Resources & insights

Top 10 pitfalls real estate agents should avoid under the FinCEN Residential Real Estate AML Rule.

Failure to comply with the FinCEN AML rule can result in significant civil and criminal penalties under the Bank Secrecy Act.

There is no government filing fee charged by FinCEN for submitting a Real Estate Report.

The most common impacts on a transaction relate to timing, information collection, and expectations rather than the ability to complete the sale.

Responsibility for reporting follows a specific order set by FinCEN, known as the reporting cascade.

FINCEN expects that all required information is gathered before closing so the reporting party has everything needed to complete an accurate filing without delaying the transaction.

Specific transaction-level information must be included in the Real Estate Report in addition to party information.

The information required from a seller is limited and straightforward.

If the buyer is a trust, the buyer must provide the trust’s legal name, structure, and address, as well as personal identifying information for relevant individuals connected to the trust, such as trustees, certain grantors or settlors, and beneficiaries with control or withdrawal rights.

If the buyer is a legal entity such as an LLC, corporation, or partnership, the buyer must provide the entity’s legal name, type, jurisdiction of formation, and address, along with personal identifying information for all beneficial owners.

The rule has a limited impact on sellers.

The rule affects buyers differently depending on how they purchase the property.

Real estate agents play an important role in the FinCEN reporting process, even though they rarely file reports themselves.

If ANY one of these conditions is not present, no Real Estate Report is required.

The FinCEN Residential Real Estate Anti-Money Laundering Rule requires certain all-cash and non-financed residential real estate purchases by entities or trusts to be reported to the federal government, including information about the real people who own or control the buyer.

One year. Countless exceptional experiences.

We are honored to share a story from within our Sun Title family that reflects the heart of what this season is all about.

Not every issue that appears on a title commitment is serious, but some can significantly impact a transaction.

Technology is changing real estate faster than ever, and with it comes new risks.

After two decades working alongside agents and brokers, we’ve seen a few traits that consistently rise to the top.

We’re settled into our new Kalamazoo location, and it already feels like home!

With public listings, easy access to ownership data, and new AI-driven scams, fraudsters have more tools than ever... and it’s happening more often than you think.

What an incredible day celebrating our new Holland office!

Title insurance may not sound exciting, but it plays a vital role in every real estate transaction.

A smooth closing takes more than a signature. From the moment an order comes in, our team begins verifying property details, confirming ownership, and researching decades of public records.

Sun Title opens its 11th office to service the West Michigan lakeshore communities.

In commercial real estate, there’s no time for delays, confusion or security risks at the closing table. That’s why Sun Title invests in technology that makes the process smoother from start to finish.

Every deal tells a story, and at Sun Title, we’re proud to be part of some of the most impactful commercial projects in West Michigan and beyond.

At Sun Title, our promise is simple: to deliver a second-to-none closing experience from day one. That means doing whatever it takes to make your life easier, solving issues quickly, communicating clearly and earning your trust with our expertise and personalized service.

Un agente de listado, también conocido como “agente del vendedor”, es un profesional de bienes raíces con licencia que representa al vendedor en una transacción de bienes raíces. Su principal responsabilidad es obtener el precio más alto posible en las mejores condiciones para el vendedor.

El comprador/a trabaja con su agente para identificar una propiedad que quiere comprar. El comprador/a presenta una oferta de compra de la propiedad.

Debe tener un acuerdo de compra escrito y firmado para vender una propiedad en Michigan: los contratos verbales de bienes raíces no son ejecutables. Su agente de bienes raíces lo ayudará a preparar y firmar este documento.

Realizar inspecciones antes de comprar una propiedad es un paso crítico en el proceso de compra de una vivienda.

Si el comprador está obteniendo un préstamo para comprar la propiedad, se debe seleccionar un gran prestamista al principio del proceso. Si necesita una lista de excelentes prestamistas, envíe un correo electrónico a su agente de bienes raíces o a Sun Title al YesTeam@suntitle.com.

Durante el cierre, se firmarán todos los documentos y se transferirán los fondos a las partes correspondientes. El título de la propiedad se transferirá del vendedor al comprador por escritura y el vendedor recibirá los ingresos que se muestran en la declaración de cierre.

Recuerde, la planificación y la organización cuidadosas son clave para una mudanza exitosa. Vaya paso a paso y pronto estará cómodamente instalado(a) en su nuevo hogar.

Sun Title asiste a miles de compradores y vendedores y a sus respectivos agentes inmobiliarios cada año. Hemos visto casi todo lo que hay que ver en las transacciones inmobiliarias.

Buyer works with a selling agent to identify a property to purchase. Buyer submits an offer to purchase the property.

You must have a written and signed Purchase Agreement to sell property in Michigan - oral contracts for real estate are not enforceable. Your agent will assist you with preparing and signing this document.

Conducting inspections before purchasing a property is a critical step in the home buying process. These inspections provide an unbiased evaluation of land being purchased, the home’s physical condition, the quality of the water and highlight the cost of any necessary repairs.

If the buyer is obtaining a loan to purchase the property, a great lender should be selected early in the process. If you need a list of great lenders, please email your real estate agent or us at YesTeam@suntitle.com.

During the closing, all documents will be signed and funds transferred to the appropriate parties. Title to the property will transfer from seller to buyer by deed and the seller will receive any proceeds shown on the closing statement.

Remember, careful planning and organization are key to a successful move. Take it step by step, and soon you’ll be comfortably settled in your new home.

Sun Title assists thousands of real estate agents and their buyers and sellers each year. We’ve seen almost everything there is to see in real estate transactions.

