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Premium Title taps into Utah market
Posted Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
Premium Title has gained the license it needed to open its Utah entity, Premium Title Insurance Agency – UT, Inc. President James Weld told The Title Report that few national agencies do direct business in Utah because of the stringent licensing requirements in that state.
Premium Title now has offices in Georgia, Texas, California and Utah.
Read on for more details.
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Westcor Specialty introduces compliance management tool
Posted Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
Westcor Specialty has introduced a compliance management tool for mortgage lenders and their closing agent network. Closepin helps lenders reduce risk by outsourcing closing agent oversight and compliance management of their closing agent network to its technology platform.
The company’s executive vice president said the new technology balances the interests of all involved.
Read on for more details.
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SWBC launches home equity lending product
Posted Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
SWBC Lending Solutions has created a program designed to streamline home equity lending efforts for financial institutions.
The new product includes proprietary valuation and title products designed to decrease the turnaround times of receiving pertinent information and to lower the price when compared with traditional lending products.
Read on for more details.
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Nine out of 10 homes have positive equity
Posted Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
According to an analysis by CoreLogic, homeowners throughout the U.S saw their equity increase by nearly 12 percent in 2016 – and more than 1 million borrowers moved out of negative equity.
Read on for more details.
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Fannie: Lenders optimistic about economy
Posted Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
During the first quarter of 2017, lender expectations for the economy and home prices were the highest ever recorded by Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey.
Read on for more details.
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Westcor appoints HR director
Posted Date: Friday, March 31, 2017
Westcor Land Title Insurance Co. announced the appointment of a new human resources director.
Read on for more details.
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ATG announces leadership changes
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund (ATG), Inc. has promoted three company veterans into key leadership positions, including chief operating officer.
ATG President and CEO Peter Birnbaum said the trio promoted are talented lawyers who have come up through the company’s ranks, and that the openings were created by retirements and other changes.
Read on to learn which ATG employees have stepped into new leadership roles.
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Mortgage Resources Group, Pavaso partner
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
The partnership links Mortgage Resources Group’s document preparation services with Pavaso, Inc.’s eClosing platform, which enables electronic communication and collaboration between title and settlement agents, real estate agents and lenders.
The integration will simplify the closing process by providing one digital location to deliver documents such as Loan Estimates and Closing Disclosures.
Read on for more details.
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ATTOM launches new lead product
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
ATTOM Data Solutions two-for-one lead product provides both pre-mover and new homeowner leads. The leads include an expected settlement date and can be provided to clients in a daily feed Monday through Friday.
ATTOM CEO Rob Barber said the leads can be used in direct marketing and are superior to those provided by other sources.
Read on for more details.
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January home prices continued upward trend
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
According to Black Knight’s Home Price Index, average home prices throughout the nation rose in January, as they have for past 57 months.
Read on for more details.
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Title company maintains ISO 27001 certification
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Alliant National Title Insurance Company passed an independent audit that proves it meets international standards in ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, availability and protection of non-public information.
Read on for more details.
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CATIC hires Massachusetts manager
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 28, 2017
CATIC has hired a new vice president and state manager, the company announced.
Read on to learn the identity of this new hire.
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Reli Settlement Solutions expands Alabama footprint
Posted Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
With the opening of a pair of new offices, Reli Settlement Solutions, LLC has expanded into two of the fastest-growing markets in Alabama.
CEO Kent Stewart said the industry veterans selected to manage the new offices are well known and respected in the local real estate community.
Read on for more details about Reli’s two new branches.
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ValuAmerica, Pavaso partner
Posted Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
ValuAmerica has adopted Pavaso’s Digital Close to conduct hybrid eClosings.
Digital Close provides built-in eSign and eNotarization capabilities, allowing borrowers to sign and notaries to verify and stamp documents digitally.Pavaso’s president and CEO called the collaboration between the two companies an outstanding partnership.
Read on for more details.
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Fidelity agents gain new options
Posted Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
The nation’s largest title insurance company has linked its agent portal with Qualia’s settlement platform.
The integration will enable Chicago Title, Commonwealth Land Title and Fidelity National Title Group agents to issue closing protection letters and generate policy jackets through Qualia’s title settlement software.
Read on to learn why both companies said the integration would increase efficiency.
