First American Blog - The First Word

Welcome to First American’s blog featuring highlights on home ownership and title insurance. Please also be sure to visit and subscribe to our Innovation Center Blog, our Caring for Our Community Blog and our Economic Center Blog.

15 Real Estate Terms You Should Know

Whether or not you are a first time home buyer or have sold and purchased real estate in the past, the terminology your agent will use to explain parts and pieces of the transaction will likely seem foreign. Sometimes, although not intentionally, your agent might use an industry phrase without explaining what it means.

Read More

Topics: Homebuyer and Seller Education Real Estate Terminology

3 Home Renovations To Avoid Before Selling

Are you considering home renovations to increase the value and appeal of your home in preparation to sell? Here are three projects that don’t have the high rate of return you may be looking for.

Read More

Topics: Homebuyer and Seller Education

Understanding the HUD-1 Settlement Statement

NOTE: This post was written before the CFPB's Integrated Mortgage Disclousre changes with TRID. The HUD-1 is now only used in very select types of transactions. Visit  http://www.firstam.com/ownership/transaction-disclosures/ for information about the new dsiclosures. 

If you’re looking to buy a home this summer, you’re not alone. In fact, warm...

Read More

Topics: Homebuyer and Seller Education

What is Title Insurance? [Infographic]

Buying a home may be the American dream, but undiscovered title issues – like liens and forgeries – can make that dream a nightmare. That’s why title insurance has been helping protect American homebuyers, sellers and lenders for more than 130 years. Learn more about title insurance – and how it can help protect you and your home.  

Read More

Topics: Homebuyer and Seller Education

Understanding the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) [Infographic]

NOTE: The GFE is no longer used in mortgage transactions. http://www.firstam.com/ownership/transaction-disclosures/ for information about the new disclosures.

With temperatures warming up around the country and school officially out of session, the summer home-buying season is in full swing. If you’re shopping for a home this summer,...

Read More

Topics: Homebuyer and Seller Education

Interest rates now the lowest of 2014

Interest rates on a U.S. home loan dropped across the board in the week ending May 8, but the 30-year fixed rate outpaced them all. As reported by Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage dropped to 4.21 percent from 4.29 percent the week prior.

Read More

Topics: Homebuyer and Seller Education Economy