November 30, 2011
ALTA's RESPA Task Force Plans to Meet with CFPB
The American Land Title Association's (ALTA) RESPA Task Force is planning to meet with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) next week to discuss the industry's goals and desired outcomes for mortgage disclosure forms. ALTA will also offer specific comments on the first draft of the CFPB's new closing stage settlement disclosure form that is designed to replace the HUD-1. The task force will also answer questions about the closing process and how the new forms will affect the industry. TLTA is also reviewing the forms, and we will provide you with a copy of our comments when they have been submitted. Read More >
Texas Seeks Stay From High Court on Redistricting Maps
The Texas attorney general on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent state House and Senate redistricting maps from going into effect. Maintaining there is nothing wrong with the redistricting maps created earlier this year by the GOP-controlled Legislature, Attorney General Greg Abbott said he would like the country's highest court to expeditiously review the case and grant an emergency stay of the decision of a federal court in San Antonio to use interim maps that it created. Read More >
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in RESPA Case
The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in the case of First American Financial Corporation v. Edwards. ALTA signed an Amicus Brief in the case that involves a basic question of constitutional law: whether people who suffered no actual harm have the right to sue for damages in court. In this case, a consumer sued First American over an alleged kickback under Section 8 of RESPA despite not alleging she was overcharged for title insurance, obtained lower quality service, or was harmed in any way. Read More >
Texas Historical Commission Preservation Program Wins Award
The Texas Historical Commission's (THC) courthouse preservation program was recently awarded the Best of the South Award by the Southeast Chapter of Society of Architectural Historians, which honors a project that preserves or restores historic buildings in an outstanding manner and demonstrates excellence in research, technique, and documentation. For more than six years, TLTA has provided grants enabling the THC to offer the Texas Courthouse Stewardship Workshop program that gives needed training and technical assistance to newly restored historic county courthouses. Show support of your local courthouse by joining TLTA in sponsoring this unique public private partnership. Read More >
Thank You TLTAbay Donors, Bidders and Winners!
TLTA would like to thank all of our members who participated in the 2011 TLTAbay Annual Online Auction benefiting the TLTAPAC! Thanks to our generous donors, bidders and winners, we raised close to $15,000! Special thanks to the TLTAbay subcommittee including Celia Goode-Haddock, Kim Hesley, Guy Robert Jackson and Maisie Hominick. We'll see you again next year for another great auction!