Month: September 2025

What Are HOA Prepayment Fees?

When a property in a planned community is being sold, the property may be subject to a Homeowners’ Associations (HOA). Before the final closing date can be scheduled, the Settlement Agent must receive a statement (usually called an estoppel letter) from the HOA confirming what transfer fees, dues, assessments, capital contributions, or fines may be due from both the Seller or Buyer at closing. Many of the Homeowners’ Associations, or their management companies, charge fees in advance for that information. The amounts of such charges can vary widely and may not be known by Seller or their agent when the contract is negotiated. But, if the HOA company charges a pre-payment fee for the estoppel letter, it is essential the responsible party pay it promptly.

If you own a mobile home in South Carolina and want it to be treated the same as traditional real estate, there’s one important step you’ll need to take: de-titling. This legal process removes the home’s status as personal property (tracked by the SC DMV) and officially combines it with the land it sits on.

De-titling affects how your property may be taxed, financed, and transferred. It can also help prevent future complications during sales, refinancing, or estate planning.

What Does It Mean to De-Title a SC Mobile Home?

In South Carolina, mobile homes are initially considered personal property, not real estate. Like a car, a mobile home receives a title through the SC Department of Motor Vehicles. But once that home is permanently installed on your land, you have the option to retire the title. This means it will effectively be removed from DMV records.

When you de-title, your mobile home becomes part of the land and is reflected in the property’s deed. From a legal standpoint, the land and home are now one piece of real estate. This change affects how the property is treated in legal documents, tax assessments, and even loan applications.

Commercial vehicle accidents often lead to more serious consequences than standard car crashes due to the size, weight, and complexity of the vehicles involved. Whether it’s a delivery van, a box truck, or a large fleet vehicle, commercial collisions can result in severe injuries, multiple liable parties, and unique insurance challenges. If you’ve been involved in this type of crash, understanding your rights and next steps is crucial.

What Is a Commercial Vehicle Accident?

A commercial vehicle accident involves any motor vehicle used for business purposes that crashes while operating on public roads. These can include delivery trucks, tractor-trailers, construction vehicles, rideshare cars, utility vans, and even company-owned passenger vehicles.According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of work-related fatalities in the U.S., and with commercial drivers facing long hours, tight deadlines, and challenging road conditions. When a crash involves a commercial vehicle, the investigation and liability process can be more complex than a typical car accident.

What happens to your house when you die without a will depends on a combination of state law, probate procedures, and whether you’ve taken any steps to plan ahead. In South Carolina, real estate not addressed in a valid will may be delayed in probate, could be subject to sale to satisfy debts, or may pass to heirs you didn’t intend.

Understanding how real estate is handled after death, and how to avoid unnecessary complications, can help you make better choices about estate planning before it’s too late.

Who Decides What Happens to Your Home?

Dying without a will is called dying “intestate,” and it means the state decides who inherits your property. If you own a home at the time of your death and haven’t left clear instructions in a will or trust, the court will look to the South Carolina intestate statute to distribute your assets.

This process does not consider personal wishes or informal promises. Instead, it follows a legal formula based on surviving family relationships, often leading to unexpected or contested outcomes. According to FreeWill, intestate real estate often passes to spouses and children, but the court may divide ownership or force a sale to distribute the value.

When no heirs are found, or when disputes arise, the process can become even more complicated and time-consuming.