Some lenders will bundle things like life or disability insurance into your loan. Typically the seller chooses the closing agent because they are purchasing an owners title police from this agent in most cases on your behalf as the purchaser. In most cases you can save a lot of money and still get a home that will provide years and years of memories for yourself and your entire family with an unfinished home. Agents familiar with the ranch land market in one area may not be familiar with farm land or forested land in other areas. Hard value adding is simply the garden variety paint job or cosmetic improvements to the Real Estate in question. When house values increase, especially as dramatically as in recent months - people feel freer to spend from the wealth they have, or the wealth they perceive they have.