Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Do I Really Need Real Estate Closing Software?

What is My Staff For?

Sophistication in computer technology and development of high quality of software is no guarantee that there will not be bugs in the software or missing features. This happens in real estate closing software as much as it happens in other fields because software developers are not settlement agents or attorneys in real estate. Despite this we have some remarkable real estate closing software that virtually incorporate everything a settlement agent does manually in relation to a real estate closing. Most commonly, the HUD software or real estate closing software handles routines that we do manually in such transactions. These include:
  • An easy to understand, user-friendly, intuitive interface
  • Enter key data at one point and then populate HUD settlement statement and HUD-1 Forms through this HUD-1 software
  • Corrections at one point automatically update all forms and documents already generated
  • Add new real estate closing forms or customize forms
  • Assemble all documents in one location for printing or revision in Word or PDF format
  • Generates a general lender statement showing gross loan, lender deductions and amount disbursed
  • Calculates property transfer taxes, pay off information and generates GFE-HUD comparison sheet
  • Network ready so different people can work on various aspects and then compile all documents in a central location
  • Print out closing balance statements and checks
  • Generate 1099-S substitute and exemption forms and lien release tracking
  • A summary transaction sheet
  • Full compliance to 2010 RESPA Final Rule including HUD Forms, GFE-HUD comparison sheets, HUD-1A settlement and smart itemization and all costs related to the transaction
  • Support from vendor with constant updates
Given all these benefits it would be hard to understand why anyone professionally engaged in real estate business would want to overlook this real estate software . However, established practices and habits are difficult to break and it takes quite some time for people to wet their feet in new technologies. Old and established real estate business owners have a number of people handling all these aspects of the property deals since years and from their view point, everything is working smoothly.

Take a typical established settlement agent running his business the conventional way. He has staff preparing documents manually and tracking each aspect using human labour. Show him a demo of this practical and indispensable HUD-1 software and chances are that he will be impressed. Equally, he might well respond by saying: “Do I really need this real estate software ? What is my staff for?” It is only when he realizes that productivity increases, he can handle more clients and increase his business using his existing staff for more profitable tasks that he might be convinced to give this HUD settlement statement and real estate software a go. But once he does, he is sure to find it indispensable.

Sunday, 8 January 2012

Real Estate Closing Software Makes Property Deals A Snap

Real Estate Professionals and Lawyers into real estate may be perceived as having a prosperous life that they no doubt do. However, not everyone knows all the background complexities in a real estate transaction, exacerbated by state laws and federal laws as well as tax compliances that the professionals have to comply with in a single deal. Were it not for real estate closing software they would not be able to handle so many deals.

In any real estate transaction, the property dealer or the real estate broker or lawyer has to prepare and file Hud settlement statements. Only the right and fully compliant Hud software can help him comply to the new 2010 RESPA regulations, in a way that is future audit proof. This Hud software or Hud-1 software does all that the real estate dealers used to do manually and it does it better, with accuracy, free of errors and extremely fast, maintaining an impeccable filing system for archiving and retrieval at any future date.

Smart attorneys choose real estate closing software for its flexibility, adaptability and upgradeability as also for the number of features it has plus ease of use and versatility in meeting their needs. The Hud software that is ideal has a very easy to understand interface and menu system, permits entry of all data at one single point and populates all forms and document related to a transaction with a simple click of the mouse. Further, it can generate custom forms, modify forms and then save these as well as documents in MS Word or PDF format.

For the convenience of real estate professionals, the Hud software includes a facility to file forms online and send emails from within the software itself. It calculates property taxes according to state and federal laws and prints out closing balance statements when required or displays it on screen. A real estate broker would have to file form 1099-S on completion of the transaction and this is effortlessly done with the simple click of a mouse in the Hud-1 software .

A boon to these professionals is the facility to correct data and then have the real estate software carry out corrections in all forms and relevant documents. It saves them hours of time. Once a transaction is over it will print Hud settlement statement, closing balance statement and summary transaction sheet and can also print checks when needed. Should the need arise, it is easy to generate a GFE-HUD comparison sheet with the simple click of a mouse.

In any organization involved in real estate transaction, be it an attorney or a broker, several people work on various parts of a transaction. The right real estate software can be run on a server, allowing documentation to be prepared at various terminals and then combine them all into one central location. Choose wisely and the right Hud settlement software will do the work of several people and it will do it at a far lesser cost and in shorter time while guaranteeing perfection and accuracy.