|
|
NS3 Preview: Blefari to deliver keynote address on opening day
Posted Date: Friday, July 23, 2021
HomeServices of America CEO Gino Blefari will kick off the 17th annual National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Naples, Fla., by delivering the keynote address on Aug. 31, the conference’s first day.
Other first-day speakers will discuss the growing cannabis industry, the secrets to landing referrals, and state regulatory trends around the country.
Read on for more about the first day of the three-day conference.
|
|
|
Hocker Title owner to cheer on son in Olympics
Posted Date: Thursday, July 22, 2021
Hocker Title owner Janet Hocker’s son Cole qualified to compete in the Olympic 1,500-meter race after he defeated the defending gold medalist during the Olympic track and field trials.
The University of Oregon sophomore and NCAA 1,500-meter champion came from behind in dramatic fashion to secure a trip to the Tokyo games.
Read on for more from Janet about Cole’s journey to the Olympics.
|
|
|
Hispanic homeowners more likely to receive financial help
Posted Date: Thursday, July 22, 2021
More than half (52 percent) of Hispanic homeowners have lived with family without paying rent to help save for housing costs, versus 39 percent of Black homeowners and 38 percent of white homeowners, according to a recent Redfin report.
Read on for more from the report.
|
|
|
|
Cloudstar attack brings new focus to security, vulnerabilities
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Cloudstar is still working to get its cloud-hosting system back online after a July 16 ransomware attack. The company says it’s “too early to speculate” on whether there was a data breach.
Industry cybersecurity experts explain what happens during such attacks, what the far-reaching consequences might be and how title companies can protect themselves and their customers.
Read on for more.
|
|
|
X1 Analytics and Title Data announce integration
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2021
X1 Analytics and Title Data, Inc., (TDI) announced an integration aimed at expediting title production in Texas.
Through the integration, X1’s data and analytics engine can leverage TDI’s title plant data repository to automate title search reports, creating efficiencies and accelerating the title production process for subscribers and facilitating faster closings, according to the companies.
Read on for more about the integration.
|
|
|
ATTOM acquires GeoData Plus
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2021
ATTOM has acquired GeoData Plus, an application for property research, valuation, and prospecting tools.
The acquisition will strengthen ATTOM’s competitive positioning in the enterprise data licensing marketplace and allow customers to obtain in-depth property reports and other information for a more accurate property analysis, according to ATTOM CEO Rob Barber.
Read on for more about the acquisition.
|
|
|
Bidding wars start to slow
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Homebuyer competition is easing as more homes hit the market, according to a recent Redfin report. In June, 65 percent of home offers written by Redfin agents faced competition, down from a pandemic peak in April of 74.1 percent.
Read on for more from the report.
|
|
|
‘Highly sophisticated’ ransomware attack sidelines Cloudstar
Posted Date: Saturday, July 17, 2021
One of the title industry’s main cloud-hosting providers has been sidelined by a ransomware attack, the company confirmed in an email to The Title Report.
One industry expert said the attack and subsequent blockage of Cloudstar’s system could create a national emergency on Monday because the company provides technology for hundreds of title companies and lenders.
Read on to learn more.
|
|
|
Fathom Holdings creates Hispanic division
Posted Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
Fathom Holdings has created a Hispanic division to better serve the fast-growing demographic.
An industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience as a real estate agent and mortgage loan officer will lead the division as vice president of business development for the Hispanic market, a new position.
Read on for more about the new division.
|
|
|
Federal Title opens second Maryland location
Posted Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
Washington, D.C.-based Federal Title & Escrow Co. recently opened its second Maryland office. That brings the company’s total to five offices operating in the region.
In addition to traditional closings, Federal Title offers mobile and remote online closings, which have seen an uptick in demand from agents and clients since the pandemic.
Read on for more about the new location.
|
|
|
Paradigm Title & Escrow launches new website
Posted Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
Maryland-based Paradigm Title & Escrow has launched a new website.
The site’s new features are part of Paradigm Title’s efforts to expand its reach and strengthen its connections with its customers, Realtors, lenders, investors, and the communities it serves in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Read on for more about the features of the new website.
|
|
|
Punctual Abstract unveils document recording solution
Posted Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
Punctual Abstract has added a document recording solution to its suite of title industry products. With the new service, the firm can perform eRecordings, mail-in recordings, and walk-in recordings.
Read on for more about the new offering.
|
|
|
First National adds Florida agency manager
Posted Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
First National Title Insurance Co. named a 35-year title industry veteran as its senior vice president, Florida region agency manager. The new VP has experience in search and exam, closing and escrow and executive leadership, and the underwriter side in sales.
Read on for more about the appointment.
|
|
|
Saving for down payment getting harder
Posted Date: Friday, July 16, 2021
Today’s first-time homebuyers will take a year longer to save for a 20 percent down payment on a typical starter home than homebuyers did five years ago, according to a recent Zillow analysis. Part of that is due to starter home prices growing almost seven times faster than renter homes.
Read on for more.
|
|
|
Allegiance Title merges with FirsTitle
Posted Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
Dallas-based Allegiance Title Co. and Tulsa-based FirsTitle announced a merger to create a new holding company, AllFirst. The merged companies will have approximately 500 employees in 49 offices serving Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas.
AllFirst also includes Guaranty Title, Smith Brothers Abstract, Excel Title and Aggieland Title.
