Closers Can Relate to the Judges Wit in Divorce Case
Having closed a number of homes where husbands and wives were in the middle of a contentious divorce or separation, I know all real estate closers and title insurance closers have their fanciful divorce stories. For me – from the wife who refuses to have the husband declared dead – even though the husband “went out for cigarettes” more than thirty years ago, to the husband who brings his soon-to-be wife to closing only to sit across from his soon-to-be ex-wife. But this judge made good fun of the over-the-top feud between husband and wife. Go Judge See Story Here.
We have met the enemy and it is Powerpoint
A very interesting article on misuse of PowerPoint in getting the “point” across in the NYTimes. While PowerPoint can be a helpful and effective tool in learning, it can also be a mind numbing experience. Granted, this author uses it fairly extensively for learning with the intent of retention and humor; but I hope that I never put someone to sleep with it, or stop them from thinking outside the PPT box. It is my hope that together with the discussions and books used, PPT will make a better experience. I hope to never be known as a “chicken hypnotist.” But after this article, be it known I will be watching students for a dazed look of confusion or boredom. After reading the NY Times article. What do you think about the power of PPT?
I Want to Brag Just a Little.
It is rare for me to take off my ”title hat” and talk about something personal on my blog, but today I feel like bragging… Just a little. My daughter, Kristen, and her husband Lonnie have just set off the on their dream trip around the world. They both worked very hard the last two years and saved enough money to pay for the trip. In spite of the economy, they started off just before Christmas for their world adventure.
I am afraid for them. They were in Denver the day of the plane crash at the Denver Airport. They’re going to Thailand, which has been in chaos over the last month. Our only means of communication will be an occasional e-mail, and their blog. But, I am proud of them. I watch the blog with interest and amazement. Kristen’s words and pictures put me right there with her in Melbourne, Australia.
Kristen and Kangaroo in Australia
But a Here is an excerpt from the Kristen and Lonnie great adventure blog. Follow along, if you like.
“The night we dedicated to the Penguin march, which has surpassed the Sydney opera house as the OZ’s most popular tourist destination. Every evening the penguins leave the ocean for their seaside homes. So everyone gathers in a man made amphitheater to watch the funny critters scurry up the beach. This being the holiday season, there were 3800 people in attendance to watch nearly 2000 fat birds waddle up the beach. We arrived three hours early to get beach side seats. After the sun sets the birds leave the protection of the ocean. The first few birds scout out the beach then return with their frightened comrades. Imagine, after days out in the ocean you arrive home. As soon as you leave the water you are hit with stadium lights and 3800 fans staring down on you. It must be a daunting task for the world’s smallest penguins. None the less they persevere. They begin waddling towards shore in small numbers and then attack the beach in groups of 20-60 birds running as fast as their fat bellies and little legs will allow. Viewing my first wild penguin gave me a warm giggly feeling I haven’t had since Christmas ’84. The audience giggles and points as the little doodles scurry in and out of the ocean. Trying to build up the courage to brave the spotlight and reach their little love dens. It was an absolute riot.
We are now making plans for seeing fireworks in Federation Square tonight for the new years. We will be some of the first on the planet to venture into 2009. Over 500,000 people are expected downtown. About 1/8 the population!”
Why did the chicken cross the road? Clean & fun Political Humor
I’m not sure where this came from, but it crossed my e-mail and is worth repeating. It is a hysterical read in these political times!
Why did the chicken cross the road?
BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for change! The chicken wanted change!JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.SARAH PALIN: That road the liberal media claim that chicken crossed? Well that is the Road to Nowhere, and I told Congress "Thanks but nothanks" to that. So there isn't any road for that chicken to cross and any reporter who says otherwise ought to be fired.HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One! that every chicken in this country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road.. But then, this really isn't about me.GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle ground here.DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is our definition of chicken?AL GORE: I invented the chicken.JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not fItor it now, and will remain against it.AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by nottaking on his current problems before adding new problems.OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way that chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer's Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I've not been told.ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die . In the rain. Alone.JERRY FALWELL: Because the chicken was gay! Can't you people see the plain truth? That's why they call it the 'other side.' Yes, myfriends, that chicken is gay. And if you eat that chicken, you will become gay,too. I say we boycott all chickens until we sort out this abomination that the liberal media whitewashes with seemingly harmless phrases like'the other side.' That chicken should not be crossing the road. It's as plain and as simple as that.GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.JOHN LENNON: Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together, in peace.BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2008, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook.ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did theroad move beneath the chicken?COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?
Brainpower – How do you Rate?
Life can be funny sometimes. I read lots of articles every day about education, brainpower, how people learn. And I read about what is new in real estate, title insurance, the law, etc. Anyone who knows me, knows how I believe you can NEVER learn enough, and you can only get ahead by putting out the energy to constantly learn what is new. Here is A Great Article on the Importance of Education that proves the point.
Related to that, I also read today, an article that shows MPLS/ St.Paul ranks 7th in metro brain power in the U.S. from BizJournals Well, being from Minnesota, I thought that must mean me until I took this very short and very simple test. It took me WAY TOO LONG to get these right. I was incredulous that I could not get something so simple right. Guess I am not so smart afterall. ;/
Try it – how did YOU do?
Title Insurance Abstracting Today – a Step Back in Time
A serious discussion needs to take place as to the future of the industry. But what about today? What do we do?
I was in a smaller population county in Nebraska yesterday (2-20-08). County seat, Wilber, population 287. I was in the Register of Deeds office. It was a welcome step back in time. There were no guards, or metal detection devices scanning me as I walked into the Courthouse. I was doing local research. I walked in, said I was a certifed abstractor and would like to look at some titles. The Assistant Co Recorder showed me into the record room. I asked if the books were grantor-ee or set up by Sec-Twp-Rge. They acknowledged the tract index books. I pulled the appropriate tract index, and within a few minutes had all of the documents that I was looking for on hundreds of acres and millions of dollars of property. The books are the traditional, individually typed index pages. Older pages were encased in plastic covers to protect them. Photocopies of original documents were well organized and maintained. They explained there was an off-site duplicate copy in case of disaster. Exactly what you would hope for from your local county recoder.
Then on to the Court Records. I looked up the Last Will and Testament and was able to determine 4 generations of owners with the same first and last names, but different middle initials. Great-grandfather, passed onto sons and grandsons, etc, all with variations of a name. Cleared up all those various different wives names in the chain of title. It was quite a trip.
This County has no real estate records online. This County has no real estate records even on computer. And abstracts, I was told, “hardly exist any more in this county. Title insurance has taken over. To do title work, the local abstract company has a part time employee who goes to various Courthouses to pull the documents.” The county employees were very knowledgeable and very helpful. They knew the family and a bit of the history. It was like going home, in a way. They even called ahead and told us the best place to eat lunch. The Wilber Hotel is a great place to eat.
Please Cancel your Credit Card Before You Die
A lady died this past January, and Citibank has billed her for February and March for the annual service charges on her credit card. They then added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, now somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to Citibank. Here is the exchange:
Family Member: “I am calling to tell you Aunt XXX died in
January.”
Citibank: “The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.”
Family Member: “Maybe, you should turn it over to collections.”
Citibank: “Since it is two months past due , it already has been.”
Family Member: So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?”
Citibank: “Either report her account to frauds division or report her to the credit bureau, maybe both!”
Family Member: “Do you think God will be mad at her?” (I really liked this part!!!!)
Citibank: “Excuse me?”
Family Member: “Did you just get what I was telling you – the part about her being dead?”
Citibank: “Sir, you’ll have to speak to my supervisor.” (Duh!)
Supervisor gets on the phone:
Family Member: “I’m calling to tell you, she died in January.”
