Community Title Network

10/29/2026

Selling a home in Anne Arundel County, Maryland?

Here are a few questions every homeowner should ask before listing their property.

From Annapolis to Severna Park and Edgewater, preparing for a home sale involves more than choosing an asking price.

Before your property goes on the market, it's important to understand:

• What are the closing costs for sellers in Maryland?

Transfer and recordation taxes, outstanding liens, and other settlement expenses can affect your final proceeds.

• Are there any title issues that could delay closing?

Unreleased mortgages, ownership discrepancies, and estate-related matters can create unexpected complications.

• What documents do I need to sell my home?

Depending on how the property is owned, additional documentation may be required to establish signing authority and complete settlement.

• How much will I actually receive at closing?

Requesting an estimated seller net sheet early can help you plan with greater confidence.

At Community Title Network, our Annapolis settlement team helps Maryland homeowners and real estate agents navigate the details of title, closing costs, and property transfers.

Planning to sell in Anne Arundel County? Connect with our local team before listing. The right questions today can help prevent costly surprises at settlement.

Experience. Close to Home.

10/29/2026

Community Title Network is collecting new or gently used coats and toiletries for homeless Veterans and their families. The collection deadline has been extended to VETERANS DAY, November 11th.

Drop off location in Charles County:
6360 Crain Highway
La Plata, MD 20646

Drop off location in Anne Arundel County:
65 Old Solomons Island Road Suite 102
Annapolis, MD 21401

10/28/2026

How much are closing costs in Maryland, and is the old 3% rule still accurate?

For years, Maryland homebuyers were told to budget approximately 3% of the purchase price for closing costs. But today, that rule of thumb doesn't always tell the whole story.
From county-specific transfer and recordation taxes to mortgage fees, financing terms, and negotiated contract responsibilities, the actual cost of closing on a home can vary significantly.

In fact, two buyers purchasing homes at the same price in Anne Arundel, Calvert, or Charles County could have very different closing expenses.

The takeaway? Don't rely on a general percentage. Get a closing cost estimate based on your specific property and transaction before making an offer.

Read more about why the 3% closing cost rule no longer tells the whole story: https://communitytn.com/then-about-3-now-it-depends-on-the-county/

Experience. Close to Home.

10/26/2026

How much should homebuyers budget for closing costs in Maryland in 2026? Is the old 3% rule still accurate?

For years, buyers were told to estimate closing costs at approximately 3% of the purchase price. But as Terri Jarboe-Farri explains in our Title Tips series, that rule of thumb doesn't always reflect what buyers can expect today.

Closing costs in Maryland vary based on several factors, including county-specific transfer and recordation taxes, financing terms, mortgage points, and how expenses are negotiated in the purchase contract.

That means two buyers purchasing homes at the same price in Anne Arundel, Calvert, or Charles County could have very different closing costs.

The takeaway? Don't rely on a general percentage when you can get a more accurate estimate based on the actual property and transaction.

Planning to buy a home in Maryland? Connect with our team for a personalized closing cost estimate before making your offer.

Experience. Close to Home.

10/23/2026

Real estate agents and brokers: Is your affiliated business arrangement RESPA compliant?
Referring clients to a title company in which you have an ownership or financial interest comes with important legal responsibilities.

In this video, Mike Ridgway, CEO of Community Title Network and real estate attorney with nearly 40 years of experience, breaks down three key requirements:

1. Written Disclosure: Clearly disclose your financial interest, provide estimated settlement costs, and inform clients of their right to choose.

2. Consumer Choice: Buyers and sellers cannot be required or pressured to use an affiliated title company.

3. Fair Market Value: Compensation must be for legitimate services performed, not referrals or kickbacks.

With regulators increasing their focus on RESPA compliance, understanding these requirements is essential to protecting your business and your clients.

Watch the video and follow along as we continue our RESPA compliance series, helping real estate professionals navigate affiliated business arrangements with confidence.

https://youtu.be/qVUkr7iwSBY



For educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice.

Are your title company referrals RESPA compliant?Real estate agen...

10/22/2026

How can homebuyers protect themselves from wire fraud during a real estate closing?

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and one of the biggest financial risks in a home purchase happens right before settlement: sending your closing funds.

According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, real estate fraud resulted in $275.1 million in reported losses across 12,368 complaints.

At Community Title Network, protecting your transaction starts long before closing day.
Our wiring instructions will never change. If you receive an email claiming that your closing instructions or banking details have changed, do not send money. Contact your settlement team using a trusted phone number you already have, never one provided in the suspicious message.

Here are three additional steps every Maryland homebuyer should take before closing:
Confirm your bank's wire transfer policies. Ask about daily limits, same-day transfers, and whether you can initiate a wire remotely.

Prepare your closing funds early. Confirm the amount and transfer timeline with your settlement team, ideally 48–72 hours before settlement.

Verify before you wire. Independently confirm all wiring instructions with your title company using a previously verified phone number.

As we celebrate 10 years of Community Title Network, our commitment to secure real estate settlements remains a priority.

Real estate agents, share these wire fraud prevention tips with your buyers before closing day. A few extra minutes of verification can help protect one of their largest financial transactions.

Experience. Close to Home.

10/21/2026

How can real estate agents spot seller impersonation fraud before it's too late?

One of the fastest-growing concerns in real estate fraud is a scam that can begin before a property even hits the market: someone pretending to be the rightful owner.

Vacant land, inherited properties, and unoccupied homes are particularly vulnerable because scammers can use publicly available property records to impersonate sellers and attempt fraudulent transactions.

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we're highlighting three warning signs every real estate agent should recognize:

The seller won't meet in person. Communication happens almost entirely by email, with excuses for avoiding phone or video calls.

The asking price seems too good to be true. The seller is willing to accept significantly less than market value.

There's pressure to close quickly. Cash offers, short timelines, and urgency are used to discourage additional verification.

At Community Title Network, seller identity verification is an important part of protecting real estate transactions. Our teams review ownership records, verify identification, and take additional steps when something doesn't add up.

The takeaway? Before listing a vacant property, verify who you're working with. A few extra minutes of due diligence could prevent a costly case of real estate fraud.

Read more about seller impersonation scams and the steps agents can take to prevent them: https://communitytn.com/seller-impersonation-went-from-rare-to-routine-here-is-the-pattern/

Experience. Close to Home.

07/24/2026

One buyer changed her name on the way to closing to 'kill two birds with one stone' — but all the loan documents were in her maiden name, and it stalled the signing.

Big life changes are wonderful; just loop in your title and lender team before they collide with closing day.

07/21/2026

🚨 Reminder! 🚨

We're honored to be nominated for Best of Southern Maryland — and we'd love your vote!
Every vote makes a difference. Thank you for your support! ❤️

🗳️ Vote here: https://marylandindependent.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Southern-Maryland-2026/gallery?group=547014

07/16/2026

We're honored to be nominated for Best Title Company in Best of Southern Maryland 2026!

If we've had the opportunity to work with you, we'd be grateful for your support.

Voting only takes a minute, and you can vote once per day throughout the contest.

Cast your vote here for Community Title Network: https://marylandindependent.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Southern-Maryland-2026/gallery?group=547014

Thank you for helping us continue to serve the Southern Maryland community!