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Fourth quarter loans highest-quality since 2001
Posted Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
Primarily due to the high share of refinances, CoreLogic’s Housing Credit Index found that loans originated during 2016’s fourth quarter exhibited low credit risk.
Read on for more details.
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Nationwide Title Clearing completes SOC examination
Posted Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
An independent audit found Nationwide Title Clearing has adequate controls in place to ensure data confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Read on for more details.
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Direct Mortgage selects Bestborn
Posted Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
Direct Mortgage Loans has selected Bestborn Business Solutions’ Loan Vision accounting software for mortgage banks.
Read on for more details.
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Title premium volume hits 10-year high
Posted Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
Nationwide, title insurance premium volume last year rose to its highest level in a decade. ALTA reported that 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, had year-over-year increases in written premiums in 2016.
The association’s Market Share Analysis also found that Fidelity continued to have the largest market share among underwriters.
Read on for details of which states had the largest, year-over-year increases.
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NexTitle names president
Posted Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
NexTitle has promoted its Idaho state manager to president. CEO Stephen Routh is confident that the newly hired president can build upon his success in Idaho and expand NexTitle’s customer base nationwide.
A full-service title and escrow firm based in Bellevue, Wash., NexTitle operates in 40 states.
Read on for more details about the new president’s experience in the industry.
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SoftPro integrates First National Title
Posted Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
SoftPro has integrated its business exchange platform with First National Title Insurance Co. (FNTI).
The integration will enable FNTI agents to generate policy jackets and closing protection letters from within SoftPro 360, which allows users to order services from third-party vendors and eliminates the need for paper order forms, dual entry, faxes, e-mails and phone calls.
Read on for more details.
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Survey: Industry still bullish on housing market
Posted Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
First American Financial Corp.’s Real Estate Sentiment Index for the first quarter of 2017 found that independent title agents and other real estate professionals expect both sales volume and home prices to continue their upward trend throughout 2017.
Read on for more details.
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North American names Massachusetts manager
Posted Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
North American Title Insurance Co.’s newly hired Massachusetts state agency manager previously served as a vice president of a national title insurance company.
Read on for more details.
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RynohLive names sales and marketing vice president
Posted Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017
The financial security and management software company selected a candidate whose background includes selling software as a service within the real estate and settlement industry.
Read on for more details.
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ATA National Title Group expands
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
ATA National Title Group has gained its title licenses in two new states. The company now can issue title work in 29 states and handle business via partnerships throughout the U.S.
The largest independent agency in the Midwest, the company also announced the opening of an additional office in Michigan and the planned opening of another office in Indiana.
Read on for more details.
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Fortis Title acquires abstract company
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Fortis Title Co. has expanded its reach in East Texas by purchasing an abstract company that is the only provider of title insurance in Liberty County with a sovereign title plant and whose records date back more than 100 years.
The newly acquired company will retain its name and become part of a title group with four offices and 38 employees.
Read on for more details about the purchase.
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First American, Qualia integrate
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
First American Title Insurance Co. has integrated its policy jackets with Qualia’s settlement platform.
Qualia users now have access to First American’s closing protection letters and eJackets. Qualia’s CEO said the integration will save time and streamline the title process by eliminating the need for title agents and attorneys to enter the same data into two systems.
Read on for more details.
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Stewart hires underwriting counsel
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Stewart’s new hire is an industry veteran who has held senior management and commercial underwriting positions with Old Republic National Title Insurance Co. and Fidelity National Title Insurance Co.
Read on for more details.
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Investors Title, Landtech partner
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
The integration will enable Landtech users to automatically load closing protection letters and electronic policy jackets.
Read on for more details.
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CATIC hires agency advisor
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 21, 2017
CATIC’s new hire will work with its agents in Eastern Massachusetts.
Read on for more details.
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Analysts: Rate hike won’t short-circuit housing market
Posted Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
For the first time this year, the Federal Reserve Board has raised short-term interest rates.
Analysts from groups such as the Mortgage Bankers Association, First American Financial Corp., and Fannie Mae reacted to the recent announcement and discussed whether the Fed’s action would be likely to slow home sales in the all-important spring market.
Read on to learn why some believe it’s still a good time to buy and sell homes.
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Old Republic names executive vice president
Posted Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
Old Republic Title has selected a company veteran to lead its newly formed Corporate Development Agency.
The EVP will be responsible for accelerating Old Republic’s market share growth.
