News By Edition

Title tech companies are constantly trying to stay ahead of the curve, anticipating what needs to be tackled next to keep the title insurance industry current and competitive.

The Title Report recently sat down with Qualia founder and CEO Nate Baker to discuss his thoughts on the future of real estate.

Read on for more from Baker.

AmTrust Title Insurance Co. introduced MidPoint, a title-closing solution that will enable agents to work outside their geographic areas to service clients nationwide. MidPoint offers agents three different levels of transaction services: title-only workflow, sub-escrow workflow or full-escrow service.

AmTrust’s president described MidPoint as a ‘one-stop shop’ for purchasing and refinancing residential and commercial properties.

Read on for more.

 

TitleTap launched a new podcast called “On Tap with TitleTap.” The podcast focuses on tips and tools to help title agents and attorneys thrive and grow their title insurance business.

The podcast will let listeners get to know the humans behind each technology tool and share insights from leaders around the industry, according to TitleTap’s CEO.

Read on for more.

The Closing Exchange integrated its signing services with Black Knight’s suite of closing solutions, including Expedite Close and DocVerify. The integration enables notaries to execute signings via remote online notarizations (RON).

Read on for more.

FirstClose closed a $35 million investment from California-based growth equity firm Lateral Investment Management to accelerate its product and growth strategies.

The company plans to use the funding to expand its financial services footprint to leverage property data intelligence and technology to enable lenders to compete for and close consumer loans.

Read on for more about the investment.

Action Title Research, a technology-based title search solution, expanded its leadership team with four executive appointments. They include a chief financial officer, chief technical officer, chief software architect and a New England director of operations.

The new executive team members bring technology and title experience to Action Title, which the company said will enable more efficient and effective title search coverage as the company expands.

Read on for more.

Demotech upgraded the financial stability rating (FSR) assigned to Texan Title Insurance Co. from S (substantial) to A (exceptional).

That level of FSR is assigned to insurers who possess exceptional financial stability related to maintaining positive surplus as regards policyholders, liquidity of invested assets, an acceptable level of financial leverage, reasonable loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and realistic pricing.

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Shaddock National Holdings named a vice president of risk management and compliance. He will step away from his current position as president of Continental Title Co., and the title company’s current chief operating officer will be promoted to president.

Read on for more.

Lenders One, a national alliance of more than 250 banks, credit unions and independent mortgage bankers, added Snapdocs’ digital closing platform as a preferred eClosing provider. Snapdocs enables lenders to connect with all parties and technologies in a transaction to complete the closing process online.

Read on for more.

As homebuyers relocate at unprecedented levels, home prices in many once-affordable metros have surged and priced out many would-be buyers. But buyers can still find a handful of popular migration destinations with homes priced below the national median, according to a Redfin report.

Read on for more.

Real estate blockchain technology provider Propy launched title and escrow services on blockchain for residential transactions in Arizona, Colorado and Florida. Agents in those states can invite buyers and sellers onto the company’s platform for the entire process.

Adding title and escrow services is part of the company’s vision of a click-to-close reality for buyers and sellers, according to Propy.

Read on for more.

Stewart Information Service Corp. reported a first-quarter net income of $57.9 million ($2.11 per diluted share), up 7 percent from $54.2 million ($2.01 per diluted share) year-over-year.

In the title segment, pretax income rose 7 percent ($5.7 million) year-over-year, from $77.1 million to $82.8 million, according to Stewart’s first-quarter earnings report.

Read on for more from the report.

Residential real estate technology company Compass, Inc., announced Chief Financial Officer Kristen Ankerbrandt will be leaving in September to pursue opportunities outside the company.

Compass also promoted its chief product officer to the role of chief operating officer. He adds leadership of the Compass Operations organization to his oversight of the Compass Product organization.

Read on for more.

 

Landmark Title Assurance Agency hired a 24-year industry veteran for its new position of builder/trust services manager. She will oversee the company’s expansion of services to residential builders and developers in the Southwest.

