Q:  Do real estate forms have to be notarized?
A:  Most real estate forms must be notarized to be recorded in the land records; examples are deeds and mortgages.  Forms that will not be recorded generally do not have to be notarized, such as a lease form.

Q:  What is the difference between a warranty and a quitclaim deed?
A:  A warranty deed assures the buyer that the seller will defend his title to the property from all other persons.  A quitclaim deeds conveys whatever title the seller owns but with no warranty against the claims of others.

Q:  What is a disclosure statement?
A:  A disclosure statement, as used in the real estate context, is a form the seller of a property must complete and provide to the buyer disclosing all defects and various other information about the residential property.

Q:  What is a closing?
A:  Although this term may mean different things in different states, the closing is a meeting where all of the documents are signed and the money changes hands.

Q:  Who is the grantee and grantor?
A:  The grantee is the person to whom an interest in real property is conveyed.  The grantor is the person conveying an interest in real property. 

Q:  What is Truth-in-Lending?
A:  Truth-in-Lending is a federal law that requires lenders to fully disclose, in writing, the terms and conditions of a mortgage, including the annual percentage rate (APR) and other charges. 

Q:  What does tenancy in common mean?
A:  As opposed to joint tenancy, when there are two or more individuals on the title to a piece of property, this type of ownership does not pass ownership to the others in the event of death.

Q:  What is the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA)?
A:  This is a consumer protection law that requires lenders to give borrowers advance notice of closing costs.