Read on for more about the merger.
|
|
|
First American appoints chief intellectual property officer
Posted Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
First American Financial Corp. announced it has created the position of vice president and chief intellectual property officer. The position will focus on enhancing and expanding First American’s intellectual property portfolio.
The new chief intellectual property officer has more than 20 years of experience practicing law with an emphasis on intellectual property.
Read on for more about the appointment.
|
|
|
F.C. Tucker partners with Howard Hanna Real Estate
Posted Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
Indiana real estate firm F.C. Tucker Co. is partnering with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.
Through the partnership, F.C. Tucker agents will gain access to enhanced technology and marketing tools, a relocation network, agent connections and lead-generation opportunities, according to the companies, and Howard Hanna will gain F.C. Tucker’s insight into the central Indiana market, where F.C. Tucker holds the No. 1 market share.
Read on for more.
|
|
|
SoftPro integrates with Black Knight Property Tax
Posted Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
SoftPro announced an integration with Black Knight’s property tax solution that enables SoftPro 360 users to order Black Knight data directly through the portal.
Read on for more about the integration.
|
|
|
Survey: Black homeowners face more financial barriers
Posted Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
A recent Redfin survey found 23 percent of white homeowners reported making no financial sacrifices to buy their first home, compared with 14 percent of Black homeowners.
Read on for more from the survey.
|
|
|
TitleWave boosts Northeast leadership team
Posted Date: Thursday, July 15, 2021
Fidelity National Financial announced TitleWave Real Estate Solutions promoted two team members into expanded leadership roles in its Northeast region. One is now vice president regional for TitleWave Northeast, and the other will expand oversight to include the state of Delaware.
Read on for more about the promotions.
|
|
|
Independence Title helps wire fraud victim who lost $64,000
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
When a South Florida single mother lost her $64,000 down payment on a new home to wire fraud, Independence Title CEO Kevin Tacher offered his assistance, even though his company was not involved in the closing.
Through help from him and generous GoFundMe donors, the woman was able to recover the money and close on the home.
Read on for more from Tacher about how title companies can protect themselves and their clients from such scams.
|
|
|
Lodasoft platform integrates with Doma
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Digital workflow platform Lodasoft and Doma announced a product integration between the two companies that enables Lodasoft mortgage lenders to access Doma’s proprietary technology solutions.
Lodasoft President Adam Batayeh said the integration will give customers access to Doma’s comprehensive and accurate title and closing services, making real estate closings simpler and more efficient.
Read on for more about the integration.
|
|
|
Flueid achieves unqualified SOC 2 compliance for platform
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Tech company Flueid achieved an unqualified SOC 2 Type 2 examination report for its Flueid Decision (formerly named Insurful) platform months after it was released.
The examination was conducted by a global accounting firm in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ standards relevant to security, availability, and confidentiality categories.
Read on for more about the compliance achievement.
|
|
|
Qualia integrates with Municipal Data Services
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Qualia announced a new integration with Municipal Data Services, a tax and municipal search services provider for title companies in New York state.
Read on for more about the integration.
|
|
|
First National adds to Mid-Atlantic team
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
First National Title Insurance Co. recently announced the addition of a Mid-Atlantic region vice president, agency manager, and a national and Mid-Atlantic underwriting counsel.
Read on for more about the new team members.
|
|
|
Millennials poised for ‘roaring 20s’ of homeownership demand
Posted Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Millennials continue to fuel potential homeownership demand, according to First American Deputy Chief Economist Odeta Kushi’s analysis of the company’s annual Homeownership Progress Index (HPRI).
Read on for more from the HPRI.
|
|
|
Ubitquity partners with Millennial Title, Real Items
Posted Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Blockchain-secured real estate platform Ubitquity announced it has teamed up with Florida-based Millennial Title and its affiliate Encrypted Estates for its SmartEscrow solution, which facilitates real estate crypto settlements.
Ubitquity also announced it is partnering with Real Items to offer NFT-backed (non-fungible token) digital certificates instead of paper housing titles. Washington state-based Rainier Title will utilize that service.
Read on for more about the partnerships.
|
|
|
Voxtur Analytics names CEO
Posted Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Voxtur Analytics Corp., which serves the public and private property lending and property tax sectors in the U.S. and Canada, named a 25-year veteran of the real estate and technology industry as its new CEO.
The company, created after an acquisition in February, also named an executive chairman of its board of directors.
Read on for more about the appointments.
|
|
|
D. Bello unveils new look, logo
Posted Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
Title production technology provider D. Bello recently launched a rebrand with a redesigned website, color scheme and logo. More website redesigns are planned for later in the year.
The new logo and brand are meant to “support who we are and become a visual marker amidst the noise of generic products and services in this industry,” CEO Jeffrey Bates said.
Read on for more.
|
|
|
NATIC adds Dallas market agency manager
Posted Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
North American Title Insurance Co. added a seasoned title, escrow and real estate professional to its Texas agency management team.
Read on for more about the new team member.
|
|
|
|
Report: iBuyer home purchases ramping back up
Posted Date: Friday, July 9, 2021
iBuying companies purchased 4,383 homes in the first quarter, down 6.1 percent from a year ago, but up 20.6 percent from the fourth quarter, according to a recent Redfin report.
Read on for more from the report.
|
|
|
Home affordability declines as prices rise
Posted Date: Thursday, July 8, 2021
Median home prices of single-family homes and condos in the second quarter were less affordable than historical averages in 61 percent of counties analyzed by ATTOM, according to its second-quarter 2021 U.S. Home Affordability Report.
Read on for more from the report.
|
|