October 2019
- Real Estate Is Changing in 2020…Are You?
- How the Military Influences Texas Housing Markets
- TLTA's Town Hall Lunches Continue Across the State
- Next Gen: Title Industry Leadership Today, Tomorrow and Beyond
- TLTA Board of Directors Gather at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs for Orientation and Planning Meeting
- Howeth Title Company Celebrating 150th Anniversary
- Dustin Gaskey Joins Thomas Title and Escrow as COO
- Bob Grubb Named Vice-Chairman of Holding Company for Alliant National Title Insurance, David Sinclair Takes Over as President
- Texan Title Insurance Announces New Underwriting Counsel
- In Memoriam: Lloyd C. Martin
- A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
- Upcoming Webinars
Real Estate Is Changing in 2020…Are You?
Marvin Stone – SVP, Industry Relations,Stewart Title, and Chair, TLTA Digital Closing Task Force | Oct. 18, 2019
As a title agent, you may not feel a close connection to the fast-paced world of venture capital—but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. The fact is, record levels of venture capital have been pouring into real estate technology, or “realtech,” startups for the last couple of years. Every day, new players appear with the dream and the team to enhance or disrupt the real estate industry. Not to be outdone, many real estate and mortgage industry giants have launched their own game-changing innovation programs to protect their turf. How does all of this affect you, the title agent?
Here are some top trends to watch in 2020 and beyond:
iBuyers – Instant Buyers launched in 2014 and have brought a new look to the old “guaranteed sale” programs of the past. Homeowners who want to sell quickly without fixing, staging, and showing now have many iBuyer companies to choose from. Some iBuyers have over $1b in venture funding to foster innovation ranging from AI-powered market analytics to seamless app-based property showings that automatically unlock doors, turn on lights, and activate cameras.
Bottomless Brokerages – Some large brokerage firms are funded by seemingly endless amounts of venture capital. While the publicly held brokerages are pressured to produce profits each quarter, the VC-funded startup brokerages typically have a long runway before profits are expected. With big bankrolls, they often look to add mortgage and title in order to control more aspects of the transaction—and the transaction dollar.
Read More »
How the Military Influences Texas Housing Markets
Real Estate Center at Texas A&M | Sept. 30, 2019
Texas has a large military community that comprises active-duty service members, reservists, national guardsmen, and veterans, among others. It has the third-largest count of permanently assigned military personnel in the nation, trailing only California and Virginia. The vast majority of personnel comes from the Army and the Air Force (Figure 1).
Several Texas military installations have had declines in military personnel. This decline has not necessarily meant bad news for the surrounding housing markets, though. In fact, some cities containing large military installations have done well in terms of home sales despite drops in military personnel.
One big reason for this is the workforce composition of the military installation itself. Data collected by the Comptroller group employees as either military or civilian. At one extreme, bases such as Fort Hood and Fort Bliss employ at least 80 percent of their personnel from active-duty service members while the remaining portion comes from civilians (Table 1). The split is nearly 50/50 for Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), while at the opposite extreme the Army depots in Corpus Christi and Texarkana are both nearly 100 percent staffed by civilians. As will be discussed later, the military has a significantly different buyer profile than the public.
Read More »
TLTA's Town Hall Lunches Continue Across the State
Coming together to strengthen and extend our industry's success has been the driving force behind our association since it was founded more than a 100 years ago. And, it all started with discussions just like the exchanges of ideas we're having with TLTA members all across the state.
Town Hall lunches featuring TLTA President Mike Savas, Leslie Midgley, and Aaron Day engaged in informal discussion with TLTA members about our association's ongoing work have been held in Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Waco and Tyler, and additional town halls are scheduled throughout the fall.
