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Directory of Services / Utilities Guides

General

The Generations: A Glossary (updated 2025 for 2024)

​2024 NAR Home Buyers and Sellers Generation Trends Report

1031 Shorter Closing Time

5 Reasons to choose Chicago Title

7 common security mistakes you’re probably making

8 Reasons Why an Owner's Title Policy

10 Essentials to protect your home

18 Steps of the Homebuying Process

21 Reasons Why You Need Title Insurance

My Commitment to YOU

Oakland Sidewalk Ordinance - Effective July 9, 2019

Oakland Vacant Property Tax Act - Effective July, 2020 for Property vacant in 2019

Castro Valley Private Sewer Lateral Program - Effective July 1, 2019

City of Morgan Hill Private Sewer Lateral Program - Effective June 1, 2022

City Transfer Tax to be imposed in San Jose: Measure E - Effective July 1, 2020

ALTA Homeowner's Title Policy Comparison

2018 Tax Cuts affecting the Real Estate & the Title Industry

A Guide to Your New Listing

A Guide to Title Insurance - (WA)

A Guide to Title Insurance - (CA)

AB1033

AB1345

AB1885 - Changes to CA Homestead Exemption

AB2424

Accesssory Dwelling Units - CA

All About Closing

All Inclusive Trust Deed

ALTA Seller Impersonation Fraud

ALTA Best Practices

ALTA Endorsements Cross-Reference Chart

ALTA HomeOwner's Policy Comparison

ALWAYS CALL BEFORE YOU WIRE!

Bankruptcy Property

Bay Area Real Property City Transfer Tax Update - 12/2018

Buyer's Choice Act (Bill 957)

Beware of Forgery

Bundle of Rights

Buyer Upfront Requirements

California Foreclosure Process Chart

California Property Tax Postponement Program

California Property Tax Savings program

California SB2

California SB9

California SB10

Calyx Point Integration Registration Form

CFPB - The Proposed Rule as of July, 2013

City of Berkeley - Changes to BESO Program

Change of Address Checklist

Chicago Title Library CLTA & ALTA Homeowner's Policy at a Glance

Chicago Title Library Celebrating 175 Years

Closing Cost Check List

Closing Cost Explained

Closing Day

Closing Process - updated 1/2020

Common Deeds in the State of Washington

Common Judgments & Liens that Affect Title (CA)

Common Judgments & Liens that Affect Title (Generic)

Common Internet Fraud

Common Mortgage Fraud

Common Real Estate Tax Deductions

50 Common Title Problems

Common Title Problems

Common Ways of Holding Titles (CA)

Common Ways of Holding Titles (OR)

Common Ways of Holding Titles (WA)

Common Ways of Holding Titles - Chart

Commonly Used ALTA Forms

Commonly Used Endorsements (Refinance)

Concurrent Co-Ownership Interests Chart

Consumer Guide to Title & Escrow - State of CA

Consumer Guide to Title & Escrow - State of WA

County & City Guide - California

County & City Guide - Oregon

County & City Guide - Montana

County & City Guide - Washington

Creative Financing - Carrying Back a Second? You Need a Lender's Title Policy

Customer Service Menu

Day of Closing

Death of a Real Property Owner - A Quick Guide

Disbursing Proceeds When Title is vested in a Trust

Don't let your client be the victim of Wire Fraud Scams

Dry Funding vs Wet Funding

Earnest Money Deposit Options

Earnest Money Deposit Options (WA)

Elder Abuse - Know the red flags

Elder Abuse Prevention

Escrow Checklist for Buyers and Sellers

Escrow Checklist for Real Estate Agents

Escrow Delays Can Be Avoided

Escrow Flow Chart

Escrow Terms Sheet (NAR Settlement)

Escrow Terms Sheet (Single Page)

Escrow Terms Explained

Escrow Order Form (Refinance ONLY)

FAQ: Title Insurance for Homebuyers

Fall Maintenance List

For Homebuyers - A Guide to Title Insurance

FHA Closing Cost - Who Can Pay What?

