Hello from our Nation’s Capital.   I am a first-timer here at the ALTA Federal Conference.  It has been quite a number of years since I visited this beautiful City.   I like the pulse, the hustle and bustle, not as frantic as New York but with focus and with purpose.

I often wonder if our industry has a pulse.  I discovered that the answer is “yes.”  Within the few hours of my arrival I had the pleasure of meeting ALTA colleagues from all across the nation whose passion for protecting the American dream shines through.

This afternoon we should see a lot of this passion when we attend a session titled: RESPA Dialogue with HUD Officials.   I want to be front and center for this one.

Heading off to an ALTA-sponsored Congressional Briefing and meeting more people who realize that if we don’t get involved now and promote and educate others in what it is that we do, these “others” will gladly step in to help us along.  The health of our business requires us to be proactive and not reactive.

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The snow is beautiful, for a while, but eventually you must take shovel in hand, especially if your husband is sick with the flu, and then when the power goes out at eight o’clock in the evening, reality sets in and the beauty fades. Actually, the enormity of 24 inches of white crystals was not lost on me when I ventured outside for the fifth time just trying to keep up (did I mention my husband has the flu!). [click to continue…]

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Embarrased, mortified, simply put, I am ashamed. Yesterday I conducted my first closings using the new HUD-1. And, for the first time in my life, I felt like a scam artist (if a scam artist has a conscience). Make no mistake, I am serious. I found myself cringing while explaining the “improved” HUD-1 and apologizing to the consumers for the LACK of transparency in what I was asking them to sign. [click to continue…]

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Beware of Title Express Glitches

by Francine D'Elia Wirsching

Warning: Do not wait until you have your first settlement that requires use of the new HUD-1 before trying out your software. I promised myself I would create a “dummy” file so I could run the new HUD-1 through the ringer. Unfortunately, I never got to it.

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Top 10 Clearing Title Posts from 2009

by Dave Wirsching

In case you missed them throughout the year, the most popular posts from 2009.

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Irony Alert: Foreclosure.com Files for Bankruptcy

by Dave Wirsching

For fans of Irony everywhere – it looks like the parent company for Foreclosure.com has filed for bankruptcy:
parent company of Foreclosure.com, FFS Data, has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization on December 23rd. The company cites $9.1 million in assets versus $27.5 of debt and $15.7 million income so far.

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The Gift that Just Keeps on Giving or All Together Now, If I Had a Hammer…

by Francine D'Elia Wirsching

The lending and title insurance industries have been diligently preparing for RESPA Reform. Seminars, webinars, out with the old, in with the new, suit up your’re in! I am not sure if it was the Department of Housing and Urban Development or some obscure federal agency with extra bodies who came up with the new regulations, but in speaking with colleagues, including lenders, none of us can fathom that anyone involved had significant mortgage and real estate closing experience.

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Fidelity Misses Q3 Expectations

by Dave Wirsching

RTTNews – Breaking News, financial breaking News, Positive EPS Surprises, Stock research ….
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (FNF), reported a swing to profit in the third quarter on higher revenues and lower expenses. However, the profit per share was lower than Wall Street expectations.

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Title Insurance out of CFPA?

by Dave Wirsching

Moore’s amendment on credit insurance regulation draws fire – JSOnline
On Wednesday, the House Financial Services Committee approved the Milwaukee Democrat’s amendment to exempt credit insurance – as well as mortgage and title insurance – from regulation under a new consumer agency.

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RESPA Violation or Not?

by Francine D'Elia Wirsching

So, what is your opinion? I have heard these two situations represent a RESPA violation and I have also been told that since the real estate agency and the bank are giving the “kick-back” and not the title agency that there is no RESPA violation.

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