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Are title plants still relevant?
Posted Date: Sunday, August 21, 2016
An essential tool for title insurance agents has been the electronic title plant. There are many companies and sources that have property information, but the electronic title plant has provided searchable, indexed and secure information for property research. The Title Report spoke with two of the large title plant providers about the industry and the future. Keep reading to learn more.
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CFPB targets privacy in TRID amendments
Posted Date: Friday, July 29, 2016
The calculation of title insurance on the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure forms will not change, according to proposed updates from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Friday morning. However, privacy concerns did make the cut. Read on for details of how the amendment will address privacy concerns and what other areas of the rule are being amended.
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Conversations with the C-Suite: First National Title Insurance Co.
Posted Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
Welcome to our latest Conversations with the C-Suite exclusive to The Title Report. In these features we talk to leaders of the industry about their business priorities, plans for the future and what title agents need to know to succeed. In this edition, Editor Tara Quinn spoke with First National Title Insurance Co. President Chris Phillips.
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How ready are you for new overtime rules?
Posted Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
The Department of Labor’s recently announced update to federal overtime regulations is set to go into effect Dec. 1, 2016. Ballard Spahr Partner Shannon Farmer talked about these new rules in a recent American Land Title Association (ALTA) webinar. Read on to learn more.
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Trinity Title moves back home
Posted Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
Thirteen months after a cherished 300-year-old red oak tree fell onto the Trinity Title building in Georgia, the staff has moved back home. Read on to learn how the agency recovered.
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WFG’s Patrick Stone: Mythbuster on industry, economy
Posted Date: Sunday, July 17, 2016
Williston Financial Group (WFG) Chairman and CEO Patrick Stone provided several invaluable insights at October Research, LLC’s 2016 National Settlement Services Summit (NS3), debunking various media distortions about the economy, examining perceptions among real estate brokers, settlement services providers and lenders; and showing why integrations and eClosings are the future. Read on to learn more.
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NS3 keynote speaker talks mortgage opportunities
Posted Date: Sunday, August 7, 2016
Giving the keynote address at October Research, LLC’s 2016 National Settlement Services Summit (NS3), Abraham Cox, BB&T Home Mortgage’s Executive Vice President, Retail Lending Manager, spoke about capitalizing on opportunities in the residential mortgage industry. Read on to see what he had to say.
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New York state association launches guide to find agents
Posted Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016
In an effort to increase awareness of the state’s title insurance industry, the New York State Land Title Association (NYSLTA) launched NYTitleInsuranceGuide.com. Executive Director Bob Treuber told The Title Report this is the first online directory for title insurance in New York. Keep reading to learn more.
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OneTitle ‘dramatically expands’ capacity through reinsurance
Posted Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016
OneTitle National Guaranty Co., Inc. has entered into a new agreement with a global reinsurer. CEO Daniel Price told The Title Report that this partnership gives the underwriter the capacity to undertake much larger transactions and provide a dramatically increased level of security to its clients. Read on to learn more.
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Fidelity, First American tout refi, acquisition growth
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
First American and Fidelity have noticed an uptick in refinance volumes and are showing interest in merger and acquisitions, according to the transcripts of their earnings report conference calls. Keep reading to learn more.
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Fidelity acquires software company
Posted Date: Monday, August 1, 2016
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. announced that FNF Group signed a definitive agreement to acquire a company with an end-to-end SaaS CRM, lead generation and lead management software platform. Read on to learn more.
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Stewart answers shareholder request to sell
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
Stewart’s CEO Matthew Morris said second-quarter 2016 results reflect continued bottom line improvement in the company’s core title operations, according to the company’s second quarter earnings announcement. He also addressed comments from a shareholder company, which said it wanted Stewart to explore a sale of the company. Read on to learn more.
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ClosingCorp integrates with Qualia
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
ClosingCorp’s DART service now is available through Qualia. The integration will allow law firms and title agents to automatically calculate document recording fees and transfer taxes directly from within Qualia. Read on to learn more.
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Simplifile partners with Qualia
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Simplifile has partnered with Qualia to enable law firms and title agents to eRecord directly from Qualia’s cloud-based settlement software. Keep reading to learn more.
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ShortTrack integrates with RamQuest
Posted Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
ShortTrack and RamQuest are making real estate transactions faster and more secure by creating a collaborative environment for professionals and their customers via ShortTrack’s mobile platform. Read on to learn more.
