You need to watch this video.

Lessons to take away from it:Always read your title insurance commitment prior to closing.Always buy a professional survey prior to closing.This homebuyer did neither. Buying real estate is a major purchase and a consumer must participate with a thinking cap on.When you shop for your title insurance and settlement services, confirm that you will have a title insurance commitment for your review

BTW - I loved reading the comments by PA AG Tom Corbett.

I think our AG folks here in PA have their heads around the issue. He gets it. The only weakness in the thought process, in my opinion, is that I still do not think they understand the real defalcation picture. Perhaps our industry has swallowed the problem and it's not easily seen by the public. That's a big bank of losses and Mr. Lipshultz was serious when he implied that competition might

PA Attorney General Tom Corbett on title insurance

GOOD READING. ;)

new Closing Services Letter approved for PA...cost $75

The PA Department of Insurance has approved the amended rate filing submitted by TIRBOP. TIRBOP withdrew it's request for a premium overhaul following pressure by the office of the Attorney General.So, the only change is to the CSL which extends coverage to buyers and lessees. Effective 9-14-09.

this is an interesting article

Here's a blurb: RISMEDIA, July 23, 2009-I have read at least a hundred articles over the last several years regarding the profitability of the typical brick and mortar real estate office business model. Having owned an independent real estate company with the brick and mortar business model in California years ago, and then, up until 3 ½ years ago, owning six Prudential franchises with 200

The Wall Street Journal on title insurance....

The U.S. title-insurance industry faces increasing pressure from regulators to justify the fees charged to consumers for ensuring they have clear ownership of their homes. For most people, title insurance is just another mysterious fee they must pay when they buy a home or refinance a mortgage. Unlike some of those fees, though, title charges aren’t negligible. They range from several hundred to

more Pittsburgh area indictments

HERE'S THE LINK.

guess the fox made it into the hen house

Fascinating choice by the Obama administration.David H. Stevens was the past President & COO of Long & Foster Realtors; Vice President of Mortgage, Title, and Insurance Division for Longer & Foster; Executive Vice President for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; on the Lender's Advisory Council for the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA); on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Mortgage

query: can you request a reissue rate on a foreclosed home?

Sure can. The rules may differ in other states but in PA, if that foreclosed mortgage was dated within the last ten years, you're entitled to the reissue rate.

June 6, 2009 Commissioner Joel Ario Pennsylvania Insurance Department 1326 Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17120 RE: final comment on public hearing for title insurance Dear Commissioner Ario: The give and take in the public hearing on title insurance was insightful and certainly raised some ideas that were outside of the box for me. Thank you for

TIRBOP revises rate filing

They have withdrawn their request to change the rate premium structure. They are still seeking approval of a new CSL including an increase in the CSL fee from $35 to $75.Amended Rate FilingOriginal Rate filingHere's my comment to the PA Dept. of Insurance concerning the amended rate filing:I'd like to offer these comments concerning the request by TIRBOP to increase the CSL fee to $75 and extend

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Verizon will be out on Monday. If you call and can't hear us, please call back. ;)