December 10, 2014
TDI Commissioner Rathgeber Stepping Down by Jan. 20
Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott today announced personnel to fill key senior staff positions in his incoming administration, which included the announcement that current Commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance Julia Rathgeber will resign her position at TDI to serve as Abbott’s Deputy Chief of Staff, effective January 20th. The Governor-elect’s office has not yet announced when a new TDI Commissioner will be named, however we will update you when a new commissioner is announced. For more on this announcement and a full list of Governor-elect Abbott’s new senior staff,
click here.
Take Note: GARC Fees End December 31st
Title Agents - remember that you will stop collecting the GARC Fee at the end of this year. You should submit the final quarterly payment to TTIGA by February 1 and the Guaranty Fee remains at $0 until further notice. Bottom line - No GARC or Guaranty Fees will be charged after December 31st, 2014. You will be notified well in advance when either are reinstated.
TLTA 2014 Land Title Institute a Huge Success
Bringing together more than 600 participants, TLTA's 2014 Robert C. Sneed Texas Land Title Institute was an exciting success and had the largest attendance in the history of the program. Beginning with new, stand-alone hot topic seminars on Wednesday the now 3-day program featured dozens of speakers presenting key topics, and multiple opportunities to interact with event sponsors. TLTA expects this popular event to be even more well attended next year, so mark your calendar now for Dec. 2-4, 2014 and be sure to register early for next year's Institute to get the early registration discount.
Click here to see pictures from this year's institute.
Survey: CFPB Employee Morale Drops Significantly
Housingwire December 2, 2014
Morale among the employees at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is falling and it's falling fast, according to the CFPB's annual employee survery, which was obtained by the Washington Times.
Read More>>
Fannie and Freddie Set to Make Mortgage Easier
Forbes | December 1, 2014
New guidelines will make it easier to get a home mortgage. Consideration is being given to lower the minimum down payment from 5% to 3% which could help currently under served areas.
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2015: Year of the First-Time Home Buyer
Realtor Mag | December 5, 2014
First time home-buyers are expected to play a big role in the recovery of the housing market in 2015. A better economy coupled with easier access to credit could mean substantially larger numbers of young buyers in the market.
Read More>>
Day at the Capitol 2015: Registration Now Open!
TLTA’s Day at the Capitol, February 2-3, is for every title professional. It is an excellent opportunity to speak directly with your legislators about the issues impacting the title industry and ultimately your bottom line. With the important issues our industry faces, it’s crucial to show our strength in numbers and have our voices heard during the 84th Legislative Session. By attending, you’re making a difference in the future of your business and your industry.
Register >> Book Hotel>>
Avoiding TDI Audit Violations:
A Focus on Compliance & Continued Conversation about the Recent Changes
Wednesday, December 10 | 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. CST
Presented by:
Robert York, TDI's Manager of Title Examinations
Brenda Nelson, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
Nancy Waggoner, Republic Title of Texas, Inc.
Live Version |
On-Demand Version
Understanding & Complying with P-53 and Other Anti-Rebating Laws
Tuesday, December 16 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. CST
Presented by:
Cass Burton, Attorney, Burton & Hyde, P.L.L.C., Austin
Kergin B. Bedell, Attorney, Burton & Hyde, P.L.L.C., Austin
Live Version |
On-Demand Version
1.
Surveys - Don't Be Out of Bounds!
2.
Bankruptcy - A Title Insurance Perspective
3.
CFPB Integrated Disclosures: Only 9 Months Away!
4.
Recent Texas Title Insurance and Escrow Cases
5.
Intestacy: Who Gets What When There is No Will