I was always tempted to drop in first to see if it was an easy fix before hiring a pro because a heating contractor visit to push the mode button on a thermostat costs just as much as one to fix a real issue.I also subscribe to the theory that I need to be able to frequently see what I own.  

Or they don't do the nice round number, but their generic assumption for local Bay Area real estate is 1.2% when in reality places like Oakland and San Jose are frequently well north of that, and all of a sudden "my" PITI is the highest and the client thinks I am trying to cheat them on their property taxes or something.

Given that I live overseas, move around relatively frequently and work for non-US companies (and thus don't get W2s), I've found that the big banks have little interest in working with me despite a great credit history, good, stable income, roots in the US, etc. etc.

(Both frequently end badly for the person doing them.)There's a 10% tax penalty.* Awful.Withdrawals are taxed at ordinary income rates, as if you earned that amount of money in that year.* Double awful.

You could also contact Ryan Martin at First American title as he puts the list together frequently.

5) Any issues with frequent rollovers into or out of the account?

zit think you need to identify the threats and mitigate the risks of those threats to your satisfaction.Bank personnel are unlikely to be trying to pull any clever maneuvers however I used to frequently run into a guy at a local sushi bar.

We deal with bats here frequently.

I am not keen on NPN personally . read the article you mentioned,   Don who wrote it is a frequent poster on BP and one that I highly regard. 

After 45 - 60 days, and presumably making some improvements to the property, you can refinance the property - if you stay with the same lender, you can likely use the same appraisal as it would still be considered current.The "seasoning" period you read about so frequently amongst our neighbours to the south is not something that is universally applied amongst lender here in Canada.