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RynohLive expands with new EVP
Posted Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
RynohLive appointed an executive vice president of sales and marketing. He said he is very excited to join the company. Read on to learn more.
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Median home price at all-time high
Posted Date: Thursday, August 4, 2016
The second quarter home sales report released by ATTOM Data Solutions shows the median home price at an all-time high, surpassing the previous levels seen in July 2015. Read on for details of the report.
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Stewart advises shareholders, ‘take no action at this time’
Posted Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Foundation Asset Management, LP, one of the shareholders of Stewart Information Services Corp., has filed a preliminary solicitation statement seeking to call a special meeting of Stewart’s shareholders. In the filing the shareholder says it wants to replace Vice Chairmen of the Board of Directors Malcom S. Morris and Stewart Morris Jr. with Ernest D. Smith and Roslyn B. Payne. Read on to learn more.
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Old Republic reports improved earnings
Posted Date: Monday, August 1, 2016
Old Republic International Corp. reported moderately improved results for the first six months of 2016, according to its second quarter earnings statement. Keep reading to learn more.
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ATGF names vice president
Posted Date: Monday, August 1, 2016
The Attorneys Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. named a new vice president of title operations. Read on to learn more.
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ATPR enhances SmartProp functionality
Posted Date: Monday, August 1, 2016
ATPR Inc. announced several functionality enhancements to its property search solution, SmartProp. Keep reading to learn more.
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Ellie Mae expands integration with First American
Posted Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016
Ellie Mae enhanced its integration with First American Title Insurance Co. to enable rate and fee quoting, title and settlement ordering and collaboration on Closing Disclosure forms directly from Ellie Mae’s Encompass, all-in-one mortgage management solution. Read on to learn more.
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PRIA announces eRecording milestone
Posted Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016
A new milestone has been reached in the number of recording jurisdictions electronically recording documents. As of June 30, 2016, more than 76 percent of the population in the United States resides in a recording jurisdiction offering electronic recording of documents. Keep reading to learn more.
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Chronos names CIO
Posted Date: Thursday, July 28, 2016
Chronos Solutions named a new chief information officer. The longtime Texas resident will work in the company’s Coppell, Texas, headquarters and serve on its executive committee. Read on to learn more.
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PYA's Eugene McCullough earns NTP
Posted Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Eugene R. McCullough has been awarded a National Title Professional (NTP) designation from the American Land Title Association.
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Political parties take stances on housing
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Now that the convention season is upon us, Democrats and Republicans have released their party platforms. Read on to learn their thoughts on housing.
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New York attorney general combats zombie homes
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a new grant initiative to address the growing statewide problem of so-called “zombie homes” – vacant and abandoned homes not maintained during a prolonged foreclosure proceeding. Read on to learn more.
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Comment period for maturity model to end Friday
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
The American Land Title Association (ALTA)’s recently released changes to its Title and Settlement Company Best Practices and maturity model’s public comment period will come to close on Friday. Read on to learn more.
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WFG grows Louisiana team
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
WFG National Title Insurance Co. added an agency sales representative in Louisiana. She is charged with growing the agent base throughout the state as well as supporting existing clients. Read on to learn more.
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Redfin: Housing market sets new records
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
June 2016 marked the fastest, most competitive housing market since 2009, according to Redfin. This year’s speed and competition have been driven by an intensifying mismatch between supply of homes and demand for homes. Read on to learn more.
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Ten-X lists hot single-family residential markets
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Ten-X released its Top Single-Family Housing Markets Report for Summer 2016, which ranks the nation's 50 largest housing markets according to current and forecasted housing fundamentals. Each demonstrates consistently strong demand, home price appreciation and economic and demographic growth. Keep reading to learn more.
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First American launches TotalView
Posted Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
First American Financial Corp. announced the availability of its new TotalView report in DataTree.com. Mortgage lenders, attorneys and other professionals who work with real property and ownership-related issues now will have instant access to detailed property information organized in a single report. Keep reading to learn more.
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Stewart adds energy expert to Houston office
Posted Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
Stewart Title appointed a senior business development officer for commercial services in its Houston division. He will have a special focus on renewable energy. Read on to learn more.
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Existing home sales maintain momentum
Posted Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
Boosted by a greater share of sales to first-time buyers not seen in nearly four years, existing-home sales maintained their upward trajectory in June and increased for the fourth consecutive month, according to the National Association of Realtors. Read on to learn more.