Citibank : “The account was never closed and late fees and charges still apply.” (This must be a standard phrase assigned by the bank!)
Family Member: “You mean you want to collect from her estate?”
Citibank: (Stammer) “Are you her lawyer?”
Family Member: “No, I’m her great nephew.” (Lawyer info given)
Citibank: “Could you fax us a certificate of death?”
Family Member: “Sure.” (Fax number is given )
After they receive the fax:
Citibank: “Our system just isn’t setup for death. I just don’t know
what more I can do to help you.”
Family Member: “Well, if you figure it out, great! If not, you could
just keep billing her. I don’t think she will care.”
Citibank: “Well, the late fees and charges do still apply.”(What is wrong with these people?!?)
Family Member: “Would you like her new billing address?”
Citibank : “That might help.”
Family Member: ” Odessa Memorial Cemetery , Highway 129, Plot Number 69.”
&nb sp;
Citibank: “But, Sir, that’s a cemetery!”
Family Member: “Yes – Well what do you think we do with dead people on this planet???”
Title Insurance Mafiosa – a true crime book
Ten years ago, who would have believed the sleepy little Title Insurance business could be the subject of an amazing true crime book. Yes, we’re all reminded daily of the problems in our industry: greed, fraud, forgery, gluttony, sub-prime lending, phoney appraisals and more, but now here’s a real life tell-all.
A Family Cursed: The Kissel Dynasty, a Gilded Fortune and Two Brutal Murders uncovers classic Title Mafioso. The author, Kevin McMurray covers the life of two wheeling-dealing brothers. Andrew Kissel was convicted of forging mortgage deed releases and other fake documents to subvert millions in order to live an excessive lifestyle.
But Fidelity National Title recognized Kissel’s mortgage scam. By searching title to property, Fidelity found several active mortgages on property being used as collateral to secure a $6 million mortgage loan. Kissel gave Fidelity falsified mortgage releases to show the loans were paid off. Creating the bogus documents was as easy as the click of a mouse, McMurray accurately writes. Had it not been for a thorough Title Underwriter (You’ll have to read the book to find out how they figured it out) Kissel would probably still be perpetrating his real estate fraud. He was charged with federal bank fraud obtaining tens of millions in fraudulent loans from banks and other institutions.
I am an avid reader of mysteries, etc. but this one really hits home not because it’s just plausible, but because it happened and continues to happen every day.
Best Book to Read this Season
I was delayed at the airport… again. I picked up a new book that remarkably turned out to be one of my favorite reads of all times. I am an avid reader – I read at least one book a week, and am always anxious to find something remarkable.
As a teacher of esoteric topics (such as “title exam,” “title searching,” “real estate 101″ – topics that can glaze over the eyes of almost any audience) I am always looking for ways to spice up topics and help people identify and remember important information. My husband jokes that I have read “How to remember what you always forget” at least a dozen times and it hasn’t helped.
But this time, I struck a Bonanza! “Made to Stick: Why some ideas Survive and others Die” is an amazing read. It is fun, witty, charming…memorable! It is USEFUL. For those who want to be remembered (in a good way) it gives concrete examples of what works and why. A must for those of us try- ing to survive in a tough business, It also explains why ideas fail – after all, how often have you seen a great commercial – but you can’t remember the product is was advertising.
I won’t spoil the plot. It’s great fun and it’s a must read!
Antique Parchment Deeds for Sale
I still have a very limited number of Antique Parchment English Deeds (Indentures) for sale. The original Documents, all from the 1800′s, measure about 28 by 20 inches. They are beautiful hand-written penned calligraphy on heavy parchment and make striking one of a kind gifts for framing for home or office.
The term Indenture goes back many centuries, and comes from the crease made in large legal documents when they were folded to fit into Document Boxes, which held a families important papers.
The documents are only $100 per page. Please contact me at LandRecs@aol.com for more information about specific documents. Happy Holidays!
Home Closing 101: An Educational Initiative of the American Land Title Association
