News

Spruce has hired a former First American and Stewart executive to oversee its expansion into Texas, which includes the opening a new operations center in Dallas.

A.M. Best has affirmed First American Title Insurance Co.’s financial strength rating  of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit ratings of “a.”

San Diego-based Synergy One Lending has reached a definitive agreement to acquire certain assets of BBMC Mortgage, a national mortgage company based in Illinois.

RamQuest, Inc. has integrated Black Knight, Inc.’s nationwide tax solutions into its Closing Market digital network. Read on for more details.

Americans were less optimistic about buying or selling homes during October. Read on for more details from the latest Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index.

ALTA members can modify and brand marketing material with their company information and logo at www.ALTAprints.com. You can customize material and download PDFs for free or order prints that can be delivered directly to your office. ADVERTISEMENTS: These multi-purpose, customizable advertisements can be used as flyers in coffee shops, handouts...

We decided to have a little fun since we were in Los Angeles for the installation of ALTA's 2018-19 Board of Governors. Check out who was nominated best actress and best foreign language film, as well as several other "awards."

ALTA announced the winners of the Title Webbies, an awards program recognizing member companies that have created or redesigned the best title industry consumer-facing website or page within the past year. The two Title Webbies were presented during ALTA ONE, the largest annual event for the land title insurance industry,...

By Andrew Acker There’s a classic quote that business leaders and managers love to throw around (and spoiler alert, I’m about too as well). It comes from Peter Drucker, one of the original management gurus. He classically states that “what gets measured gets managed.” Before you roll your eyes and...

By Michael Chodos Title agents have always been at the forefront of the mortgage experience: they are trusted guides to usher signers through one of the most important decisions of their lives. With so much riding on the home buying and seller process, it’s up to the title agent to...

California’s wildfires have ravaged the state, claiming the lives of 44 people and destroying more than 100,000 acres. In response to this threat, Fannie and Freddie are reminding victims that mortgage assistance options are available for those affected by these deadly fires.

Under Mick Mulvaney, the CFPB (or BCFP, depending on who you ask) has taken a much gentler approach toward the financial services industry. That tactic is likely to continue if the Trump administration’s choice as a permanent director, Kathy Kraninger, is ever confirmed by the Senate. And that’s just what the housing industry is now […]

Amazon has selected Long Island City, New York, and Crystal City, Virginia, as the split locations for its HQ2, and data suggest that even as early as last week, the real estate markets in these areas have boomed.

Amazon announced Tuesday the locations for its second headquarters, naming Long Island City, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, as the winners of its year-long search. HQ2 is expected to bring 50,000 jobs and more than $5 billion in investments, and while this will be a boost to the local economies, some are critical of the […]

Another week and more tech integrations! As the industry shifts ever-closer to a truly digital mortgage experience, we present some of the integrations and program selections companies in the mortgage lending space are making.

Under Mick Mulvaney, the CFPB (or BCFP, depending on who you ask) has taken a much gentler approach toward the financial services industry. That tactic is likely to continue if the Trump administration’s choice as a permanent director, Kathy Kraninger, is ever confirmed by the Senate. And that’s just what the housing industry is now […]

In the midst of significant economic headwinds, lenders are developing their 2019 budgets, and top concerns include increasing production and decreasing turn-times. The prime driver for the next year has to be efficiency, which makes choosing the right technology partner especially important. Lenders using FirstClose are seeing efficiencies in two areas that will be critical […]

Another week and more tech integrations! As the industry shifts ever-closer to a truly digital mortgage experience, we present some of the integrations and program selections companies in the mortgage lending space are making.

In an email to subscribers, independent analyst Mike DelPrete said Zillow’s strategic shift into iBuying and mortgage lending points to a much more profitable business line. “Zillow's iBuyer business continues to grow, and the latest results crystalize the opportunity in seller leads,” he writes in the email.

A former practicing attorney in Alabama will spend more than the next three years in jail after pleading guilty to stealing more than a $1 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development on the sales of HUD-owned homes.

Amazon has selected Long Island City, New York, and Crystal City, Virginia, as the split locations for its HQ2, and data suggest that even as early as last week, the real estate markets in these areas have boomed.

Amazon announced Tuesday the locations for its second headquarters, naming Long Island City, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, as the winners of its year-long search. HQ2 is expected to bring 50,000 jobs and more than $5 billion in investments, and while this will be a boost to the local economies, some are critical of the […]

In the past few years, Wells Fargo, once thought of as a shining example in the financial services industry, has been dragged down by scandal after scandal followed by settlement after settlement. Well, guess what? It’s a day that ends in "y," and that means it's time for another Wells Fargo settlement.

Nationwide, renters are struggling to navigate affordability, especially Millennials who on average spend more than 45% of their income on rent before the age of 30. So, it shouldn’t be surprising when a Millennial voices concern about rental affordability, right? But what if that Millennial is a newly elected member of the House of Representatives?

After re-entering the Low Income Housing Tax Credit market just over a year ago, Fannie Mae is continuing its focus on affordable rental housing in underserved markets by committing $145 million in new investments in LIHTC funds. Here's a breakdown on where the money is going.