|
Stewart economist analyzes hurricanes’ impact
Posted Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
What impact will Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have on the real estate market?
In a new whitepaper, Stewart's chief economist who studied homes sales one year prior and one year following Hurricane Charlie, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ivan, Tropical Depression Allison, Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike, predicts the two recent hurricanes will increase homes sales in the long run.
Read on learn how the economist reached his conclusions and the ramifications for those markets moving forward.
|
|
|
On its own as Black Knight
Posted Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
The official split between Fidelity National Financial (FNF) and Black Knight Financial Services is scheduled to happen later this month following FNF’s distribution of its outstanding shares of BKFS stock.
Three days later, BKFS will be known as Black Knight and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “BKI.”
Read on for more details about the change in branding and the launch date for the company as an independent entity.
|
|
|
ALTA approves best practices letter
Posted Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
To better serve the needs of title agents and lenders in sharing information about compliance with best practices, ALTA has approved a representation letter that will replace its certification package.
The association said the letter corrects a flaw in the certification package and is designed to make it easier for companies to communicate their compliance with the ALTA Best Practices to third parties.
Read on to learn what information is included in the letter and when it becomes effective.
|
|
|
Flipping returns decline for third consecutive quarter
Posted Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Home flippers pocketed a decent average ROI during the second quarter. However, ATTOM Data Solutions said that average has declined for three consecutive quarters.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
|
Foreclosure, delinquency rates dip
Posted Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
According to CoreLogic’s Loan Performance Insights Report, both the foreclosure inventory rate and the serious delinquency rate dipped to their lowest levels in nearly a decade in June.
Read on for more details from the report.
|
|
|
Dozens of Fidelity employees displaced by Harvey
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Fidelity National Financial Inc. has created a fund to help employees impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
FNF also is partnering with a non-profit to raise funds to help other Gulf Coast residents struggling with the hurricane’s aftermath.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
Report: Economy growing at ‘modest to moderate’ pace
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
The Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book said the economy is expanding, despite low inventories of homes, rising prices and not enough new construction that is hampering real estate activity.
In some markets, Fed districts reported that sales are shifting to lower-priced homes from higher-price units
Read on to learn the Fed’s district-by-district analysis of real estate activity.
|
|
|
MBA urges CFPB to abandon big stick approach
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
In a new whitepaper, the Mortgage Bankers Association says it believes that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau too often uses enforcement actions rather than written guidance.
Five years into the bureau’s existence, MBA said now is the time for the bureau to make key changes to its approach that would benefit both consumers and the industry.
Read on to learn what the MBA is recommending for the future of the bureau in the whitepaper.
|
|
|
LenderLive names CFO
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
LenderLive’s new chief financial officer spent more than a decade overseeing all aspects of finance at a financial technology company, as well as leading that company’s capital raising process and overseeing acquisitions.
The new hire also previously held several senior finance positions at General Electric.
Read on to learn why CEO Rob Clements believes the new hire will better position the company in the market.
|
|
|
Millennial closing times vary widely
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Millennial homebuyers may need to be more patient in New York and Florida than in California and Illinois.
Read on details from Ellie Mae’s latest Millennial Tracker.
|
|
|
DTS adds new integration
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Direct Title Solutions announced a new integration that will enable Qualia customers to order title abstract and recording services in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
WFG appoints Michigan counsel
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
WFG National Title Insurance Co. has selected one of the Michigan Land Title Association’s board members to serve as its Michigan counsel.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
Helping displaced title-industry workers
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Throughout Texas, employees of title companies and underwriters have lost homes and possessions and have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
Some title company offices have been destroyed and need office furniture to rebuild.
Read on to learn specifics about various funds established to help those in the title insurance industry.
|
|
|
Alliant National creates fund to assist agents
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Alliant National Title Insurance Co. has created a fund to assist its title agents, their employees, their families and their communities with costs and expenses not covered by insurance or other means of recovery.
CEO Bob Grubb said they are praying for those impacted by the hurricanes are in constant contact with title agents to see how the company can best assist them.
Read on for details of how you can donate to the company’s Helping Hands fund.
|
|
|
CATIC CEO: Texans will prevail
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
CATIC is partnering with the American Red Cross and one of its business partners to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
CoreLogic supports launch of disaster fund
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
CoreLogic has provided seed money to support the launch of a new disaster fund designed to support victims of man-made and natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
The new fund is attempting to raise $ 2 million to provide no-cost services such as emergency budgeting and credit counseling, as well as assistance with deferring mortgage payments and communicating with creditors.