Read on for more.

DocMagic integrated with Empower, Black Knight’s loan origination system. Through the integration, lenders have access from Empower to DocMagic’s document generation solution, supporting compliance, data integrity and trackability.

Read on for more.

The housing market is as competitive as ever, according to a recent Zillow real estate market report.  Buyer demand has been strong enough to keep the market moving at a record pace, even after a massive spike in mortgage rates.

Read on for more.

Orlando, Fla.-based Avanze Group announced its services entity, Avanze Business Solutions, Inc., entered into a definitive agreement to acquire FUGO Creative Pvt. Ltd. and its Dallas -based subsidiary, FUGO International Inc., dba. FUGO Services.

The acquisition adds 600 people to the Avanze team as well as three offices, including FUGO’s Dallas location.

Read on for more about the acquisition.

The CEO of a mortgage fulfillment company, a Florida attorney and a data and analytics specialist were recognized by October Research, LLC with its annual awards for leadership, innovation, and philanthropy.

Read on to learn more.

Attendees at October Research, LLC’s National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Orlando took time to build Comfort Kits for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida properties.

Read on to learn more.

Pennsylvania-based New Door Property Transfer (NDPT) implemented a full-service title agency-building program designed to help real estate leaders and brokers.

NDPT features a collection of industry experts with the knowledge and capabilities to perform transactions while offering customer service, guidance, retention and recruitment of agents and 100 percent RESPA compliance.

Read on for more.

Westcor Land Title Insurance Co. hired a 27-year industry veteran as senior divisional commercial underwriting counsel. Westcor’s commercial services division was designed to offer a white-glove service to its agents and their clients.

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The housing market turned a corner in April as the inventory crunch showed signs of easing, according to a Redfin report. The 9 percent year-over-year decline in homes for sale was the smallest since March 2020 and the first single-digit drop since the start of the pandemic.

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A distinguished group of speakers will take the stage over the next three days at the 18th annual National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Florida. Attendees will hear from about 60 speakers during more than 20 sessions.

Read on for details about the program that is At The Center of the real estate transaction today.

Real estate technology company Flueid launched its new home equity solution available through the Flueid Decision platform, adding to existing refinance capabilities.

The company also launched enhancements to the platform, including a new solar analyzer, the expansion of its Purchase offering and a supplementary patent related to the engine.

Read on for more about the new offerings.

Alliant National Title Insurance Co. completed the ISO 27001 2022 audit and received certification. This is the third time Alliant National successfully completed the audit.

The company also recently completed the ISO 27701 audit, becoming the first underwriter to obtain the new data privacy certification, according to Alliant National.

Read on for more about the certifications.

Southwest Land Title Insurance Co. is the first fully integrated underwriter in Texas on the Qualia Assure product suite. The SaaS underwriter management system enables title insurers to integrate with title agencies.

Read on for more.

Stewart Title named a senior underwriting counsel. He will provide Stewart partners and Florida agents with underwriting support and solutions for local transactions.

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Homebuyers may find less competition near city centers for the first time in years, according to Zillow. Its analysis shows homes in the suburbs have been appreciating faster than urban homes, indicating stronger demand.

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First National Title Insurance Co. (FNTI) named a 16-year industry veteran who has been working for Shaddock National Holdings since 2020 as the company’s new chief financial officer (CFO).

Current CFO Raymond Reece is retiring, effective May 31. He has served as CFO since FNTI was created in 2012.

Read on for more about the new CFO.

AmTrust Title Insurance Co. named a director of strategy. The newly created position will be responsible for new agent initiatives and business development strategy and overseeing finance for the company’s title entities.

Read on for more.

 

The frenzy of the pandemic-era housing market appears to be the historical exception, not the rule, according to First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming. The housing market is adjusting to a not-so-new normal, he says.

Read on for more.