Blog - Month: June 2021
Month: June 2021
Tips to Prevent Wire Fraud
Your bank account is one of the most important aspects of your life. It keeps track of your money, and you use it every day to pay for things like groceries, gas, and utilities. You may not think about it a lot, but if somebody else were to get their hands on your banking information, they could wreak havoc on your finances. That's why there are some simple steps that you can take to help protect yourself from wire fraud. For starters, make sure you're careful with what personal details or copies of ID that you give out online. If someone needs access to an account, then they should be present or if they are over the phone, have a secure verification process in place so that they can verify who they are before granting them access to sensitive information such as passwords and PIN numbers. Second, make sure to use two-factor authentication on all of your online banking platforms so no one can access and misuse the information in your account. If this is not possible for you, implement some steps that may slow down or stop unwanted activity from occurring, such as implementing a credit freeze. Review your credit report and bank statement monthly to stay current with the details of each statement. Third, don't store sensitive financial documents since this could easily lead to someone gaining unauthorized access if they manage to break through security barriers elsewhere. If you do end up storing them somewhere else besides your home, though, be sure that the l
The Benefits of Homeownership
Owning a home has many advantages, but one of the most important is that homeowners have more control over their living situation. When renting, you never know what might happen to your landlord or what might happen in the future. A homeowner can always make changes and fix up their home so it's perfect. Building Equity When you own your own home and pay off your mortgage each month, you build equity with every payment. Equity is the amount of value you have in an asset that is a powerful financial tool. Renting does not allow you to build equity like owning a home does. Consistent Mortgage Payments If you opt into a fixed-rate mortgage, your monthly payments will remain constant for the duration of your mortgage; regular monthly payments foster financial stability. Renting does not give the same level of security because rental prices can fluctuate. Increase Credit Rating Your credit score can affect your ability to qualify for loans, so owning a home is an excellent way to increase your credit score. Your payment history and credit age will improve your credit score when you make on-time payments. Tax Deduction for Mortgage Interest Any interest paid on a home mortgage is tax-deductible, which is an incentive that isn't available to renters. Homeowners can reduce their taxable income when they deduct the interest paid on a mortgage. For many people, owning a home is a personal goal that has plenty of benefits. At Ohio First Land Title, we can help you nav
Things to Do in Cleveland This Summer
Are you looking for something fun to do this summer in Cleveland? Look no further—here's a guide of exciting events and places to visit in Northeast Ohio! Crocker Park Summer Events The shopping center, which is in Westlake, has a slew of summer events planned for all ages. Their weekly activities, including live music, a farmer's market, yoga, and more, are being held now through Labor Day. In addition, their kid-friendly activities include a splash pad and an express train that children can ride around the grounds. Throughout the summer, Crocker Park will also host 5k's and bring in food trucks. Fifth Annual Flats Festival of the Arts From August 21, 2021, to August 22, 2021, artists will be exhibiting and selling their works in the Fifth Annual Flats Festivals of the Arts. This free event, which is in the Flats East Bank, will also include live music and dancers. Eventgoers are only a short distance away from various dining and entertainment establishments conveniently located nearby in the East Bank. Lakewood Truck Park This 12,000 square foot indoor/outdoor food truck park offers a rotating food truck selection, making it a great place to visit all summer long. Located on Detroit Avenue, the Lakewood Truck Park provides a wide variety of food options, including Mediterranean, Italian, Filipino, and more. The park also has two bars and hosts events throughout the summer. Tennis in the Land Topnotch Management will be hosting the first-ever prof
3 Myths About Title Insurance Debunked
The topic of title insurance is surrounded by misconceptions that keep home buyers from recognizing its importance. To help you better understand why you need title insurance, we will debunk some popular myths about how title insurance works and whether you need to purchase a policy. 1. The home is entirely new, so I don’t need it. Even when a home is brand new, the land where the house is built has still been owned by numerous people over the years. The age of the home has nothing to do with potential issues that could arise over ownership of the home. In addition, owning a new home comes with other potential problems. Items such as easements, restrictions, HOA liens, and other things could affect your ownership interest and use of the property. 2. I’m in good shape because there was a title search done at some point. A title search will examine the chain of title, legal description, check for judgments and ensure that the taxes are current on the property. An owner’s title insurance policy protects the buyer against anything that may have missed in the title search protecting one of your most valuable investments. 3. The sellers owned it for many years, and I don’t have anything to worry about. You might assume that there aren’t any issues if a home has been in a family for a long time. The amount of time a home has been owned has no bearing on whether or not it can come with title issues. A home that has be