New Laws Protect Homeowners, Whistle Blowers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Ed Rendell has signed two bills into law to crack down on mortgage fraud in Pennsylvania.[The first bill mandates better communication between homeowners and their lenders. The other bill will protect employees at mortgage companies who report illegal activity.]The first bill mandates better communication between homeowners and their lenders. The other bill will protect

New Laws Protect Homeowners, Whistle Blowers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Ed Rendell has signed two bills into law to crack down on mortgage fraud in Pennsylvania.[The first bill mandates better communication between homeowners and their lenders. The other bill will protect employees at mortgage companies who report illegal activity.]The first bill mandates better communication between homeowners and their lenders. The other bill will protect

On Iran....Read this if you want to help or get help!

The government in Iran is still increasing internet filtering and throttling in an attempt to silence their people. Anonymous info shows that many in Iran are looking for proxy and Tor information in Tehran and all around the country. Please donate your bandwidth to help bring down the Iran Curtain. Here are links on how to help and get help on this:English: Tor and the Iranian Election - Bring

On Iran....Read this if you want to help or get help!

The government in Iran is still increasing internet filtering and throttling in an attempt to silence their people. Anonymous info shows that many in Iran are looking for proxy and Tor information in Tehran and all around the country. Please donate your bandwidth to help bring down the Iran Curtain. Here are links on how to help and get help on this:English: Tor and the Iranian Election - Bring

Is this a good thing?

AUSTIN, Texas, June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First American Spatial Solutions (FASS), a member of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) family of companies and a leader in spatial and natural hazard risk solutions, announced today that it has digitally mapped more than 120 million of America's property parcels - something no other public or private entity has been able to accomplish

Is this a good thing?

AUSTIN, Texas, June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First American Spatial Solutions (FASS), a member of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) family of companies and a leader in spatial and natural hazard risk solutions, announced today that it has digitally mapped more than 120 million of America's property parcels - something no other public or private entity has been able to accomplish

skipping legal advice with a trust and living to regret it

Here's a case to ponder.An elderly lady is in a nursing home. We'll call her Sally. Sally deeded her real estate into a Trust. She also gave a Power of Attorney to her granddaughter, we'll call her Polly.Polly listed the real estate for sale and signed the sales agreement using the POA.I examined title, including the trust document and found no authority for using the POA. Instead what I found

skipping legal advice with a trust and living to regret it

Here's a case to ponder.An elderly lady is in a nursing home. We'll call her Sally. Sally deeded her real estate into a Trust. She also gave a Power of Attorney to her granddaughter, we'll call her Polly.Polly listed the real estate for sale and signed the sales agreement using the POA.I examined title, including the trust document and found no authority for using the POA. Instead what I found

and this is why we need mandatory annual CPA audits of agents

"It opened my eyes," he said. "It felt like a check from the title company was just as good as one from the bank. That is not the case. It's no better than a personal check."Read more....

and this is why we need mandatory annual CPA audits of agents

"It opened my eyes," he said. "It felt like a check from the title company was just as good as one from the bank. That is not the case. It's no better than a personal check."Read more....

transcript

I love that the PA Dept. of Insurance published the transcript of the hearing but I have to say court reporting must be tough. Many remarks are quite different in the transcript than they were in the room. I'll have to remember to speak slowly and carefully next time....if there is one. ;)

transcript

I love that the PA Dept. of Insurance published the transcript of the hearing but I have to say court reporting must be tough. Many remarks are quite different in the transcript than they were in the room. I'll have to remember to speak slowly and carefully next time....if there is one. ;)

PA public hearing on Title Insurance

To all Interested Parties, Thank you for your interest and participation in the recent informational hearing on title insurance that was held by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department on May 28, 2009. Please be advised that the transcript of that hearing and any testimony or submissions received to date have now been posted to the Department’s Web site. As stated in an earlier e-mail, the

