WHAT:	A Consumer Education Campaign to educate and raise awareness among Florida home buyers and sellers about how to protect their interests during the complex real estate process.
WHY:	Purchasing a home is often the largest investment a person will make in their lifetime, and can be a highly emotional time for the seller and buyer. Additionally, the real estate market in Florida is highly competitive and is going through dynamic changes. With more players from numerous industries and many alternatives available to the home buyer and seller, it is more important than ever that consumers are educated about the complex processes and the people involved. One of the campaign's messages is that a buyer or seller should hire their own attorney to protect them in the process. Only real estate attorneys can: Interpret and counsel buyers and sellers about all legal documents related to the transaction, including title policies, deeds, mortgages and closing statements. Relate the income, estate and gift tax consequences to the buyer's estate. Advise the buyer about what the title policy does not protect against, with emphasis on insurability and marketability. Handle probate issues. Inform clients of their legal rights and obligations.
METHODS:	The Fund has developed three new no-cost resources to help educate home buyers and sellers. These resources are designed to ease consumer concerns about the intricate details involved in a real estate transaction: English and Spanish Web sites: www.FundHomeInfo.com and www.InforHogar.com are dedicated to consumer education and offer downloadable content and checklists, financing information and details on the key players that comprise an effective real estate team. Free Guide to Buying and Selling a Home: Also available in both English and Spanish, this guide offers important information and checklists about complex real estate issues such as contracts, financing, pre-closing, title protection, closing, post-closing and a glossary of common real estate terms with which buyers and sellers may not be familiar. Toll-Free Number: 1-866-FUND-HOME is a toll-free number where consumers can order a free guide to buying and selling a home, or access a database of Fund member attorneys.
WHO:	Attorneys' Title Insurance Fund, Inc. (The Fund) was created in 1948 in Orlando, Fla. and is the nation's sixth largest title insurance underwriter. Acknowledged as the Florida residential real estate expert, The Fund has been in business for more than 50 years and supports a network of more than 6,000 attorney agents statewide who practice real estate law. Additionally, The Fund writes more than 300,000 title insurance policies for owners and lenders in Florida each year.
CONTACTS:	Kelly Wilkes / Dan Webber / Rosie Stober Edelman 404-262-3000 Kelly.Wilkes@edelman.com Dan.Webber@edelman.com Rosie.Stober@edelman.com