AZCENTRAL.COM ❚ FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2020 ❚ 1NH A S P E C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N C R E AT E D B Y R E P U B L I C M E D I A C U S T O M P U B L I S H I N G
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May 2020
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VIRTUAL GRAND OPENINGS DEVELOPMENT OF THE MONTH MORTGAGE RATES
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QUARTZ VS QUARTZSITE HOW DID BUCKEYE GET ITS NAME
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SEARCH Mark Boisclair Architectural Photography via Maracay Homes
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Closing on your new home can be as easy as an e-closing Digital transaction management systems are quick, accurate and appropriate for today’s market conditions By David M. Brown
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ou once had to leave home for your home-closing. Now you don’t even have to leave your computer or smartphone. Digital transaction management systems hold the documents and communications pertaining to your home-closing. They allow you and your team to prepare, examine, sign and update all of the documents required to finalize the sale of your new home. Just log in and you’re set for a complete e-closing. Real estate pros, lenders, title and settlement agents, exchange and relocation companies, builders and consumers all use the available software, said Tyler Newlon, an escrow officer for Pioneer Title Agency. Collaboration portals Some systems are basic digital filing cabinets, an easy way to digitally store documents, notes, contact information and checklists. Others are more complex, functioning as collaboration portals, he explained. “They are used to communicate, ask others within the company to do something, prepare the commitment, record the final documents and send wires,” he said. Requiring a secure log-in, the systems are collaborative because the authorized parties can view or add documents/notes. More advanced collaboration can include integrations between different parties’ systems; these avoid redoing a form that’s already been done. “In some portals, they can order a title with one click,” Newlon said. In others, settlement agents add their fees and regenerate the closing document. “Some title and settlement agents have systems that allow you to open orders, track their progress, add notes, get quotes and manage the transaction,” he added.
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forefront on our website including interactive 3D home-tours, community site-maps, our online design studio and our Flex Design interactive floor plans allowing home-shoppers to add another bedroom, extra kitchen seating or even a generation suite with a kitchenette.” From virtual tours and teleconferenced design Cachet Homes: “Our agents can send a prospect a virtual center visits to “drive-through” contract-signings, tour and walk them through it,” said Sue Goodrich, vice president of sales and marketing for Cachet Homes. “Or a the experience may be a bit different but the outprospective buyer can access virtual tours on our website.” come is the same: a beautiful brand-new home! Pulte Homes: “Our sales consultants can perform real-time By Debra Gelbart video tours of our models and share screens to demonstrate he question: How can consumers visit newpricing or features,” said Trey Bitteker, vice president of sales/ home communities, check out and choose Arizona Division for PulteGroup. features and amenities, and finally, take care Robson Resort Communities: “Buyers can use our website of the paperwork — all while to explore 3D virtual tours and interactive staying within safe-distancing guidelines? floorplans,” said Brian Boylan, vice president “The current The answer: As with pretty much every of sales for Robson. environment has part of life these days, technology has come 7180 Optima Kierland: “Our interactive shown us that, to the rescue. Thank goodness. platform features a 3D-model of the building, now more than ever, floor plans, interactive views from residences, Virtual tools, high-tech approaches renderings of amenities and more,” explained home is one of Here’s a sampling of how some major Valley the most important Crel Vogel, sales manager at the luxury homebuilders are adapting to current market condominium community in Scottsdale. places in our lives.” conditions while still providing relevant Shea Homes: “A customer can see features —Elise Goodell, Maracay Homes information and informative experiences to on the screen during a Zoom call (an online potential homebuyers. video conferencing tool) with the sales agent Maracay Homes: “For many of us, home has turned into as clearly as if they were in the office,” said Ken Peterson, vice our offices, our gyms, our playgrounds, our sanctuary,” said president of sales and marketing for Shea Homes. Elise Goodell, marketing director for Maracay. “That’s why Trilogy by Shea Homes: “Implementing a virtual tour we’ve worked hard to bring virtual homebuying tools to the allows our team to guide shoppers one-on-one,” said Hal Looney, Arizona president, Trilogy by Shea Homes.
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Wrapping up can be virtual, too Taylor Morrison: Curbside or “drive-through” closings are offered nationwide, noted Sheryl Palmer, Taylor Morrison chairman and CEO, adding that customers can park outside the title office and a notary will deliver the required documents, all while maintaining appropriate distance.
Dino Tonn via Shea Homes
Multiple systems Fulton Homes uses several systems to complete all transactions when purchasing a new home. One such system is DocuSign which allows buyers to sign documents remotely and email them to the Tempe-based homebuilder. The company provides web portals for partners to view documents pertaining to each home. “Here we have a lender site, a title company site, a pool company site and all trades have access to their portion for the construction of the home. Buyers have their own password-protected portal and can log in to see all documents for their home,” said Dennis Webb, Fulton’s vice president of operations. (E-CLOSING, continued on page NH3)
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