If you’re like most people, title insurance is just another thing on the long list of things involved in real estate transactions. You’re not really sure what the thing is, but you know it’s an important thing, although you’re not so sure why the thing is actually important.

We often hear people ask, “Do I need to take my shoes off at an open house?” or “Is it okay to use a bathroom when viewing a home?”

Buyers have a lot to do at a closing, including reviewing all documents provided by the lender, understanding the terms of the settlement statement, ensuring that the property is ready for closing and more.

We loved celebrating with David, Jinna, and their daughters as they closed on a home that means so much to their family.

Manufactured homes must be converted from personal property to real estate and "fixed" to a parcel of land to become a permanent part of the property.

¿Cómo protejo mis derechos en la propiedad que poseo? Ver nuestra Guía para información de esta pregunta y más.

How do I protect my rights in property that I own? See our guide for information related to this question and more.

Building companies by solving problems.

We have an owner’s policy in the lender’s policy. Let’s unpack both of those and just speak to what they actually cover.

Most consumers don't know that real estate wire fraud “is a thing.” 52% of all consumers are “not aware” or only “somewhat aware” of the risks of wire fraud.

At Sun Title, we know that buying a home is one of life’s biggest milestones—but language barriers shouldn’t stand in the way.

Today marks Sun Title's 20th anniversary serving West Michigan

Nothing brings our Sun Title team together quite like our annual Turkey Fry!

At our recent packing party, our team came together to fill 1,500 backpacks with essential meals for local students—supporting Hand2Hand's inspiring mission.

We've partnered with CertifID, a secure platform specifically designed to protect real estate transactions.

We've partnered with CertifID to implement Match, a cutting-edge identity verification system that protects buyers.

Sun Title regularly hosts educational events led by CEO and Co-Founder Tom Cronkright.

Investing in commercial real estate can be a rewarding venture, but it also comes with its share of risks and complexities.

Moving into a new home is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a whirlwind of tasks and emotions.

When investing in commercial real estate, safeguarding your assets and ensuring smooth transactions are paramount.

Maximizing your commercial real estate investments requires smart planning and even smarter financial strategies.

Congrats! You’re considering (or have already taken the plunge into) investing in commercial real estate.

Purchasing a new commercial property is a significant investment that involves careful consideration and due diligence.

Sun Title enters Greenville, Michigan market with tech-enabled location to elevate the closing experience for home buyers and sellers.

We're excited to provide a behind the scenes look at the construction of our new Greenville office!

According to a recent CertifID survey of U.S. consumers who bought and sold property within the past three years, one in ten consumers is a regular target for real estate wire fraud. One in twenty of those surveyed were victimized.

Together, we're doing more than just providing meals; we're nurturing hope and opportunities to thrive.

Buying and selling a home is an exciting and involved process. Here’s a typical roadmap and timeline of events that are common to most transactions.

Sunny is a highly trained real estate AI chatbot designed to improve the real estate transaction experience for all parties.

Real estate transactions have their intricacies and the pathway to successful closings often comes with unexpected hurdles.

Turning around construction draw requests is instrumental in keeping a project moving forward.

From time to time you have real estate transactions that involve trusts. The main concern is determining who has the authority to sign on behalf of the trust when transferring ownership of the property.

The foreclosure process involves a sheriff sale where the property is auctioned off, and after this sale, there is a redemption period during which the property owner can still do what they want with the property.

Powers of Attorney can vary in scope, some may allow only simple actions, while others may grant broad authority over finances and properties.

It’s essential to understand these ownership types to determine your rights to the property and the process involved in selling or transferring ownership.

In this video, the speakers discuss the issue of private access to properties, which often arises in real estate transactions.

In this discussion, the focus is on the process of selling properties owned by entities, such as limited liability companies, corporations, and partnerships.

The legal descriptions, particularly the metes and bounds, can be challenging, requiring accurate matching of old and new deeds, survey, and tax legal descriptions. Surveys can be valuable in identifying small issues that can affect property descriptions.

When transferring a property, it is essential to ensure that the taxes on the property are current, as any outstanding taxes could cause issues with recording the deed.

This video discusses easements and the issues that can arise when dealing with them in real estate transactions. Easements are legal documents that give someone the right to cross a property to access their own property.

Lien on a title is a common occurrence and is typically caused by government or personal judgment liens. The process of obtaining a release can be complicated, and it may take time to get a payoff from the government.

When transferring property in Michigan, it’s important to ensure that taxes are current, as they become a lien on the property when the tax bill is issued. Failure to pay taxes will result in the deed not being recorded.

The video discusses riparian rights for property owners on water bodies such as lakes, streams, and rivers. Title insurance covers the property up to the water’s edge, but it does not cover whether or not the owner can access or use the water.

At closing, we aim for no surprises, just a review and assignment of all documents previously reviewed by the parties. Trust us to handle your closing with care and precision.

Most divorces don't go well. Here are all the things to consider when real estate is involved in this unfortunate life event.

Construction liens are a common issue in the industry, as any party involved in providing goods or services on a job site can file a formal lien on the property if they are not paid.

Whether it’s a simple typo correction or a more complex issue like a split parcel, we’re here to guide you through the process. Don’t let an incorrect tax description hold up your closing.

When dealing with bankruptcy in a property transaction, the bankruptcy trustee appointed by the court determines who has the authority to transfer the property.

If you're under contract to purchase your dream home, there's a lot of work to do on the property side of things. Besides a great lender, you'll need professionals to ensure you own your property, such as title insurance and surveyors who measure property lines and identify any encroachments.

Title insurance protects new property buyers from a range of potential losses or third-party interests that could surface in the future. The insurance not only covers these losses but also the legal fees if someone challenges them.