Leslie Midgley connects with Bryan-College Station Town Hall Lunch attendees Sept. 19; Mike Savas shares his vision for the year ahead during the town hall lunch in Corpus Christi Oct. 3
Mike Savas challenges attendees at the Waco Town Hall Lunch Oct. 15 to help identify and grow the next generation of industry leadership; Aaron Day recaps the 86th Legislative Session for participants during Tyler's Town Hall Lunch Oct. 16
Next Gen: Title Industry Leadership Today, Tomorrow and Beyond
Recently TLTA President Mike Savas challenged our industry to focus on identifying and growing the next generation of industry leaders. His charge is a renewal of commitments this industry made more than a decade ago to further crucial industry priorities, including enabling women in leadership roles and ensuring the sustainability of the industry’s continued prosperity.
Today we are proud to highlight one of the ‘Next Gen’ professionals who are stepping up to serve and lead our industry via the advancement of ideas and innovations that benefit consumers, our industry, and our state’s powerful real estate economy.
Leslie S. Johnson, who serves as Texas State Underwriting Counsel for WFG National Title Insurance Company, currently serves as Chair of TLTA’s Judiciary Committee, which is responsible for recommending to our board of directors TLTA's position on court decisions that could affect the defense of title companies and title agents. An alumnus of TLTA’s Alex H. Halff Leadership Academy in 2016, she also serves as a member of TLTA’s Legislative and Regulatory Committees, as well as the TLTAPAC Board of Trustees.
TLTA Board of Directors Gather at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs for Orientation and Planning Meeting
TLTA's board of directors met for an orientation and planning meeting at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs Sept. 23-24. The orientation included a review of board responsibilities, TLTA's tools and relationships, and the progress of ongoing projects. The group also held a strategic discussion of changes in the real estate and lending markets and how those may affect the title insurance business as well as the role technology innovations and generational changes will have on our business. These discussions will help TLTA’s leadership focus on initiatives to prepare TLTA members to succeed in this changing landscape.
Topics discussed during the TLTA Board Retreat included the changing face of our industry and challenges on the horizon
Howeth Title Company Celebrating 150th Anniversary
Howeth Title Company is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Five operators have run the business throughout the years, including current owners Phil and Ruth Adams, who have owned Howeth for 25 years.
Read More About the History of Howeth in This Article by the Gainesville Daily Register »
Dustin Gaskey Joins Thomas Title and Escrow as COO
Thomas Title & Escrow announces Dustin Gaskey as Chief Operating Officer. Dustin joins Thomas Title to take the lead on growth initiatives, strategic planning, sourcing and developing M&A opportunities, and helping to manage division market leaders. Mr. Gaskey will also play a significant role in the sales and marketing efforts at Thomas Title.
Read the Press Release »
Bob Grubb Named Vice-Chairman of Holding Company for Alliant National Title Insurance, David Sinclair Takes Over as President
Alliant National Title Insurance Co. announced today that Bob Grubb has been named the Vice-Chairman of Presidio ATC Holdco, LLC, and has passed on operational duties as President and CEO of Alliant National. Grubb will continue to be an integral part of the company as a member of the Alliant National Board of Directors and a shareholder.
Alliant National’s board has selected David Sinclair as President. Sinclair came to Alliant National in 2011 and has served as Alliant National’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer where he has been integral to the company’s operational and technological development.
Read the Press Release »
Texan Title Insurance Announces New Underwriting Counsel
Russell Sugg, EVP & COO of Texan Title Insurance Company, announced the addition of Mark Baldwin and Bruce Goldston as underwriters to the Texan Title Insurance team.
Mark Baldwin joins the team as Vice President, Underwriting Counsel and brings with him over 18 years of experience in the title insurance industry. Bruce Goldston, with over 20 years of experience in the title industry and over 40 years of experience as a lawyer, also joins the team as Vice President, Underwriting Counsel.
Read the Press Release »
In Memoriam: Lloyd C. Martin
We are saddened to report that long-time TLTA member Lloyd C. Martin died Sept. 24, 2019. Lloyd was a gifted title professional and attorney. He will be missed.