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HUD, Census Bureau report new residential construction
Posted Date: Sunday, July 24, 2016
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the new residential construction statistics for June 2016. Read on to learn more.
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Fidelity reports higher title revenue in quarter
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. reported the operating results of FNF Group for the three and six month period that ended June 30, 2016. Chairman William P. Foley said in a press release that this quarter clearly highlighted the earnings power of the company’s title insurance business. Keep reading to learn more.
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First American reports record pretax margin
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
First American Financial Corp. released its financial results for the second quarter that ended June 30, 2016. CEO Dennis Gilmore said in a press release that the title segment achieved a pretax margin of 13.7 percent, the highest in the company’s history.
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Despite Brexit shadow, Fannie says economic outlook unchanged
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
The economic growth outlook for the second half of the year remains unchanged from the prior forecast at about 2.0 percent, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group’s July 2016 Economic and Housing Outlook. Keep reading to learn more.
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WFG appoints Midwest sales rep
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
WFG National Title Insurance Co. added an agency sales representative for Ohio and Illinois within its Midwest Agency region. He is a 20-year veteran of the title insurance industry. Read on to learn more.
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Despite Brexit shadow, Fannie says economic outlook unchanged
Posted Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016
The economic growth outlook for the second half of the year remains unchanged from the prior forecast at about 2.0 percent, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research (ESR) Group’s July 2016 Economic and Housing Outlook. Keep reading to learn more.
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1TRACT enters agreement with Fidelity
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016
1TRACT LLC has entered into a preferred vendor arrangement with Fidelity National Title Group (FNTG). This agreement provides FNTG title agents a solution to eliminate error in real estate conveyance transactions, the companies announced. Keep reading to learn more.
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AmTrust names director of corporate strategy
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016
AmTrust Title Insurance Co. hired a veteran of the industry with more than 22 years of title insurance experience. He has joined the company as director of corporate strategy, agency vice president. Read on to learn more.
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MISMO release HMDA implementation toolkit
Posted Date: Sunday, July 17, 2016
MISMO, the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization, released a set of products to help companies implement the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) rule. Rea on to learn more.
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Foreclosures down 11 percent, RealtyTrac says
Posted Date: Sunday, July 17, 2016
RealtyTrac released its Midyear 2016 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. It showed foreclosing filings in the first six months of 2016 are down 20 percent from the previous six months, and 11 percent from the first six months of 2015. Read on to learn more.
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Howard Hanna, RealtyUSA merge
Posted Date: Sunday, July 17, 2016
Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and RealtyUSA announced a merger. It combines the largest residential real estate broker in New York with the largest broker in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Keep reading to learn more.
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NNA Services launches TitleAndEscrowBonds.com
Posted Date: Sunday, July 17, 2016
NNA Services, LLC launched TitleAndEscrowBonds.com, a surety and fidelity bond solution. It expands the company’s insurance offerings for the title and escrow industry. Keep reading to learn more.
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23 more counties eRecording
Posted Date: Sunday, July 17, 2016
Simplifile has expanded its eRecording network with the addition of 23 county recording offices across the South and Midwest. Keep reading to learn more.
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Beige Book: Real estate activity continues to strengthen
Posted Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016
Reports from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts indicate that economic activity continued to expand at a modest pace across most regions from mid-May through the end of June. Real estate activity continued to strengthen, and banks reported overall increases in loan demand. Keep reading to learn more.
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North American Title Co. opens new California office
Posted Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016
North American Title Co. expanded its operations in the central valley of California with a new office location in Manteca. This new opening marks NATC’s fifth location in the San Joaquin/Stanislaus region. Read on to learn more.
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AmTrust names new director
Posted Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016
AmTrust Title Insurance Co. named a veteran of the industry with more than 22 years of title insurance experience, director of corporate strategy, agency vice president. He will be expanding the company’s authority to write title insurance across the country and to broaden its agency operations nationwide with a regional focus on the western United States. Keep reading to learn more.
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Home purchase sentiment declines
Posted Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016
Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index decreased 2.1 points to 83.2 in June, down from May’s all-time survey high, as more consumers report mixed views toward housing and income growth. Read on to learn more.
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Foreclosure inventory declines 24.5 percent, CoreLogic says
Posted Date: Thursday, July 14, 2016
CoreLogic released its May 2016 National Foreclosure Report, showing the foreclosure inventory declined by 24.5 percent. All states but North Dakota experienced declines in their foreclosure rate compared with the prior year. Read on to learn more.
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