Read on to learn more about the new fund.
|
|
|
First American ‘humbled’ by generosity of our people
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
First American Financial Corp. CEO Dennis J. Gilmore told The Title Report that he marveled at the resilience of everyone in the real estate, mortgage finance and title industries in the aftermath of Harvey, and is humbled by the compassion and generosity of our people.
Read on to learn how FAF is helping hurricane victims.
|
|
|
NATG aiding victims through donations, collections
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Even before Houston’s flood-ravaged streets were passable, the North American Title Group and its associated companies had raised more than $1 million for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
The company’s Houston-area offices also are serving as collection depots for much-needed items such as water, toiletry items, diapers, clothing, cribs, playpens, blankets and towels.
Read on to learn how NATG is partnering with others to help Gulf Coast residents recover.
|
|
|
Old Republic partnering with Red Cross, Salvation Army
Posted Date: Thursday, September 14, 2017
Old Republic is using the strength of its large employee network to aid Gulf Coast residents impacted by Hurricane Harvey.
The company is matching donations made by its employees and distributing those funds to two non-profits.
Read on for more details of how Old Republic has joined the Hurricane Harvey relief effort.
|
|
|
Former title company owner leaving Congress
Posted Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
A former Michigan title company owner nearing the end of his second term in the U.S. Congress has decided not to seek re-election in 2018.
In a statement announcing his decision, the congressman – who serves as a member of the House Financial Services Committee – said his intent all along was to serve for a brief time and then return to the private sector.
Read on to learn other factors that influenced the congressman’s decision not to seek a third term in Congress.
|
|
|
Brokerage buyout joins settlement services affiliates
Posted Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
HomeServices of America has expanded its massive holdings with the addition of the nation’s top privately owned real estate brokerage.
Among the holdings that were acquired are 10 settlement services companies in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Read on to learn who will lead the acquired company, and how what’s believed to be the largest purchase of a privately held real estate brokerage in the past three decades could shift the settlement services landscape as well.
|
|
|
AmTrust enters new reinsurance contract
Posted Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. recently entered into a new quota share reinsurance contract that reduces the company’s exposure to and lessens financial volatility related to all catastrophe events, including hurricanes and tropical storms.
During its most recent earnings call, AmTrust previously had announced its intention to reduce volatility related to one of its subsidiaries.
Read on for more details on how the new contract could provide support for the parent company of AmTrust Title.
|
|
|
Loan originations rose in second quarter
Posted Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
Although second-quarter loan originations did not match 2016’s, they did increase from the first quarter.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
Confidence growing in housing market
Posted Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
During August, the percentage of Americans who said now was a good time to sell a home and that mortgage rates will continue to decline both increased.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
Jersey Mortgage selects Loan Vision
Posted Date: Monday, September 11, 2017
Jersey Mortgage said its new accounting software gives it the ability to analyze data rather than just type in data.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
Title premiums challenging 2016’s 10-year high
Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
Despite an industry-wide drop in refinances and increases to the Federal Reserve's benchmark short-term interest rate, title insurance premiums rose during the second quarter, according to ALTA’s market share analysis.
Through the first six months of the year, the amount of written title premiums is higher than the amount generated during same period last year.
Read on to learn which companies had the highest market shares.
|
|
|
Texas title company opens new offices
Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
A Texas title company is opening four new branch locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The company also is adding an educational and training facility that will offer both onsite classes and a video-conferencing solution to enable remote learners to join instructor-led training. The company’s president said it will look to add even more branches next year. R
ead on for more details.
|
|
|
D.C. title company launches new website
Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
A Washington, D.C.-based title company has launched a new website designed to help real estate professionals order title and receive quotes online.
The company’s president said the new website enables it to receive time-critical information quickly and to process requests more efficiently.
Read on to learn what other options the website offers.
|
|
|
General Title hires Indiana counsel
Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
General Title Insurance Co. has hired an Indiana underwriting counsel who previously directed the title insurance division for Indiana.
Read on for more details.
|
|
|
OpenClose integrates Timios
Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
The integration enables OpenClose customers to draw all title and settlement fees directly from within its loan origination system, eliminating data entry, saving time and ensuring fees are fully accurate and TRID compliant.
Read on for more details about the integration.
|
|
|
Omni adds chief title officer
Posted Date: Friday, September 8, 2017
Omni Title LLC has hired a chief title officer with nearly three decades of experience.
Read on for more details.
|
|