PA public hearing on Title Insurance

To all Interested Parties, Thank you for your interest and participation in the recent informational hearing on title insurance that was held by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department on May 28, 2009. Please be advised that the transcript of that hearing and any testimony or submissions received to date have now been posted to the Department’s Web site. As stated in an earlier e-mail, the

query: can I cancel owner title insurance

If you haven't already paid for the policy, you can cancel the order. The title company may charge you for services rendered to this point and if you are in PA, you'll need to sign a strongly worded waiver. PA wants you to know you are totally unprotected without an owner policy.Now, if you have already paid for the policy you don't have any reason to cancel it. It's a one time charge and it

query: can I cancel owner title insurance

If you haven't already paid for the policy, you can cancel the order. The title company may charge you for services rendered to this point and if you are in PA, you'll need to sign a strongly worded waiver. PA wants you to know you are totally unprotected without an owner policy.Now, if you have already paid for the policy you don't have any reason to cancel it. It's a one time charge and it

that ole survey situation again

It never fails. Several times every year we get calls from consumers who decided to get a survey some time after their purchase and guess what? They found a problem.That's why we make a recommendation to every consumer that the only way to know what you are buying is to get a current up to date survey BEFORE you close. If you don't get that survey, we're gonna have you sign a hold harmless

that ole survey situation again

It never fails. Several times every year we get calls from consumers who decided to get a survey some time after their purchase and guess what? They found a problem.That's why we make a recommendation to every consumer that the only way to know what you are buying is to get a current up to date survey BEFORE you close. If you don't get that survey, we're gonna have you sign a hold harmless

one underwriter taking a stand against short sale flips

The investor negotiates a short sale with the lender by convincing the lender that the price it is offering is the market value of the property. The investor then finds a buyer for a much higher price. The sales happen simultaneously, and the lender pockets the difference. The problem is that "the original lender is not told that the buyer is flipping the property on the same day for thousands

one underwriter taking a stand against short sale flips

The investor negotiates a short sale with the lender by convincing the lender that the price it is offering is the market value of the property. The investor then finds a buyer for a much higher price. The sales happen simultaneously, and the lender pockets the difference. The problem is that "the original lender is not told that the buyer is flipping the property on the same day for thousands

perfect? marketable? insurable?

Here's an e-mail exchange that might help understand the issues faced when folks try to figure out the difference.Dear Ms. Cipa, While researching a title insurance matter on the internet I made my way to http://titleinsurancetalk.blogspot.com/ where I read some of your postings. I have long been searching for someone as knowledgeable and erudite as you on title matters. I am writing to

perfect? marketable? insurable?

Here's an e-mail exchange that might help understand the issues faced when folks try to figure out the difference.Dear Ms. Cipa, While researching a title insurance matter on the internet I made my way to http://titleinsurancetalk.blogspot.com/ where I read some of your postings. I have long been searching for someone as knowledgeable and erudite as you on title matters. I am writing to

this is interesting...Buyer's Choice Act

A bill to help California's smaller title companies compete in the foreclosure resale market has cleared the Assembly and is now in the Senate.The Buyer's Choice Act, introduced in February by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, will likely be sent in the coming weeks to the Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee and later to the Judiciary Committee. It could be on the Senate floor in

this is interesting...Buyer's Choice Act

A bill to help California's smaller title companies compete in the foreclosure resale market has cleared the Assembly and is now in the Senate.The Buyer's Choice Act, introduced in February by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, will likely be sent in the coming weeks to the Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee and later to the Judiciary Committee. It could be on the Senate floor in

question

Do notary signing agents aka independent closers intend to comment as part of the PA Dept. of Insurance public hearing process?

question

Do notary signing agents aka independent closers intend to comment as part of the PA Dept. of Insurance public hearing process?

those illusive mining rights can really screw with your plans

I have a customer who is trying to buy a farm out here in the country on which to home school his children, raise organic beef and chickens, vegetables...basically live out his dream.It took some time but he found a parcel of 65 acres. We ran the title search and discovered that coal and mining rights had been conveyed to a local coal mining company back in 1967. The deed was pretty scary. It

those illusive mining rights can really screw with your plans

I have a customer who is trying to buy a farm out here in the country on which to home school his children, raise organic beef and chickens, vegetables...basically live out his dream.It took some time but he found a parcel of 65 acres. We ran the title search and discovered that coal and mining rights had been conveyed to a local coal mining company back in 1967. The deed was pretty scary. It

the title agent and surveyor did their job and the county engineer still ignored it

