October 9, 2013
TDI Rule Order Addressing Over 70 Agenda Items Expected Soon
TLTA expects the 2012 Rule Order to be adopted and published in the Texas Register later this month. Although some of the items are simple cleanup changes, there are also a number of very significant changes that will likely impact your compliance procedures. Agent minimum capitalization and other agent solvency items will be included in the rule order, and there will be additional important changes to the licensing rules to accommodate a new licensing software platform TDI will adopt in January as well as a number of other rule and form changes to the Basic Manual.
The majority of these rules will become effective around the first of the year, with the minimum capitalization rule likely becoming effective a few months after the others to allow maximum time for agents to decide their preferred approaches to meeting the new requirements.
If you haven't already subscribed to TLTA's Basic Manual Online Update Service, sign up today to ensure you have the latest changes and are in compliance. As a subscriber, you'll receive an automatic electronic update you can print and add to your hard copy of the Basic Manual. We also have printed copies of the Basic Manual for sale if you prefer.
TLTA is also developing a series of webinars to walk you through all the changes and help get you and your staff ready to comply by the effective dates. Stay tuned for more information about registering for these programs.
NAHB: Texas Housing Markets Returning to Pre-Recessionary Levels
National Association of Homebuilders | Oct. 7, 2013
Housing markets in 52 out of the roughly 350 metros nationwide have returned to or exceeded their pre-recessionary levels of activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), which was released yesterday. And some of the top-performing markets are in Texas. At 1.07, Austin had the highest overall score of any major Texas metro. This means the city's housing market was doing 7 percent better than its last normal market level. It ranked fourth nationally behind Baton Rouge, Honolulu and Oklahoma City.
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The TLTAPAC Needs Your Help — Donate to TLTAbay Today!
This Year's Auction Will Run Nov. 7 - 14
The TLTAbay online auction is an annual fundraiser benefiting the TLTAPAC. This year's auction will begin Thursday, Nov. 7, and run through Thursday, Nov. 14. We need your help to secure auction items and ensure another spectacular year. Suggested donation items include: electronics, gift cards, sporting event tickets, travel vouchers, vacations, spa packages and jewelry. Don't know what to donate? You can make a monetary donation and we'll do the shopping for you! Read more about the auction and make a donation
here or contact
David Glenn for more information.
Upcoming TLTA Hot Topic Webinars — Register Today!
Nightmare on Entities Street: Handling Creatures of Statute That Go Bump in the Night
Thursday, Oct. 10 | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Entities: What are they? Why do they exist? What do I do with them? Spend an hour with our knowledgeable presenter, Bruce Goldston, as he reviews the many types of entities. You'll come away with the basic knowledge of what they are, why we have them and how dealing with them is different from dealing with an individual. This webinar will cover the following types of entities: Schedule C requirements, vesting, bankruptcy, involuntary liens and examination issues.
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Guarding the Guardianship, Trusting the Trustee
Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
This webinar will educate attendees on the basics of Texas Trust Law and Guardianships, including how to work with real property held in trust or subject to a court appointed guardianship, how to identify the appropriate trust or guardianship documents and what language to look for in each document and the possible challenges that may arise when dealing with trusts or guardianships and resolutions to such challenges.
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Navigating the Hazards of Construction Closings
Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
This webinar will discuss the various aspects of construction loans, such as lien validity and priority, applicable rate and procedural rules, and the basics of closing these transactions. This presentation is geared to help a new closer with the ABC's of construction closings, but will also provide tools for the experienced closer to use to help solve problems that can arise on any construction transaction.
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