Read on for more details.
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Title Data adds depth to its Texas coverage
Posted Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
Title Data, Inc.’s title plant database for the Dallas/Fort Worth area will be extended further back in time.
The company’s title plant data for that area will be extended back to the early 1900s.
Read on for more information.
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First National earns SOC 1, Type 2
Posted Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
First National Title Insurance Company passed the Service Organization Control (SOC) 1, Type 2 audit.
Read on for more details.
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ATTOM Data Solutions adds MLS analytics
Posted Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
ATTOM Data Solutions clients now have access to Multiple Listing Service analytics from Clear Capital.
Read on for more details.
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Mortgage Connect adds division president
Posted Date: Friday, March 17, 2017
Mortgage Connect LP has selected an industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience to lead its originations division.
Read on for more details.
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Human interaction a priority, says Ellie Mae
Posted Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017
More than half of recent mortgage applicants surveyed by Ellie Mae completed the process in-person.
Ellie Mae Executive Vice President Joe Tyrrell told The Title Report that the mortgage process must balance technology with human interaction.
Read on for details of preference differences between age groups and gender.
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Weichert Title acquires two settlement services firms
Posted Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017
The owner of the two companies purchased will join Weichert and oversee its settlement services in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Weichert had previously outsourced settlement services to the two companies it bought.
Read on for details of how the acquired companies will be merged with Weichert.
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Simplifile, Ellie Mae partner
Posted Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017
Ellie Mae’s Encompass users now have access to Simplifile’s collaboration and post closing services for lenders.
Lenders will be able to work directly with settlement agents through Simplifile.
Read on to learn more.
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Mortgage rates continue climbing
Posted Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017
Freddie Mac said the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage last week jumped 11 basis points.
Read on for more details.
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Title Alliance names regional director
Posted Date: Thursday, March 16, 2017
Title Alliance’s new Arizona regional director has been an escrow branch manager at three title agencies.
Read on for more details.
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Feds must coordinate cyberattack shield
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
During a hearing before a congressional committee, experts urged the federal government to leverage its resources to protect small businesses against cyberattacks.
One report said 60 percent of all cyberattacks target small busineses.
Read on for more details about the pervasiveness and costs of cyberattacks.
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Aprio acquires Yeager & Boyd
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Less than one month after rebranding itself, Aprio has acquired Yeager & Boyd.
Aprio’s CEO said the acquisition will help the firm expand its affordable housing practice.
Read on for more details on how Yeager & Boyd is expected to bolster Aprio’s offerings.
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Majesty Title expands
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Majesty Title opens its fifth office near Tampa, Fla.
Read on for more details.
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Rising interest rates concern homebuyers
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
A new survey from Zillow Group Mortgages found that most potential homebuyers will not be deterred if interest rate hikes don’t push mortgages more than $100 higher.
Read on for more details.
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Qualia integrates RedVision
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2017
The integration will help Qualia agents streamline order processing and production.
Read on for more details.
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Mortgage Connect buys appraisal firm
Posted Date: Friday, March 10, 2017
Mortgage Connect LP has acquired a Colorado-based appraisal company. The firm will be renamed Valuation Connection and will operate as a subsidiary of Mortgage Connect.
The appraisal company’s president will remain on board and will lead Valuation Connection, the companies announced.
Read on to learn how the acquisition supports Mortgage Connect’s growth strategy.
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Title group debuts Spanish-language website
Posted Date: Friday, March 10, 2017
As homeownership rates for Spanish-speaking buyers have risen the past two years, one title company is looking to serve the needs of that demographic by creating a website designed to help Spanish speakers navigate the home buying process.
The website features videos and brochures to help Spanish speakers during the process. The president of the title group discussed the plans with The Title Report.
Read on to learn why pursuing this demographic makes sense to the company.
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Old Republic agents gain new options
Posted Date: Friday, March 10, 2017
Old Republic Title announced a new integration that will allow its agents to access more features from the company’s ezJacket and closing protection letter applications.
The integration is said to provide Old Republic agents with the ability to conduct business without having to leave their system.
Read on for the details.
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NextAce adds chief product officer
Posted Date: Friday, March 10, 2017
NextAce’s new hire is the former president of SKLD Title Services. CEO Don Cantral said he will help the company add new counties to its network. ]
Read on for more.
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