They built their parking lot over the right of way! People - read the reports before you build!The title search was put together by the Ohio Bar Title Insurance Co., with Bill Geyer as local agent. Title insurance of $200,000 was taken out.Noted in the title search is that two of the tracts of land were separated from the remaining purchased land by a strip of land that was former railroad

the title agent and surveyor did their job and the county engineer still ignored it

They built their parking lot over the right of way! People - read the reports before you build!The title search was put together by the Ohio Bar Title Insurance Co., with Bill Geyer as local agent. Title insurance of $200,000 was taken out.Noted in the title search is that two of the tracts of land were separated from the remaining purchased land by a strip of land that was former railroad

these e-mail excerpts are fascinating

Excerpts of E-Mails From Angelo Mozilo Sept. 26, 2006 — following up a meeting with Sambol the previous day about the Pay-Option ARM loan portfolio: We have no way, with any reasonable certainty, to assess the real risk of holding these loans on our balance sheet. The only history we can look to is that of World Savings however their portfolio was fundamentally different than ours in that

these e-mail excerpts are fascinating

Excerpts of E-Mails From Angelo Mozilo Sept. 26, 2006 — following up a meeting with Sambol the previous day about the Pay-Option ARM loan portfolio: We have no way, with any reasonable certainty, to assess the real risk of holding these loans on our balance sheet. The only history we can look to is that of World Savings however their portfolio was fundamentally different than ours in that

Mozilo accused of fraud

WASHINGTON — The government is charging Angelo R. Mozilo, the former chief executive of the mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, and two other company executives with civil fraud. The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday afternoon that its case also accused Mr. Mozilo of illegal insider trading. Countrywide was a major player in the subprime mortgage market, the collapse of

Mozilo accused of fraud

WASHINGTON — The government is charging Angelo R. Mozilo, the former chief executive of the mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, and two other company executives with civil fraud. The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday afternoon that its case also accused Mr. Mozilo of illegal insider trading. Countrywide was a major player in the subprime mortgage market, the collapse of

message from the Department

Thank you for your interest and participation in the recent informational hearing on title insurance that was held by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department on May 28, 2009. We hope to have a transcript of that hearing posted to the department’s Web site in the near future. An e-mail will be sent to you advising you when the transcript has been posted. In addition, we are extending the deadline

message from the Department

Thank you for your interest and participation in the recent informational hearing on title insurance that was held by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department on May 28, 2009. We hope to have a transcript of that hearing posted to the department’s Web site in the near future. An e-mail will be sent to you advising you when the transcript has been posted. In addition, we are extending the deadline

here's a probable for PA........

The new law establishes a zero tolerance policy for enticing realtors and lenders with food or beverage or entertainment as an inducement to refer title business. Read more...

here's a probable for PA........

The new law establishes a zero tolerance policy for enticing realtors and lenders with food or beverage or entertainment as an inducement to refer title business. Read more...

there is so much we could discuss concerning title insurance

but... ..you have to pick and choose and so this is what I ended up submitting as testimony for the PA public hearing:Testimony before thePennsylvania Insurance DepartmentTitle Insurance IssuesPresented by:Diane Cipa, Title Insurance AgentGeneral Manager, The Closing Specialists204 West Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658724-238-7783dcipa@tcsclosing.comGood afternoon. My name is Diane Cipa. I am a

there is so much we could discuss concerning title insurance

but... ..you have to pick and choose and so this is what I ended up submitting as testimony for the PA public hearing:Testimony before thePennsylvania Insurance DepartmentTitle Insurance IssuesPresented by:Diane Cipa, Title Insurance AgentGeneral Manager, The Closing Specialists204 West Main Street, Ligonier, PA 15658724-238-7783dcipa@tcsclosing.comGood afternoon. My name is Diane Cipa. I am a

if I could wave a magic wand

..tax assessment and recorder of deeds offices would understand the meaning of corrective instruments.....

if I could wave a magic wand

..tax assessment and recorder of deeds offices would understand the meaning of corrective instruments.....