January 2008
CLOSING TRANSACTIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
By Kim Minks, DHI Title
When I first started in the title business, we were just past the era of having the husband leave the room during a closing in order to ask the wife if she truly wanted to sell the house. This was to determine if she was being unduly coerced into selling her homestead. The entire closing package consisted of less than 25 pages and white-out was still used on our settlement statements. We balanced files with a pencil and a calculator.
CONDUCTING AN EMPLOYEE BACKGROUND CHECK
By Brett Strand, Cornell Smith & Mierl
Our company handles valuable information and property, and we need to be sure that our employees can be trusted with it. What options do we have for conducting background checks on potential and/or current employees?
TLTA's JOB BANK is the Texas title industry's electronic recruitment resource. Here, employers and recruiters can access the most qualified talent pool with relevant work experience to fulfill staffing needs. With TLTA's JOB BANK, you can target your recruiting and reach qualified candidates quickly and easily. Simply complete our online Registration Form and start posting jobs today!
GO TO THE TLTA JOB BANK
BASIC MANUAL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
Not sure if your Basic Manual is up-to-date with the latest changes? Now you can ensure it always will be!
Purchase TLTA's annual Subscription Service for updates to the Texas Title Insurance Basic Manual. For a low annual fee, you will automatically receive all updates for the entire year.*
ALTA HIRES KURT PFOTENHAUER AS NEW CEO
The American Land Title Association (ALTA) has hired Kurt Pfotenhauer as their new Chief Executive Officer. Kurt served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Mortgage Bankers Association. He is the former Chief of Staff for a U.S. Senator and served as Vice President of Public Affairs for United Parcel Service. Pfotenhauer received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master's degree from Yale University.
MARKET NEWS
Construction is once again lively in Texas Ø Houston leads state in November job gains Ø Different solution to mortgage crisis needed Ø Economist predicts growth, not recession for S.A., U.S. Ø FED shrugged as subprime crisis spread Ø Foreclosures drop 10% in November Ø FED endorses new home mortgage plan
WHAT'S NEW WITH OUR MEMBERS
JACK RATTIKIN, JR. NAMED HONORARY MEMBER OF AMERICAN LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION
Jack Rattkin, Jr., TLTA Past President and TitleMan of the Year, was named an Honorary Member of the American Land Title Association (ALTA) during the group's annual convention held last October. Honorary Membership is ALTA's highest honor and is bestowed by the Board for performance of distinguished and meritorious service to the association or to the land title industry. Jack Rattikin III, a TLTA Past President and member of the ALTA Board of Governors, was on hand to make the presentation to his father.
RACHEL AREVALO NAMED EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR EDWARDS ABSTRACT AND TITLE
Rachel Arevalo with Edwards Abstract and Title Co. in Edinburg was recently named Executive Vice President and Senior Commercial Closing Specialist. Arevalo is a real estate professional who has devoted over thirty years to Edwards Abstract and the title insurance industry.
Arevalo joined Edwards in 1976 working part-time and has held numerous positions throughout her career with the company. She was named Senior Vice President-Operations Manager in 2001 and has worked with many of the Valley's lenders, real estate attorneys, surveyors, realtors, builders and others in the real estate industry. Congratulations, Rachel!
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT TLTA
IMPROVE YOUR BOTTOM LINE - ONE MEMBER'S VIEW OF THE BENEFITS OF TLTA SEMINARS
Sonja Word has seen first-hand how her staff and her company have benefited from TLTA's programs. We visited on the telephone a few weeks ago about the benefit(s) of TLTA seminars. The descriptive word that kept coming up during the conversation was "invaluable." All her staff have attended TLTA programs over the years, and in every case they have returned to the office excited and more interested in their jobs because they have obtained specific information that they can put to work immediately. The result? Her employees have become much more engaged with their customers, co-workers and in the community as a result of the learning environment provided by TLTA and its excellent speakers.
Sometimes after a seminar her staff will get out the Basic Manual and look up particular items that were discussed during the presentation. They actually come back to work and talk about what they've learned, and how to put it into practice! They know they can call on Joey or Janet or Phyllis, or Bickford, or Bruce to follow-up with them later. If, by chance, a speaker doesn't know the answer to a question, they will always get back in touch later with the information needed. In her words, "our instructors are dynamic, interesting, and completely committed to helping others who work in the title industry."
"Ours is not a wealthy company – we're out there competing with the big guys for business, but I'm more than willing to make the investment - both in time and money -to educate my employees. The information and perspective we receive is invaluable, and it has literally affected my company's bottom line."
Thanks, Sonja. We couldn't have said it any better.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 25 &26
Centennial Kick-off Weekend
February 12
Construction Issues - Houston
NEW!
February 13
TDI Rules & Forms - Don't be the LAST to Know
March 3 - 7
Land Title School of Texas
March 4, 2008
Primary election
March 18-19
Right Rules Correct Calculations
NOMINATE SOMEONE YOU KNOW FOR THE TLTA PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
Is there one special person who you work with in the title industry who contributes above and beyond? The person everyone looks to for ideas or help? This is your opportunity to nominate this special person for the 2008 TLTA Professional Excellence Award.
DID YOU KNOW? BRAIN TEASERS IN HONOR OF TLTA'S CENTENNIAL
Who was the first TLTA President?
J. C. Crisp
When was the Board of Insurance created?
The Board of Insurance Commissioners was created by the Texas Legislature in 1927. It was comprised of Life Insurance, Fire Insurance and Casualty Insurance Commissioners.
THE 17TH ANNUAL ROBERT C. SNEED TEXAS LAND TITLE INSTITUTE - DEC. 6-7, 2007
Monte Schmitt and Gregg Lyssy
From left: Cal Barker, Phyllis Mulder, Joey Prohaska
From left: E. J. Brent, Sheri Asbell, Susan Strickland
From left: Bruce Liesman and John Rothermel
From left: Sharon Stapp, Kyle Denbow, James Lazar and Tiffany Hartgraves
From left: Maureen Kersey, Paul Myers, Suzanne Frossard
NORTH EAST TEXAS CONTINUING EDUCATION SEMINAR - NOV. 15, 2007
From left: Marie Snodgrass, Marla Wisinger
From left: Paula Long, Brenda Wise, Susan Strickland, Paula Daughtry
From left: Brandy Alaniz, Lisa Steinkamp, Morgan Ashwander
From left: Gary Bunch, Darrell Dash
TITLE PLANT SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Burnet County Title Plant Subscription Services with complimentary integrated document images now available. Professionally maintained by the same company that provides expert plant services to over 45 title companies in Travis, Williamson, Hays and Bastrop Counties. For information call 1-800-388-2738 ext 309 or email mailto:
[email protected].