FHA Cease PACE

FORM 593 - Changes in Real Estate Property Withholding Tax (CA)

Foreign Buyer Information Guide - California

Foreign Buyer Information Guide - Washington

FAQ concerning the Affordable Housing Recording Fee (CA SB2)

Measure E

Measure W

Mold Remediation to Schools & Commercial Buildings

Mortgage Forbearance - What is it?

Mortgage Forbearance - Myths vs Facts

Moving Checklist

Moving Guide

Moving Labels

National Homeownership Month

Nationwide Fraud Alert

New Postal Regulations - 2014

New 3.8% Tax Guideline By NAR

New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rules take effect in Jan 2014

Non-Title Alternatives - Attorney Opinion Letter 

Non-Title Alternatives - The Unnecessary Risks Created by Unregulated Alternatives to Title Insurance

Notarization Types & Terms

Notary Increase (CA)

Notary Requirements

Notarial Services at the US Embassy

Notification of EBMUD PSL Fee Increase

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

PACE

Portland Metro Area Map

Power of Attorney

Preliminary Change of Ownership Form vs Change of Ownership Form

Probate Sale Process (California)

Proper Document Execution

Property Inspection Waiver

Property Tax Calendar (CA)

Property Tax Calendar (WA)

Property Tax Calendar (AZ)

Property Transfer Tax Increase in Albany, San Leandro & San Francisco

Proposition 5

Proposition 13

Proposition 19

Propositions 58 and 193

Prop 90 Update - Nov 2018

Protect your family from Lead

Real Estate Law & Custom by State

Real Estate Tax Impound / Payment Schedule (CA)

Real Estate Tax Impound / Payment Schedule (WA)

Reconveyance of the Deed of Trust

Red Flags in Escrow

Registered Domestic Partnerships: Rights & Responsibilities Act 2005

Residential Environmental Hazards Guide

Revenue and Taxation Code

SB9

SB10

SB696

September is Realtor Safety Month

Seller Impersonation Fraud

How Chicago Title combat Seller Impersonation Fraud

Seller Impersonation Fraud - Mitek Solution

Seller Concessions Cheat Sheet

Sewer Lateral Requirements for Northern CA

The Signing Day

Signing vs Closing

SmartMail/SmartPortal

Smartmail Two-Factor Authentication

Smartmail/Smartportal - How to update your User Profile?

Smartmail/Smartportal - An Overview of Recipient Access with 2FA

Smartmail/Smartportal - An Overview of Accessing smartmail with 2FA (Download)

Smartmail/Smartportal - An Overview of Accessing smartmail with 2FA (video)

SmartMail/SmartPortal User Guide updated June 18, 2018

Solar Easements - A Potential Problem

Solar Lease Agreements - What you should know...

Solar Panel Questions

Spring Cleaning Strategies

Spring - 10 things to do

All About Solar

SRA Fire Prevention Fee Waived

Statement of Information

STOP, THINK & CONNECT

Avoid these terms in your email subject line

The Chicago Title ALTA Homeowner's Policy

The Importance of a Compliant Title Insurer

The Importance of a Reconveyance

The Life of a Title Search

The Preliminary Report - updated 2019

Tips for a Smooth Escrow Closing - CA

Tips for a Smooth Escrow Closing - WA

Title Company's Role in a Real Estate Transaction

Title Industry Comparison

Title Insurance vs Casualty Insurance

Title Vesting - WA

Tokenization in Real Estate Transactions

Transferring property to a Trust

Transfer on Death Deed - What you need to know

Transfer on Death Deed Form

Trust Requirements Checklist

Common Questions on the use of Transfer of Death Deed (TOD) form

Types of Deeds in CA

Types of Deeds in WA

Types of Liens and Judgements

TRID Escrow Checklist

Understanding the Escrow Process (4 pages) - CA

Understanding the Escrow Process (4 pages) - WA

Understanding the Escrow Process (4 pages) - OR

Understanding CA Documentary Transfer Tax

Understanding CA Documentary Transfer Tax Exemptions

Understanding CA Property Taxes in Escrow

Understanding "Notice of Right to Cancel" - For Refinances/Home Equity Line only

Understanding 1031 Exchange

Understanding Change of Ownership

Understanding Condominium and PUD Ownership

Understanding Easements

Understanding EBMUD Private Sewer Lateral Program (Affecting certain cities in CA only)

