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Working from home challenges, best practices
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
As corporate America does what it can to help slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), more and more employees are working from home.
However, that transition from the office to the home office can create challenges for both companies and employees.
Read on learn what experts define and challenges for companies and best practices for companies and employees.
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LenderClose nominated for two technology awards
Posted Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020
LenderClose has been named a 2020 Prometheus Award finalist for Technology Company of the Year and FinTech Company of the Year.
Read on for more details.
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Qualia wins FinTech Breakthrough award
Posted Date: Thursday, April 2, 2020
Qualia recently was selected as winner of the “Best Digital Mortgage Product” award by FinTech Breakthrough.
Read on for more details.
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iBuyer halts acquisitions
Posted Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
In a sign of what may be to come, the real estate brokerage Redfin has halted iBuyer activity and canceled open houses across the country, as have numerous other Realtors in an effort to promote social distancing suggested by public health officials.
Redfin’s president and CEO addressed some of the company’s decisions in a blog post. The company announced the suspension of its iBuyer activities in a SEC filing.
Read on for more details.
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WFG appoints Arizona president
Posted Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
WFG National Title Insurance Co. has appointed an industry veteran as president of its Arizona division, the company announced.
The division’s new president has more than 25 years of title insurance experience and will report to WFG Senior Vice President and Regional Director Rob Sherman.
Read on to learn who was selected for this position.
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HUD suspends evictions, foreclosures
Posted Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has directed the Federal Housing Administration to suspend foreclosures and evictions on for the next 60 days.
HUD said the moratoriums are part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to offer relief to individuals, families, and businesses impacted by the coronavirus.
Read on for more details about the changes to federal housing policy.
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FGKS Law opens new office
Posted Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
An Ohio-based law firm that also owns a title agency has opened a new office.
Read on for more details.
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Realtors detail homebuyer interest
Posted Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
Nearly half of Realtors surveyed by the National Association of Realtors said homebuyer interest changed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Read on for more details.
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Union Home Mortgage expands team
Posted Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020
Union Home Mortgage has hired an industry veteran to help lead its growth in markets throughout North Carolina and South Carolina.
Read on for more details.
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Industry participants deploy coronavirus plans
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
From underwriters and title companies to technology providers and industry partners, participants in the title space have deployed plans to protect employees and continue serving customers.
In most cases, those plans include implementing business continuity plans, encouraging or mandating work-from-home and encouraging social distancing as suggested by public health officials.
Read on for more details.
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ALTA, others urging nationwide RON authorization
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
The American Land Title Association (ALTA) has joined with the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Realtors and others in urging Congress to pass legislation authorizing the nationwide use of remote online notary (RON).
Some states have passed legislation enabling RON. However, the issue hasn’t gained traction in many states.
Read on for more details about the proposed legislation.
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MBA: Fed moves will boost economy
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Mortgage Bankers Association Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni believes the emergency actions taken by the Federal Reserve this week significantly will reduce financial stress.
Fratantoni said the MBA “expects these actions will lower mortgage rates, helping homeowners save money through refinancing, and thereby providing a boost to the broader economy.”
Read on to learn more.
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Homebuyers also concerned about climate change
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
As if the current economic disruption was not enough, a new report indicates homebuyers and sellers also are concerned about climate change.
Read on for more details.
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Angel Oak adds Florida manager
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Angel Oak Home Loans has added an area manager to recruit loan officers and grow its presence in Florida.
Read on for more details.
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SBA offering disaster-relief loans
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans of up to $2 million to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus.
SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza his agency also will assist small businesses with counseling and navigating preparedness plans through its district offices and resource partners.
Read on for more details.
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Two mortgage companies merge
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
West Virginia-based MVB Financial Corp.’s subsidiary Potomac Mortgage Group, Inc. recently entered into a merger agreement with Intercoastal Mortgage Co.
The merger creates one of the largest independently owned residential mortgage lending operations in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The joint entity will be called Intercoastal Mortgage, LLC.
Read on for more details about the C-Suite members of the new entity.
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Flipping reaches 13-year high
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
The percentage of homes flipped in 2019 reached an eight-year high.
Read on for more details.
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Stiff competition for homes in January
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Redfin said a majority of offers submitted by its agents in January faced competition, as many areas across the country faced a severe housing shortage.
Read on for more details.
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LenderClose adds vice president
Posted Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2020
LenderClose has added a vice president of client relations to its team.
Read on for more details.
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Maryland title agency names COO
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
A title agency licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia and able to close transactions in all 50 states has named its first chief operations officer.
The new COO will be responsible for overseeing the company’s business operations and working to expand its operational and financial policies and procedures while executing strategic initiatives.
Read on for more details.
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GO Mortgage launches eClosings through DocMagic
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
GO Mortgage has partnered with DocMagic to create an eClosing solution to enable homebuyers to digitally sign closing documents, the company announced.
GO Mortgage President Chad Jampedro said eClosing is “a step in the right direction for our digital-savvy buyers.”
Read on to learn more about what DocMagic is providing for the mortgage company.
