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Housing starts decline
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Labor shortages and delays caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma likely caused a decline in housing starts during September. Read on to read First American Chief Economist Mark Fleming’s analysis.
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A.M. Best bullish on title industry
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Citing a fifth consecutive year of favorable underwriting performance, A.M. Best is maintaining a stable outlook on the title insurance sector.
The company said the industry’s rating is justified by its consistent and positive underwriting and operating performance, and the expectation that the majority of credit rating actions on title insurers will be affirmations.
Read on for more details from the A.M. Best report.
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Digital lending platform selects CEO
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
A former Ellie Mae chief operating officer has joined a digital lending platform company as its CEO.
The company’s founder and chairman said the new CEO has a superior knowledge of the mortgage lending landscape and had helped countless lenders adopt technology to improve efficiency and compliance.
Read on to learn more about the background of the new CEO.
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New version of REDS set to be released
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Real Estate Data Shield is set to launch an updated version of its compliance and information security solution.
The newest version of the company’s web-based course addresses cyber fraud, wire fraud, identity theft, phishing emails, spoof emails, ransomware, social engineering attacks, etc.
Read on to learn how this course teaches employees to identify and stop fraud attacks.
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Foreclosures dip to 11-year low
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Nationwide foreclosure activities declined significantly during the third quarter.
Read on for details from ATTOM Data Solutions’ foreclosure report.
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Real estate brokerage names VP
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty has named a regional vice president.
Read on to find who the company selected.
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Home prices inch upward
Posted Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2017
The housing stock in 34 percent of the country’s 100 largest metropolitan areas was overvalued as of August 2017.
Read on for more details from CoreLogic’s Home Price Index.
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Texas up-and-comer adds execs, offices
Posted Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
A Dallas-based, full-service title company has expanded its executive team and opened two new offices.
The company has hired a former Republic Title executive to oversee a new office in Dallas, and a former Stewart executive to lead a new operation in Plano, Texas.
Read on to learn why the CEO believes the expansion was needed.
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Midwestern title group launches informational website
Posted Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
How can consumers distinguish accurate from inaccurate information?
A Midwestern title group has launched an informational website that it said will provide homeowners with straightforward information about the home buying process.
The company’s president said the website will positively impact the closing process through information and support. Read on for details on the type of information offered on the website.
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Report: Millennials not deterred by higher rates
Posted Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
Neither higher mortgage rates nor summer temperatures deterred millennial homebuyers during August, according to a report from Ellie Mae.
Nearly nine out of 10 loans taken out by millennials in August were for purchases as opposed to refinances.
Read on for report details on the average age of millennial borrowers during August and how much, on average, they paid for homes.
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Stewart adds agency integration manager
Posted Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
Stewart Title Agency Services has hired an agency integration manager who has 23 years of experience managing integration processes in the industry.
Read on for more details about the new hire.
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ResWare integrates SmartCLOSE
Posted Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
ResWare’s integration of SmartCLOSE enables title agents to collaborate with lenders directly within ResWare.
Read on for more details.
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MORE Lending implements LoanScorecard
Posted Date: Friday, October 13, 2017
MORE Lending’s latest implementation will enable the company to instantly distribute the guidelines and pricing for their non-agency loan programs to third-party originators.
Read on for more details.
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WFG announces major realignment changes
Posted Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
As part of the realignment of its Agency Division, WFG National Title Insurance Co. has added a senior vice president and changed the responsibilities of many of its high-level executives.
Chairman and CEO Patrick Stone said the changes were needed because the company has outgrown its structure. “These moves simply represent a reallocation of our assets to a position in which they are best utilized,” he said.
Read on to learn about the new senior vice president and the realignment changes.
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AmTrust launches title agency protection plan
Posted Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
AmTrust Title Insurance Co. says it proprietary insurance protection plan is a ‘game-changer’ that will save its title agencies hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The company said the plan will be provided at a discount to qualifying agents and is generating interest throughout the title industry. “We saw a clear need to develop an all-inclusive insurance protection plan that could ensure against all potential risks assumed by title agencies,” one executive said.
Read on for details of what the plan covers and through whom it will be distributed.
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CATIC opens new office
Posted Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
CATIC’s new office is assessable from the Mid-Cape Highway and overlooks historic Route 6A.
CATIC’s state manager said the location of the new office will allow its employees to easily reach all areas of Cape Cod. “We’re excited to have expanded,” the company’s state manager said.
Read on to learn where the new office is located.
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Housing optimism matches all-time high
Posted Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
An increasing share of renters thought September was a good time to buy a home. Read on for more details from Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index.
