program State (RHSP) surcharge for the recordation of any real estate-related documents. Public Act 102-1135 increases the state surcharge from $9 to $18. Please note, that as of Monday June 19, 2023, all closing statements will reflect the new recording fees since there is a brief turn-time between when the file closes, and when documents are submitted for recording. For documents recorded prior to July 1st, any excess record ..read more

High-dollar real estate transactions are attracting new, more sophisticated forms of wire fraud. So it's more important than ever for title insurers and investors to follow protocols to ensure money transferred by wire is carefully guided to the right destination, whether for real estate closings or for construction escrow services. In 2020, the FBI reported 13,628 people were victims of wire fraud in the real estate and rental sector, a 17% increase over 2019, with losses of more than $213 million. And the pandemic has only accelerated this trend. Here are five tips for investors to avoid bec ..read more

Commercial real estate professionals are the first to tell you they've been slow to embrace social media as a marketing strategy. Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, but your competitors may already be in the space. “For brokers age 35 to 55, social media commerce will have the greatest impact on our business success,” says Carrie Bobb, founder and CEO of Carrie Bobb & Co. in San Diego. The fact that commercial brokers are late to the social sphere means you can still be among the first in your market to build a strong social presence. Before you jump in, though, learn from pio ..read more

In the real estate industry, “title” refers to the legal right to ownership of a property. This title is transferred from a seller to a buyer through the deed to the property. In most cases, the person who holds the deed to the property also holds title and is considered its rightful owner. Additionally, the new owner must be able to own the property “free and clear,” which means that any other claims to ownership must be resolved before a new transfer of ownership can take place. Some common title problems might include an ex-spouse whose name is still on the deed, or financial claims like a ..read more