News By Edition

Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 7.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 369,000 units in May, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Read on for more.

WFG National Title Insurance Co. named a new vice president and state counsel for its Florida office. Read on for more about the growing underwriter’s latest addition.

With the voices of underwriters, customers and industry experts echoing through the hallways of national title industry conferences, title agents themselves have few chances to speak up about the problems they face. At the 2012 National Settlement Services and Compliance Summit, a panel of title agents from different states came together to answer questions and describe their experiences working in the industry. Read on for part one of our coverage to see what they had to say.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Acting Director Edward DeMarco announced changes to short sale policies that will make it easier for military homeowners with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to honor their financial commitments when they are required to move as part of their duty.

Lincoln Appraisal & Settlement Services formed a new partnership with sister company Lincoln Abstract & Settlement Services. The company believes this closer relationship will create an efficient one-stop shop for its customers looking for appraisal, title and closing services.

Century Oaks Title, LLC, a majority-owned subsidiary of TDECU Holdings LLC, doing business as Diversified Services, announced the acquisition of Texas Title Co. and welcomed the addition of the company’s newest employee.

In somewhat surprising technology news, SoftPro, the nation’s leading closing and title software provider, integrated First American Title Insurance Co.’s AgentNet into the SoftPro 360 business exchange platform. Read on for more about the efficiencies gained from this deal.

SoftPro Director of Industry Relations Leslie Wyatt, briefed members of the House Financial Committee and the House Small Business Committee on the critical issues facing the title industry. Read on for more.

Mortgage applications decreased 0.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 15, but refinances increased slightly from an already elevated pace set the previous week. Read on for an explanation from the MBA.

A new title and escrow company opened up in Swansea, Ill., that will be handling commercial and residential real estate work and providing full closing services. Read on for more about the company and its key staff members.

Back in April, The Title Report featured analysis from one investor’s point of view on the different operating and growth strategies of First American and Fidelity. That got us thinking about perceptions — who do our readers think is doing the best? Check out the results of our website poll asking that very question.

President of the American Land Title Association testified before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity during a hearing titled “Mortgage Disclosures: How Do We Cut Red Tape for Consumers and Small Businesses?” Read on for more.

First American Title Insurance Co.’s financial strength was affirmed by Fitch Ratings this week, but more importantly, the rating organization also moved its outlook to positive from stable. Read on for the analysis from Fitch and what triggers could lead to an upgrade or downgrade from here.

The former president of Direct Title & Escrow in Florida, Michelle Austin-Wilks, 38, was charged in February, pled guilty in April, and has now been sentenced to prison. Of all of the defendants that have been penalized for their participation in these two cases, Austin-Wilks has received the harshest punishment in terms of prison time and restitution.

Interthinx announced that the most recent director of public policy for the Mortgage Bankers Association has joined the company as the director of industry relations. Read on for more from the announcement.

A Florida-based notary and real estate title company, Title Junction, has announced the hire of the company’s newest post closer. Read on for more information about the position.

What if the key to your success just parked his car in the lot this morning? That’s right, the adequate or slightly underperforming sales person you hired a year or two ago might be an all-star talent that could bring in more deals and bountiful prosperity. So what is stopping him? Why is this talent being wasted? Well, the answer might be you. Read on for six steps that will improve your sales culture today.

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained one point in June from a slightly revised level in the previous month on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Read on for more information.

WFG National Title Insurance Co. recently launched TitleNet, a new division of the company with an agent-focused approach. It’s a nationwide network that will connect and support agents who are attempting to expand their businesses without having to move into a new brick-and-mortar location. Read on for more about the efficiencies TitleNet hopes to provide to WFG and to its network of agents.

CoreLogic, a provider of information, analytics and business services, reported that the current residential shadow inventory as of April fell to 1.5 million units, representing a supply of four months.

WebTitle Agency and partner company Cascade Settlement Agency announced a merger with Customized Lender’s Services (CLS) effective June 18, 2012. Read on for more about the merger.

Baltimore City Sage Title Group announced it has expanded its office to include a veteran attorney in the settlement services business with more than 20 years of title and expertise. Read on for more information.

At the National Settlement Services and Compliance Summit in Cleveland, two noted experts in real estate and mortgage industry law told attendees that times are changing and the industry, especially settlement service providers, needs to prepare now for a windfall of coming changes that will all affect the way business is done in the future.

Fidelity National Title Co. announced the appointment of a vice president/major accounts responsible for handling builder and commercial services for the greater Coachella Valley, Calif. Read on for more.