Understanding FIRPTA

Understanding Good Funds Law

Understanding Homestead Declaration (CA)

Understanding IRS Levy

Understanding Joint Tenants vs Community Property

Understanding Title, Escrow, Real Estate & Lending Terms

Understanding Liens & Encumbrances

Understanding Lender's Title Policy

Understanding Mechanics Liens

Understanding Mello-Roos

Understanding Plat Map

Understanding Probate (CA)

Understanding Probate (WA & Others)

Understanding Propositions 60 & 90

Understanding Property Taxes in Escrow

Understanding Property Titles

Understanding Proration Taxes (CA)

Understanding Quiet Title

Understanding Real Estate Property Related Taxes in Escrow

Understanding Recurring Closing Costs vs Non-Recurring Closing Costs

Understanding Recurring Closing Costs vs Non-Recurring Closing Costs (WA)

Understanding Required Reporting to the IRS

Understanding Seller Back Carry Loan

Understanding Statement of Information

Understanding Supplemental Property Taxes in California

Understanding Supplemental Property Tax After Death in California

Understanding Tax Impound

Understanding Terms

Understanding the ALTA Homeowner's Policy of Title Insurance

Understanding Title Documents in California

Understanding Title Requirements for Living Trust

Understanding the importance of Title Searches and Disclose Exceptions

Understanding Title Vesting (WA)

Understanding Truth-in Lending Disclosure Statement

Understanding Real Estate Withholding Tax in CA 

VA Closing Cost - Who Can Pay What?

Washington Customary Practices Guide

Washington Property Tax Savings Programs

Washington Legislature Increases Document Recording Fee

Why Chicago Title?

What to expect once you purchased your home?

What to expect once you refinanced your loan?

What to expect once you sold your home?

What is different about the ALTA Homeowner's Policy - WA

What is a Preliminary Report?​

What is Per Diem?

What is Land Contract?

What is Lis Pendens?

What is RON?

What is Title Insurance?

50 Common Title Problems You Should Know

What is Uninsured Deeds?

What you need to know about Property Ownership after the death of a loved one? (CA)

What you need to know about Property Ownership after the death of a loved one? (WA & Others)

What to expect after your escrow is opened?

What to expect After Closing?

What to expect at Settlement?

What Realtors should know about Owner's Title Insurance?

Ways to Hold Title to Real Property in OREGON

Who Pays What in the State of Oregon

Who Pays What in the State of Washington

Who Pays What in Alameda/Contra Costa County

Who Pays What in El Dorado/Placer County

Who Pays What in Fresno/Madera County

Who Pays What in Kern County

Who Pays What in Lassen County

Who Pays What in Napa/Solano/Sonoma County


Who Pays What in Monterey County

Who Pays What in Plumas County

Who Pays What in Sacramento County

Who Pays What in Sacramento, El Dorado & PLacer County

Who Pays What in San Francisco

Who Pays What in San Benito County

Who Pays What in San Joaquin County

Who Pays What in San Mateo County

Who Pays What in Santa Clara County

Who Pays What in Shasta County

Who Pays What in Solano County

Who Pays What in Sonoma County

Who Pays What in Stanislaus County

Who Pays What in Tulare/Kings County

Why do we encrypt our emails?

Why do you need Title Insurance?

Why you need Owner's Title Insurance?

Why Lenders require Title Insurance?

Why is Title Insurance the best investment?

Why You Need Owner's Title Insurance on a Refinance?

Why clients choose Chicago Title?

Wire Fraud Alert

Wire Fraud Alert (Video by NAR)

WireSafe Alert#1

WireSafe Alert#2

Wrapping up real estate withholding tax

Write Us In (CA)

Write Us In (AZ)

Write Us In (WA)

Your Appointment - Buyer (CA)

Your Appointment - Seller (WA)

Maps