4/30/2012  Craig Haskins 

4/16/2012  Craig Haskins 

Take a moment to watch this quick cartoon about how closings work in Wisconsin. Notice that this video was created for buyers and sellers who may be unfamiliar with the process. We suspect most of the Knight Barry customers will find this to be elementary. Please SHARE (link below) this page to your customers as you wish.

4/2/2012  Craig Haskins 

3/9/2012  Craig Haskins 

Title insurance closers and our real estate customers need to have a very good understanding of the new 2012 Freddie Mac Short Sale Affidavit and its effect on the parties to the transaction. 

2/17/2012  Craig Haskins 

All title insurance closers should understand that cutting checks properly and accurately is an essential part of the real estate transaction. Making one mistake can blow the entire deal. 

10/31/2011  Craig Haskins 

Happy Halloween!  Our Green Bay office managed to hand out 930 pieces of candy today to our customers in Brown County.  If you didn't receive a piece, you should give a holler to Kellie Brault for delivery after this crazy closing day.  Picture are the fine folks at Associated Bank and Aaron Rogers. 

6/7/2011  Craig Haskins 

I'm often asked what trends I see in the world of real estate, lending and title insurance.  I'm no expert in anything other than title insurance, but I can attest that real estate agents and lenders tell me that transactions are down for this time of the year.  Typically, closing rooms are booked for home sales in the Spring.  This Spring, it's a little light I'd say.  But for those people who are in the closing room, there is one hot trend in title insurance - GAP ENDORSEMENTS.  Many of the transactions today are short sales and foreclosure purchases.  Buyers would be nuts not to require this inexpensive endorsement to their title policy.  However, we cannot always give this endorsement.  Here is a link to an excellent post on Gap from the Knight Barry archives.  http://tinyurl.com/gapendorsement

12/28/2010  Craig Haskins 

11/17/2010  Craig Haskins 

10/15/2010  Craig Haskins 

10/4/2010  Craig Haskins 

9/23/2010  Craig Haskins 

9/20/2010  Craig Haskins 

8/12/2010  Craig Haskins 

I'm often asked by real estate and title insurance professionals for a list of common mistakes made by closers. So I've assembled a list of the top ten mistakes in no particular order. Some of the items on the list seem minor but pack a powerful (and expensive) punch. The list is below but is sort of a tease and I'll write about each of these items over the next couple months. They'll be posted right here at knightbarry.com. Have you made any of these mistakes?

5/4/2009  Craig Haskins 

Many thoughts without answers are roaming through my Starbucks-filled mind this beautiful Monday morning. An article from last week’s Wall Street Journal made me giggle. Here goes.

12/7/2007  Cheri Hipenbecker 

Following up on the blog from last week, I guess I am beating a dead horse – but the whip is out… As discussed last week, under §846.13, Wis. Stats., as interpreted by the courts, an owner under a foreclosure action may redeem and sell the mortgaged premises at any time before the confirmation of sale by paying the full amount due to the lender, including costs.