Read Lloyd's Obituary »
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
Agent Members
Lineage Title of Texas
Contact: Ryan Sheppard
6334 FM 2920, Ste. 210
Spring, TX 7739
281.203.8600
[email protected]
www.lineagetitle.com
Transact Title, LLC
Contact: Salima Umatiya
6117 Richmond Ave., Ste. 250
Houston, TX 77496
713.429.5436
[email protected]
www.transacttitle.com
Strike Title
Contact: Timothy Cameron
4800 Dexter Dr., Ste. 200
Plano, TX 75093
972.895.5001
[email protected]
www.striketitle.com
Alamo Title Company of North Texas
Contact: Brenda Baker
6225 N. State Hwy. 161, Ste. 150
Irving, TX 75038
972.953.4580
[email protected]
JetClosing of Texas, LLC
Contact: Asa Tsuki Fox
9600 Great Hills Trail, Ste. 150W
Austin, TX 78759
866.538.1000
[email protected]
www.jetclosing.com
Sol City Title LLC Dba Southern Plains Title
Contact: Sarah Blackburn
4902 Midkiff Rd., Ste. 201
Midland, TX 79702
432.558.8849
www.southernplainstitle.com
BCHH Title Of Texas, LLC
Contact: Sean Bello
6310 Lemon Ave., Ste. 250
Dallas, TX 75209
469.317.7866
[email protected]
www.bchhinc.com
Patten Title Holdings #1, LLC
Contact: Eric Fontanot
2500 West Loop S, Ste. 500
Houston, TX 77027
713.621.5808
[email protected]
www.pattentitle.com
Patten Title Holdings #2, LLC
Contact: Eric Fontanot
2815 West Lake Houston Pkwy., Ste. 106
Kingwood, TX 77339
832.747.4484
[email protected]
www.pattentitle.com
Patten Title Holdings #3, LLC
Contact: Eric Fontanot
106 Decker Dr., Ste. 330
Irving, TX 75062
469.202.8800
[email protected]
www.pattentitle.com
Patten Title Holdings #4, LLC
Contact: Lacey Warren
3801 N. Capital of Tx Hwy., Ste. J120
Austin, TX 78746
512.241.1818
[email protected]
www.pattentitle.com
Five Star Title, LLC
Contact: Karen Schaker
304 N. Austin St.
Seguin, TX 78155
830.303.5555
[email protected]
Priority Settlement Group of Texas, LLC
Contact: Markus Overheu
7600 Burnet Rd, Ste. 160
Austin, TX 78757
888.339.5183
[email protected]
www.prioritysettlementgroup.com
Ark Title Group of Texas, LLC
Contact: Lindsay Gordon
2121 N. Pearl St, Office 426-C
Dallas, TX 75201
980.219.7637
[email protected]
www.arktitletexas.com
Texas Partners Title, LLC
Contact: Laura Draxler
5700 Granite Pkwy., Ste. 180
Plano, TX 75024
972.334.9000
[email protected]
www.texaspartnerstitle.com
Championship Title
Contact: James L. Anderson, III
8000 Centre Park Dr., Ste. 220
Austin, TX 78754
512.982.6116
[email protected]
www.championshiptitle.com
Associate Members
Zapdesk, LLC
Contact: Venkatesh Hr
919 N. Market St., Ste. 1401
Wilmington, DE 19801
416.775.1919
[email protected]
www.zapdesk.com
Fifth Third Bank
Contact: Terry Valles
5400 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 825
Dallas, TX 75240
972.535.0989
[email protected]
www.53.com
GeoQuest Information Services, LLC
Contact: Wesley S. Hiatt
1714 Red Leaf Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78232
833.848.5389
[email protected]
www.geoquestinfo.com
ChatFortress
Contact: Benjamin Bressington
13580 Luxe Ave., Ste. 302
Bradenton, FL 34211
307.999.7755
[email protected]
www.chatfortress.com
Underwriter Members
Texan Title Insurance Company
Contact: Patrick Doyle
6710 Stewart Rd., Ste. 300
Galveston, TX 77551
409.744.9784
[email protected]
www.texantitle.com
Real Advantage Title Insurance Company
Contact: William D. Burding, Jr.
1551 N. Tustin Ave., Ste. 300
Santa Ana, CA 92705
714.558.2836
[email protected]
www.ratic.com
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