We are currently in the 21st century, a time when almost everything is a click or two away. Every house for sale anywhere in the nation is available for you or your realtor to find on the internet. All realtors list on Multiple Listing Service ("MLS"), so access to the house of your dreams is available through any realtor. Since buying real estate is often the single largest purchase any of us will ever make, it is important to spend time finding the right person to help you.

When interviewing realtors, consider asking these questions to try to determine whether they are really looking out for your interests alone, or whether they are looking to line someone's pockets.

Do you charge additional fees beyond your commission, such as conveyancing fees, broker service fees, or "additional commission"?

Do you recommend title agents who are in-house or independent? (Steer clear of in-house or affiliated title agents, because there is no benefit to you, only to the referring party.)

Do you have any financial interest in a title agency or lender?

Will you commit to only showing me properties within my specified price range?

Do you have any problem with me using my own independent title agent and attorney?

Welcome to the future of title insurance! Our focus is on you, our client. At Heartland Abstract, we realize that in Pennsylvania title insurance is a familiar, but also unfamiliar, concept in any real estate transaction. It's familiar because you have “heard” of it and are told you need it, but unfamiliar because you don't know what exactly it is or even how to obtain it.

It is quick and easy to learn about title insurance in PA. With a simple internet search of “title insurance” you can learn, in minutes, all you need to know to make an informed choice about a title insurance agent.

For many years, realtors, builders and lenders have successfully managed to take this important choice away from you, the client, for one reason only: more money for them. If you receive a referral to a particular title company from one of those people, or they offer to “order” title insurance for you, the chances are great that the realtor, builder or lender has:

1) Ownership in the title company and therefore makes more money from you;

2) Been instructed/directed by the broker/manager who does have an interest in the title insurance company to direct business to them or

3) Received some kind of “bonus” from the title agency in the form of sporting event tickets, lavish dinners, marketing services or maybe the title agency sponsors the liquor at the realtor/lender/builder's holiday party – all of which leads to ZERO benefit to you and ends up costing you more in the transaction.

The price of all title insurance in Pennsylvania is regulated, meaning the actual title insurance premium charged to the consumer is based upon the purchase price or loan amount and all title insurers must charge the same amount. But other title companies may charge hidden fees over and above the title premiums, which are mostly unregulated and serve as additional income streams that help the title agent cover the “gifts” he or she needs to give to the referring person in order to insure future referrals. None of which, of course, benefits you – in fact it costs you money!