Phone: 205-612-8496                *** FREE *** Home Value Market Analysis              How much should you ask for your house? LINKS TO USEFUL TOOLS AND INFORMATION Internet Auction Sale - A selling option that might work for you. Why Work With Us? - What we do for buyers and sellers. Who we are and what we offer.  For Sale By Owner - Things to consider - Is it right for you? Understanding Agency - What you need to know about real estate agency arrangements. Listing & Selling Strategy - How we market your home. Preparing Your Home - Things you can do to help show your home. Understanding Title Insurance - What and who it protects. Real Estate Appraisers - Preferred on first page - Plus search by area. Home Inspection Companies - State Licensed Inspector search. Closing Attorneys - Comprehensive list of closing attorneys with contact information Closing the Deal - What to expect and bring to the closing. Moving Tips - Suggestions and cautions on making your move. 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Address Change -  with Post Office, IRS, Driver's License, Voter Registration, etc. If you are relocating to another area and need information about schools, child care, parks, doctors and other services available anywhere in the country click on the link below to go to our Area Information Page                               Title Insurance There are two kinds of title insurance – a lender’s title policy and an owner’s title policy.  To protect their interest in the property, mortgage lenders require buyers to purchase a lender’s title policy.  But a lender’s title policy doesn’t protect the buyer's interest as the homeowner.     To protect their interest in the property the buyer needs an owner’s title policy.  This policy pays for all court costs and related fees associated with any claim that might come up and if a claim is found to be valid, the actual loss is covered, up to the face amount of the policy.  In Alabama, it is customary for the buyer and seller to split the cost of the two title insurance policies.   Some of the things a title policy will protect against include: Fraud Liens for unpaid estate inheritance and gift taxes against prior owners of your home. Unrecorded easements – rights of way Undisclosed Heirs of former owners of you home or the land on which it is situated. Invalid deeds delivered after the death of the grantor Invalid documents executed under expired power of attorney Deeds by persons of unsound mind Deeds by minors Deeds by supposedly single persons who are actually married  Back to Top               Closing   In Alabama it is customary for one attorney to represent the buyer, seller and mortgage company (if a loan is involved) and for the cost of the attorney to be split equally between the buyer and the seller.  The closing attorney will lead the way and direct everyone in regard to the many papers that must be reviewed and signed.  A good closing attorney will make the experience pleasant and stress-free.   The closing should take less than an hour to complete.  The meeting is relatively informal and usually attended by the buyer, seller, buying and selling real estate agents, and perhaps a representative from the mortgage company.  You can also bring anyone you wish to assist you or just keep you company.    Things you should bring to the closing:   Photo ID Keys and garage door opener(s)  If more than one owner, both must attend or arrangements for power of attorney must be made in advance.    Back to Top           Closing Attorneys   Name Address Phone Atchison, Mike T. 110 North Main Street, Columbiana, AL 35051 669-9268 Barksdale, Todd. 1707 29th Court South, Homewood, AL 35209 871-5630 Battles, Chris 3150 H .52 West, Pelham, AL 35124 664-1080 Beals, Russell 4898 Valleydale Road, Ste B-3, Bham, AL 35242 991-5434 Brown, Vincent 510 N. 18 Street, Bessemer, AL 35020 425-7001 Burdette, L. Brooks 1930 Edwards Lake Rd, Ste 126, B'ham, AL 35235 661-1800 Bynum & Bynum 17 Office Park Circle, Bham, AL 35223 870-8090 Carr, Clay 400 Boardman Drive, Chelsea, AL 35043 678-8000 Central Alabama Title 3241 Oak Hill Drive, B'ham, AL 35216 822-7395 Cyte, Susie 1315 Columbiana Drive, B'ham, AL 35226 979-3216 Chamblee, Ennis & Weems 5582 Apple Pk. Drive, B'ham, AL 35235 856-9111 Coney, Moncus & Ward 400 Shades Creek Pkwy, Suite 100, Bham 35209 879-5959 Closing Services, Inc. (Ray Morse) 1920 Valleydale Road, Bham, AL 35244 988-4342 Davis, Yvonne 1 Perimeter Park So., Suite 1-N, Bham 35243 324-5536 Dominick, Fletcher & Yielding 2121 Highland Avenue S., B'ham, AL 35205 939-0033 Downs & Associates 20038 Hwy 11, Woodstock, AL 35188 938-2024 Druid Title 2008 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 345-5583 Foster, Tom 1201 19 Street N., B'ham, AL 35234 328-3358 Freeman, Ed 118 North 18 Street, Bessemer, AL 35020 424-1150 Fuhrmeister, Jim 1300 Corporate Drive Bham AL 35242 991-6367 Galloway, Michael 999 Mt. Olive Rd, Ste 201, Gardendale, AL 35071 631-1969 Gant, John 200 Office Park Drive, Ste 210, Bham, AL 35223 868-0093 Goings, Harold 2117 Second Ave. North, Bham, AL 35203 328-4100   Holliman, John    2491 Pelham Pkwy., Pelham, AL 35124 663-0281 Holliman, Shockley & Kelly 1610 4th Avenue N., Bessemer, AL 35020 424-5494 Hornsby, Bobby 2010 Old Springville Road, Bham, AL 35215 856-5100 Humphrey, Scott 3829 Lorna Road, Ste 312, Hoover, AL 35244 988-8888 Johnson, Stuart Y. 4 Office Park Circle, Ste 112, B'ham, AL 35223 445-0977 Jones, Loring 1025 Mont. Hwy., Ste. 212, Vestavia Hills 35216 979-5210 Keith, Alan C. 2100 Lynngate Drive, Bham, AL 35216 822-5444 Kreps, Joseph 1313 Alford Avenue, AL 35226 823-0894 Latham, William