News By Edition

During the National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Detroit, Christopher Gulotta, partner, Gulotta Grabiner Law Group PLLC and principal of Real Estate Data Shield, Inc. and Jean Partridge, chief counsel and managing member, Benchmark Title Agency LLC, delved into new regulations in New York State and explained why it’s important for you to understand, even if you don’t live in New York.

Read on to learn who else participated in the panel and what they had to share.

As they await approval from state and federal regulators throughout the U.S., Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and Stewart Information Services Corp. have received approval for their proposed deal from Canadian authorities.

The companies still are awaiting Stewart stockholder approval, federal and state regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

Read on to learn when the companies expect their proposed deal to close.

Clarksburg, W.Va., Watertown, S.D., Boone, Iowa, and Dickinson, N.D. were the top housing markets for millennials in June.

Read on for more details from Ellie Mae’s latest Millennial Tracker.

Weichert has appointed a president of real estate services.

Read on for more details.

A New Jersey-based title agency that serves clients nationally has expanded its footprint with the acquisition of another title agency in the Garden State.

The company said its latest acquisition will help it grow in Ocean County and Monmouth County.

Read on to learn what the principal of the acquired company had to say about the deal.

As more buyers and sellers use digital channels to buy and sell homes, residential real estate firms have had to refocus their efforts on building strong customers relationships, according to a study by J.D. Power.

According to the study, nearly 20 percent of repeat buyers, 14 percent of repeat sellers, 13 percent of first-time buyers and 9 percent of first-time sellers did not use an agent to buy/sell their home.

Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio had the highest percentage of seriously underwater properties during this year’s second quarter.

Read on for more details from ATTOM Data Solutions’ Q2 2018 U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report.

A new integration will enable lenders to transfer loan data from the Black Knight’s Empower system to Land Gorilla’s Construction Loan Manager.

Read on for more details.

Weichert has appointed a president of residential brokerage for its Weichert, Realtors. Read on for more details.

Mortgage lenders and servicers are flush with data and analytics. But how can these companies ensure executives, managers and employees use that data and analytics to guide their actions?

Black Knight Chief Product Officer Shelley Leonard told The Title Report that the company’s new platform helps mortgage lenders and servicers with tough business challenges by delivering strategic, proactive and actionable analytics.

Read on to learn more about Black Knight’s latest offering.

A University of Miami study on money laundering and real estate in the Miami market, published in December 2017, found that work by the title insurance industry was helping stem the tide of illegal money into the market without harming the broader real estate market.

As the Senate considers legislation which would expand geographic targeting orders to the entire nation, the American Land Title Association is asking for agents’ and underwriters’ to share their stories and help make that potential process as least burdensome as possible.

Read on for more details.

A Kansas title company has changed its name to expand its geographical reach and better serve clients.

Founded in 1946, the agency was established as a general law practice to serve Northeast Kansas residents in Wamego, Kan. It now serves three counties.

The agency also is an independent agent of Alliant National Title Insurance Co., which provided assistance with the rebranding. Read on for more details.

North American Title Co. has named a division manager for its Arizona Region.

Read on for more details.

For the second consecutive month, home purchase sentiment declined across the country during July.

Read on for more details from Fannie Mae’s index.

Xome, a Dallas-based real estate solutions provider that offers asset management, property disposition, title, closing, valuation and field services through an integrated, technology driven platform, has appointed a new CEO.

The newly appointed CEO was president at Hudson & Marshall before the company was acquired by Fidelity National Financial in May 2017.

Read on for more details.

A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (excellent) and the long-term issuer credit ratings of “a-” for the member companies of Stewart Title Group.

A.M. Best said the ratings reflect Stewart’s very strong balance sheet, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Read on to learn more details from A.M. Best’s report.

Zillow has jumped further into the homebuying market with its acquisition of Mortgage Lenders of America.

CEO Spencer Rascoff said the company is continually looking to improve the home buying process and will “undoubtedly move into other businesses that put us as more of a principal.”

Read on to learn who lead the acquired company.

The Top 5 neighborhood housing markets are in Florida, Alabama, California, North Carolina and Colorado, according to a ranking by ATTOM Data Solutions.

Read on for more details.

Weichert Commercial Brokerage, Inc. has hired a vice president for its commercial brokerage.

Read on for more details.

A national title insurance and escrow company which bills itself as the first “digital-native title company” has raised $15.6 million in new venture capital.

The new Series A financing comes from investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Omidyar Network, and Collaborative Fund.

The title company said the money will be used to grow its team and continue to build its proprietary technology. Read on for more details.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich recently signed legislation into law permitting new uses of Blockchain technology by businesses throughout the state.

SafeChain co-founder and CEO Tony Franco told The Title Report that the legislation is “an important step in the right direction.”

Read on to learn why state officials, one state senator, and Franco believe the legislation is particularly helpful for Ohio.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is collaborating with other financial regulators and related organizations to create the Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN).

The GFIN will seek to provide more efficient ways for innovative firms to interact with regulators, and to help them navigate between countries as they look to scale new ideas.

Read on for more details about the collaborative and how you can provide feedback for its mission statement.

WFG National Title Insurance Co. has named a senior vice president, compliance and national training manager. She will manage the company’s existing learning management platform, as well as oversee the transition to a new platform.

Read on for more.

reQuire Real Estate Solutions has launched a new national, municipal lien search solution.

Read on for more details.

Kensington Vanguard National Title of Texas has hired a business development representative for its Lone Star division in Dallas.

Read on for more details.

Old Republic National Title Insurance Co. has purchased the assets of the San Antonio division of a Texas title company.

The acquired division was established in 2009 as a partnership with ET Investments, LLC and had been a long-standing agent of Old Republic.

The acquired division has five offices throughout the greater San Antonio area. Read on for more details.

Dallas-based Carlisle Title has selected Pavaso’s digital closing platform for its eClosings, both companies announced.

Carlisle Title President Tara Williams said Pavaso’s platform will allow it to provide customers the ability to “access and review their closing documents before signing, along with the convenience of digitally signing the documents at the time and location of their choice.”

Read on for more details about the partnership.

Title Alliance has appointed an analyst to observe various processes and workflows within each office.

Read on for more details.

PWCampbell has hired a regional vice president for its sales department.

Read on for more details.