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PropLogix offering title curative services
Posted Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
PropLogix has added a new service designed to help title agents and real estate attorneys protect their clients and keep closings on track. Read on for more details.
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Sikora Law adds real estate attorney
Posted Date: Thursday, October 12, 2017
Cleveland-based Sikora Law has hired a director-level attorney to handle disputes for its real estate clients. Read on to learn who the law firm selected.
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ALTA announces values initiative
Posted Date: Wednesday, October 11, 2017
During its annual conference in Miami, Fla., ALTA released a values initiative the association said provides a ‘cultural compass’ for its members.
Read on to learn why the association’s president-elect said these values must be promoted throughout the industry.
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Agents National poised for growth
Posted Date: Monday, October 9, 2017
Following its acquisition by Incenter LLC, Agents National Title Insurance Co. (ANTIC) will have the capital and surplus it needs to accelerate its vision of creating a fully digital real estate process, ANTIC President and CEO David A. Townsend told The Title Report.
Townsend said the company’s mission of working with independent title agents will remain the same.
Read on to learn about ANTIC’s plans for expansion.
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The Title Report on site for ALTA One
Posted Date: Monday, October 9, 2017
From title agents and closers to underwriters and vendors, hundreds of industry participants will gather in Florida his week at ALTA One.
The Title Report will be on the scene in Miami bringing you news about the topics discussed and the industry leaders in attendance.
Be sure to check back daily to stay on top of what’s happening at the conference.
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Stewart expands California offerings
Posted Date: Monday, October 9, 2017
Stewart Title has expanded its real estate services in California by adding to its growing network of National Commercial Market Centers in California, the company announced.
The new office will act as a single point of contact for customers with national and international commercial needs.
Read on to learn where the new office is located and whom the office primarily will be focused upon.
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Home affordability improves
Posted Date: Monday, October 9, 2017
Home affordability improved in many places throughout the nation during the third quarter, including in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix and San Diego.
Read on for more details from ATTOM Data Solutions’ Q3 2017 U.S. Home Affordability Index.
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AmTrust adds national agency manager
Posted Date: Monday, October 9, 2017
AmTrust Title Insurance Co.’s new national agency manager launched WFG National Title Insurance Co.’s operations in eight states.
Read on for more information.
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RamQuest integrates DocMagic
Posted Date: Monday, October 9, 2017
RamQuest, Inc. has integrated DocMagic’s SmartCLOSE closing collaboration portal into its digital network.
Read on to learn how this integration will benefit RamQuest customers.
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Cyber threat sharing network announced
Posted Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
As businesses consider their vulnerabilities in light of the massive Equifax breach that exposed the financial information of millions, a California company known for providing cyber and physical threat sharing has announced a new network specifically designed for financial services companies.
The president and CEO of Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center said businesses need to do a better job of sharing information about cyber threats.
Read on for more details about the new cyber threat sharing network.
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Title Source offering eClosing through Pavaso
Posted Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
The nation’s largest independent provider of title insurance, valuations and closing services has partnered with the eClosing platform company Pavaso to simplify the mortgage closing process.
Title Source’s COO said the technology it is offering will eliminate a mountain of paperwork and can be used in all 50 states.
Read on to learn more about the partnership between these companies.
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A.M. Best affirms First American’s excellent rating
Posted Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
According to A.M. Best, the underwriting leverage of First American Financial Corp.’s title group has significantly improved from the prior five-year period due to its overall surplus growth, premium growth and improved operating results and cost reduction initiatives.
The ratings company warned that rising mortgage rates and legal and regulatory challenges pose potential problems.
Read on for more details from the A.M. Best report.
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Ellie Mae completes Velocify acquisition
Posted Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
Ellie Mae has completed its acquisition of the sales acceleration platform Velocify.
Read on to learn how the acquisition will advance Ellie Mae’s vision of offering a fully digital mortgage.
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Aprio introduces escrow reconciliation solution
Posted Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
In partnership with RynohLive, Aprio has launched an escrow reconciliation solution that provides real-time monitoring of escrow accounts to protect title agents from fraud.
Read on for more details.
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Chronos Solutions part of Day 1 Certainty
Posted Date: Friday, October 6, 2017
Chronos Solutions now is providing reporting services through Fannie Mae's Day 1 Certainty program.
Read on to learn which Chronos products are available through Day 1.
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FNF Group acquires digital transaction management platform
Posted Date: Thursday, October 5, 2017
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.’s FNF Group has acquired a majority interest in a provider of digital transaction management and closing solutions for real estate professionals.
Chairman William P. Foley, II said the acquisition will broaden its service offerings and help agents, brokers and customers more efficiently close transactions.
Read on to learn more about the acquired company.
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