September 2021
- Can Home Title Thieves Steal Your House? No, They Can't
- Cyber Thieves Are Relentlessly Targeting Buyers in the Middle of Their Title Insurance and Escrow Process
- ICYMI: Governor Names Cassie Brown New TDI Commissioner
- TLTAPAC Team Continues Strengthening Relationships With Lawmaker Who Oversee Our Regulated Industry
- 2021 Institute Is on Its Way! Save Your Spot - Register Now!
- A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
- On-Demand Webinars
Rick Kahler: Can Home Title Thieves Steal Your House? No, They Can't
Waterton Public Opinion | Aug. 30, 2021
Home title theft.
This is a “threat” I only learned about from frantic radio commercials warning that your home can be stolen from you. They claim thieves can deed your property to themselves and then mortgage or even sell it without your knowledge. In fact, they may have done so already! You may have lost all your home equity! You’ll discover the fraud when you are evicted by a foreclosure or new owner!
Of course, after all these alarms, the ads offer a solution: buy their title theft insurance. They promise to shield your title, monitor it 24/7 and alert you when a fraudulent title transfer is filed. One company charges $79 a year for $1,000,000 of title theft insurance. It’s highly unlikely any such company will ever pay out a dime of insurance.
Read More »
Cyber Thieves Are Relentlessly Targeting Buyers in the Middle of Their Title Insurance and Escrow Process
National Mortgage Professional | Aug. 5, 2021
Fraud schemes come and go. Romance scams are hot right now. So beware of a new “love interest” who could trick you into falling for them when all they really want is your money.
But one ruse that has been particularly persistent is the wire transfer dodge in which cyber-criminals impersonate title firms in trying to steal mortgage payoffs. So much so that the Secret Service recently issued an advisory warning on a “drastic increase” in the scam. “We have seen a sharp increase in real estate wire fraud in recent months,” says Stephen Dougherty of the agency’s Cyber Investigation Division.
I first wrote about wire fraud about a half-dozen years ago in my nationally syndicated newspaper column when I heard the general counsel of the National Association of Realtors warn an audience to be alert to what was happening. Six years or so later and the subterfuge is still popular with the thieves who perpetrate it.
Read More »
More Cyber Security Resources Compiled by TLTA and Industry Experts »
ICYMI: Governor Names Cassie Brown New TDI Commissioner
Texas Land Title Association | Sept. 21, 2021
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Cassie Brown as insurance commissioner. She has served as the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commissioner since June 2018 and previously was TDI’s deputy commissioner for Regulatory Policy.
"We congratulate Commissioner Brown on her new appointment," said TLTA CEO and Executive Vice President Leslie Midgley. "We enjoyed working with the Commissioner in her former capacity at TDI, and we look forward to working with her in her new role."
Read Commissioner Brown's Bio »
TLTAPAC Team Continues Strengthening Relationships With Lawmakers Who Oversee Our Regulated Industry
Texas Land Title Association | Sept. 23, 2021
The Texas Legislature has been in and out of special sessions for weeks, and the third called special session of the 87th Texas Legislature started Monday, Sept. 20. The governor determines the issues on the special session call, and this special session he's directing legislators to address redistricting, as well as these other items included in the
governor's proclamation.
During the interims between legislative sessions, legislators are hosting fundraising events.
TLTAPAC Board of Trustees member Becky Cotton-Osmon attended a fundraiser for state Sen. Kelly Hancock in Fort Worth Sept. 17. As former chair of the Senate's Business and Commerce Committee, Sen. Hancock advanced legislation important to our industry, and he continues to be a good partner in the allied efforts to strengthen and protect our state's robust real estate marketplace.
In addition to presenting a TLTA
PAC contribution to Sen. Hancock, Becky had an opportunity to talk to Gov. Abbott and state Sen. Jane Nelson, chair of the Senate's Finance Committee.
State Sen. Kelly Hancock and TLTPAC Board of Trustees member Becky Cotton-Osmon
Our network of industry volunteers have been connecting with other legislators across the state, including Bob Brewer of Title Resources Guaranty Company, who on behalf of TLTA recently participated in a golf tournament for Sen. Dawn Buckingham – Bob's local state senator.
Bob Brewer participates in a golf tournament for state Sen. Dawn Buckingham
As reported in
TLTA's 2021 Legislative Report, our industry and our role in Texas' real estate marketplace were celebrated and supported by lawmakers during the 87th Regular Session that concluded in May.
Thank you to all our
TLTAPAC contributors. Your continued financial support equips us to protect and strengthen our successful title insurance system in Texas. If you haven't made your 2021 contribution, there's still time to
make your 2021 PAC contribution – invest in your career now.
2021 Institute Is on Its Way! Save Your Spot - Register Now!
Our 31st Annual Institute is on its way, live and in person, Dec. 9-10 in San Antonio.
Designed for real estate attorneys, agency owners and advanced closers, the annual Texas Land Title Institute brings top title professionals to the beautiful Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort for world-class training and networking.
Going strong for more than 30 years, Institute is the go-to educational resource for advanced title professionals working to master some of our industry's most complicated challenges. TLTA's Institute Committee, which is chaired by Roland Love, put together another stellar program for 2021. Here's a preview of topics to be covered at Institute this year that will help you stay ahead of changes in the legal landscape:
Legislative Changes to Your Practice
Deep Dive Into New Examination Issues
Gain an In-depth Understanding on Condominiums
More details are coming soon, so watch your email!
Continuing Education Credits
Attorneys - 14.0 hours MCLE, includes 3.0 Ethics (pending approval)
Title Agents and Escrow Officers - General Escrow and Escrow Ethics (hours TBD, pending approval)
Paralegals - 14.0 hours CLE (pending approval)
Real Estate Brokers - 9.0 hours MCE (pending approval)
2021 Texas Land Title Institute
Dec. 9-10, 2021
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort
San Antonio
Register Now to Secure Your Spot »
Book Your Hotel Room »
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
Agent Members
Southwestern Land and Title, LLC
Contact: Clay Guest
627 Mercury Ave.
Duncanville, TX 75137
469.758.5263
[email protected]
www.swlandtitle.com
Mutual Title LLC
Contact: Teresa Myers
2611 N. Belt Line Rd., Ste. 162
Sunnyvale, TX 75182
214.712.8151
[email protected]
www.mutualtitlecompany.com
Woodstone Title, LLC
Contact: Grant Wood
3100 Monticello, Ste. 980
Dallas, TX 75208
214.674.2981
[email protected]
Apirra Abstract & Title LLC
Contact: Kenisha Natividad
12 Truss Dr., Ste. 104
Boerne, TX 78006
830.368.0359
[email protected]
www.apirraabstract.com
Blue Goose Title, LLC
d/b/a Noteworthy Title
Contact: Sarah Blackburn
1885 Saint James Place, Ste. 770B
Houston, TX 77056
512.533.8044
[email protected]
Modus Title Texas LLC
Contact: Jackie Rivera
901 S. MoPac Expwy., Bldg. 4 Ste. 343
Austin, TX 78746
512.729.9297
[email protected]
www.modustitle.com
Associate Members
Keating Brown, PLLC
Contact: Jeremy Brown
2425 N. Central Expwy., Ste. 200
Richardson, TX 75248
214.390.7703
[email protected]
www.keatingbrown.com
In addition to the live webinars listed below, you have access to our library of more than
80 On-Demand webinars and videos covering the title industry topics you need to earn continuing education credits and stay ahead of the curve on the latest industry trends!