November 7, 2025

In This Issue:

  • TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (June - Aug. 2025)
  • ALTA Survey: Is the Government Shutdown Affecting Your Business?
  • TLTA Signs Letter Supporting Protecting America’s Property Rights Act
  • Compliance Reminder: TS-5 Due Nov. 15
  • Texas Woman Sues Austin Developers Over Stolen Property and Forged Deed
  • ICYMI: TLTA President Gil Ernst Met With Gov. Abbott

TDI Publishes Quarterly Audit Results (June - Aug. 2025)

TLTA | Nov. 6, 2025

The following is a summary of recent TDI audits, violations and enforcement actions from June through August 2025.

Read TDI's complete summary of operations for the quarter. Below are TDI's most common audit findings for the quarter:

  • Section 2702.053 – Actual receipts and/or disbursements not in agreement with settlement statement or premium split not disclosed. (Statutes and Administrative Rules)
  • Title Bulletin No. 160 – All parties receiving portions of real estate commission not disclosed on settlement statement. (Title Bulletins)
  • P-21: Schedule D of commitment not in file or premium split not disclosed on commitment. (Procedural Rules)
  • #16 - Every disbursement not supported by invoice or sufficient other evidence. (Minimum Escrow Accounting Procedures and Internal Controls)
  • Outstanding checks not cleared timely (Escrow Accounting)

Read complete summary for the quarter »

ALTA Survey: Is the Federal Government Shutdown Affecting Your Business?

TLTA | Nov. 6, 2025

Federal Government Shutdown Survey

Please take a few moments to share how the federal government shutdown is impacting your business, transactions or clients. Your input will help ALTA demonstrate to federal policymakers the real-world effects the shutdown is having on title professionals and the real estate market.

Complete ALTA's Federal Government Shutdown Survey »

ICYMI: ALTA FinCEN Compliance Survey

In case you missed, ALTA also launched the 2025 FinCEN Compliance Survey recently to help raise awareness with federal policymakers about the time, money, and personnel required to comply with new and existing FinCEN requirements. Please take a few moments to answer these questions.

Complete ALTA's 2025 FinCEN Survey »

TLTA Signs Letter Supporting Protecting America’s Property Rights Act

TLTA | Nov. 4, 2025

TLTA, ALTA and 36 other land title associations signed a letter to Congress in support of H.R. 3206, the Protecting America’s Property Rights Act, legislation authored by U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX). The bill would require that all federally backed mortgages be insured by a properly state-regulated product like title insurance, ensuring consistent consumer protections, transparency and accountability in real estate transactions.

Read the Letter »

Compliance Reminder: TS-5 Due Nov. 15

TLTA | Nov. 6, 2025

Form TS-5, Title Agent Certification of Agent's Quarterly Tax Reports, must be submitted to TDI on a quarterly basis. Next TS-5 due by Nov. 15.

Form TS-5 »

Please submit your TS-5 by the deadline listed above to [email protected].

Texas Woman Sues Austin Developers Over Stolen Property and Forged Deed

KVUE | Nov. 4, 2025

A Texas woman has filed a lawsuit against an Austin developer who she said illegally obtained her property after someone forged her signature.

Now there are two new homes where her grandmother's East Austin house once stood.

Read More »

TLTA Editor's Note: Former TLTA President Brian Pitman and current TLTA Board Member Leslie S. Johnson are both quoted in this story. Thank you both for helping to educate the public about the risks of deed fraud and the passage this year of legislation supported by TLTA that criminalized this continued threat.

ICYMI: TLTA President Gil Ernst Met With Gov. Abbott

TLTA | Oct. 30, 2025

TLTA President Gil Ernst, CEO Leslie Midgley and Vice President of Government Relations and Counsel Aaron Day met with Gov. Abbott this week to provide TLTAPAC support and thank the governor for his appreciation of our industry and the continued success of the Texas real estate market. Among the thanks we shared with Gov. Abbott is our gratitude for his decision to make title industry professionals essential workers during quarantine, his signature on the Deed Fraud bill we supported that passed this session, and his continued focus on helping us protect Texans property rights.


From left to right: TLTA President Gil Ernst, Gov. Abbott, TLTA CEO Leslie Midgley