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Small-business owners added workers in February
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
Small-business owners added workers during February, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) latest jobs report.
However, small-business owners surveyed continued to cite a shortage of qualified workers as their top business problem. That was a big problem in construction, manufacturing and retail.
Read on for more details from NFIB’s latest report.
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Home-purchase sentiment remains high
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
During February, three of the six Home Purchase Sentiment Index components decreased month-over- month, including the percentage of Americans who said now is a good time to buy a home.
Read on for more details.
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Kensington Vanguard hires business executive
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
Kensington Vanguard National Land Services has hired an industry veteran to help with new business initiatives in the commercial and residential sectors.
Read on for more details.
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Remote work enabling migration to affordable cities
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
According to a new report, employers may be battling salary increases and supporting retention by offering employees the ability to work remotely instead of higher wages.
Read on for more details.
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WFG announces new conference date
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
WFG National Title Insurance Co. has announced new dates for its 2020 WFG Summit, which previously was postponed.
Read on for more details.
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ATTOM launches building permit solution
Posted Date: Thursday, March 12, 2020
ATTOM Data Solutions has launched a building permit solution that provides data on residential and commercial building permits nationwide.
Read on for more details.
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ATG names chief financial officer
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Chicago-based Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund (ATG), Inc. has tapped a former executive from KPMG and JPMorgan Chase as senior vice president and chief financial officer, the company announced.
ATG President and CEO Peter Birnbaum said the new CFO will “further strengthen our position as a leading lawyer service organization providing unparalleled service to our thousands of member attorneys.”
Read on for more details.
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WFG expands Colorado footprint
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
WFG National Title Insurance Co. has expanded its Colorado footprint by acquiring access to title plants in 11 counties that comprise between 85 percent and 90 percent of that state’s property transactions.
WFG also said it acquired a title office in Colorado Springs, marking the company’s entrance into the housing market of Colorado’s second-largest city.
Read on for more details.
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ClosingCorp names chief technology officer
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
ClosingCorp has selected a former Black Knight and First American executive as its next chief technology officer, the company announced.
The newest member of ClosingCorp’s executive team will be responsible for leading the company’s technology strategy and development teams and directing its digital transformation.
Read on to learn who ClosingCorp selected for the position.
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PropertySync now available nationwide
Posted Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2020
The cloud-based SaaS title plant platform PropertySync now is available nationwide.
Read on for more details.
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First American completes Docutech acquisition
Posted Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
First American has completed its $350 million acquisition of eClose and fulfillment technology provider Docutech, the company announced.
First American CEO Dennis Gilmore said the acquisition reflects the company’s “dedication to improving the home-buying experience and driving the digital transformation of the real estate settlement process” and demonstrates its commitment to invest in its core business.
Read on for more about the acquisition.
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Foundation Title acquires Knoxville agency
Posted Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
Tennessee-based Foundation Title & Escrow Series has expanded with the addition of a title agency in Knoxville, the company announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Foundation Title CEO Chris Cantrell said the company continues to consider growth opportunities. The company has 15 locations, 14 of which are spread across Tennessee.
Read on for more details.
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NFIB names president
Posted Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
The board of directors of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) unanimously elected Brad Close as its next president, the organization announced.
Close has been with NFIB for more than 18 years. He guided NFIB’s lobbying efforts that led to the creation of the Small Business Deduction, included as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Read on for more details.
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ClosingCorp adds sales executive
Posted Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
ClosingCorp has hired a national sales executive for data solutions.
Read on for more details.
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Bowe Digital expands team
Posted Date: Monday, March 9, 2020
Bowe Digital recently expanded its team with the addition of a business development manager, a content manager and a content writer.
Read on for more details.
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Coronavirus forces WFG Summit cancellation
Posted Date: Friday, March 6, 2020
Out of an abundance of caution concerning the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), WFG National Title Insurance Co. has canceled its summit scheduled for later this month in Orlando, Fla.
Read on for more details.
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Industry expert expects recession
Posted Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
One of the deans of the title industry expects a recession is on its way, this time driven by high levels of corporate debt instead of a housing market crash.
But WFG National Title Insurance Co. founder and Executive Chairman Pat Stone also believes technology enabled title companies are well positioned for an economic downturn.
Read on to learn more of what Stone had to say.
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Punctual Abstract, RamQuest integrate
Posted Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
RamQuest has integrated Punctual Abstract’s title evidence into its production platform, the companies announced.
The companies said using Punctual Abstract and RamQuest together will reduce turn times, reduce potential errors, and reduce labor costs on the title agent side.
Read on for more to learn what executives from both companies had to say about the integration.
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Landtrust Title expands team
Posted Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Chicago-based Landtrust Title Services recently expanded its team with the additional of a director of sales for residential services.
Read on for more details.
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Home value growth continues to slow
Posted Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Annual U.S. home value growth slowed for the 21st consecutive month in January.
Read on for more details.
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Agents National adds agency manager
Posted Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020
Agents National Title Insurance Co. has hired an industry veteran to serve as its Florida agency service manager.
Read on for more details.
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