February 2022
Top News
- In Memoriam: Larry Molinare, TLTA Past President
- TLTA Presents Award for Outstanding Stewardship of a Historic Courthouse
- State Sen. Bryan Hughes Presented Outstanding Legislator Award During TLTA Town Hall Event in Tyler
- TLTAPAC Team Continues Strengthening Relationships With Lawmakers Who Oversee Our Regulated Industry
- A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
Resources and Insights
- English-Spanish Glossary of 60 Most Common Real Estate Terms
Industry Career News
- First National Title Insurance Company Adds Ashton Smith as Newest State Agency Manager in the Southwest Region
- Old Republic Title Tech Companies Announce Leadership Changes
- ICYMI: TLTA Professional Certification Testing Available Online
Upcoming Educational Opportunities
- Early Bird Registration Rate for 2022 Land Title School of Texas Expires Tomorrow, Feb. 25
- Hotel and Event Registration for TLTA's Annual Conference and Business Meeting in Fort Worth Opens March 8
- Upcoming Webinars
In Memoriam: Larry Molinare, TLTA Past President
TLTA | Feb. 24, 2022
It is with great sadness we report that Larry Molinare, a past president of TLTA, passed away Feb. 17.
Larry was Executive Vice President of Stewart Title of Austin, and formerly served as Chairman of their board. He was an outstanding leader and stalwart supporter of TLTA throughout his entire career, and his contributions to this industry are countless and lasting.
Larry served on or chaired numerous TLTA committees over the years and served as Board President of TLTA from 1991-1992. In 1995, he was honored by his peers with TLTA’s highest honor—Title Person of the Year. In 2018, TLTA named Larry an Honorary Member for Sustained Meritorious Service. This prestigious honor has been awarded only a limited number of times to industry leaders who have provided exemplary service over many years. His first TLTA accolade was in 1981, when he was named Young Title Person of the Year.
Read Larry's obituary.
TLTA Presents Award for Outstanding Stewardship of a Historic Courthouse
TLTA | Feb. 24, 2022
During the Texas Historical Commission’s Real Places Conference earlier this month, TLTA's former president John Bruce and CEO Leslie Midgley presented an Award for Outstanding Stewardship of a Historic Courthouse to Lamar County Judge Brandon Bell and the county's facilities director, Kerry Washington.
The Texas Courthouse Stewardship Award Program recognizes counties that have established outstanding stewardship practices to maintain their courthouse in restored condition, and to provide a financial reward for their effort.
TLTA Board Member John Bruce, Lamar Co. Judge Brandon Bell, Lamar Co. Facilities Director Kerry Washington, and Leslie Midgley during presentation of the Texas Courthouse Stewardship Award Feb. 4.
The Texas Historic Courthouse Stewardship Program was formed by the Texas Historical Commission in 2006 with support from the Texas Land Title Association. The
popular program provides annual training to help county facility managers preserve historic courthouses restored through the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.
On Oct. 10, 2016, TLTA received the 2015 Texas Historical Commission Governor's Award for Historic Preservation for
our industry's continued support for the Texas Courthouse Stewardship Program.
State Sen. Bryan Hughes Presented Outstanding Legislator Award During TLTA Town Hall Event in Tyler
TLTA | Feb. 23, 2022
State Sen. Bryan Hughes was named a TLTA Outstanding Legislator following his good work as Chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee during the 87th Legislative Session. The Texas Legislature was in a special session during TLTA's annual conference and business meeting last year when we would have presented Sen. Hughes his award in person, and we were grateful for the opportunity to present him the award during this year's Town Hall Tour. You can read more about Sen. Hughes award in the
press release we issued last year.
TLTA staff Brandon Custer, TLTA President John Updegraff, Sen. Hughes, TLTA Board Member Erica Hallmark, TLTA staff Aaron Day and Leslie Midgley at presentation of Sen. Hughes' Outstanding Legislator Award in Tyler Feb. 1
TLTAPAC Team Continues Strengthening Relationships With Lawmakers Who Oversee Our Regulated Industry
TLTA | Feb. 24, 2022
The TLTA
PAC team remains busy during the legislative interim, working with our legislative allies to recognize good work done last session on behalf of our real estate marketplace, as well as preparing for legislative work ahead.
Recently, TLTA leadership visited the Rio Grande Valley, where they delivered a TLTA
PAC check to state Rep. Oscar Longoria.
TLTA staff Aaron Day, TLTA Board Member Paul Rodriguez, state Rep. Oscar Longoria, TLTA staff Leslie Midgley, TLTA President John Updegraff, and TLTA staff Kim Schoppert
Also this month,
Local Legislative Liaison Ken Whitlow attended an event for Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan to deliver a TLTA
PAC check to the speaker. And TLTA Board Member Erica Hallmark helped deliver a check to state Sen. Bryan Hughes (see story above).
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, which concluded last May. The next legislative session begins in January 2023.
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 2022 contribution, invest in your career by contributing to your TLTA
PAC now.
A Warm Welcome to Our Newest TLTA Members
AGENT MEMBERS
Aqu Title LLC
Contact: Srinivasa Gogineni
6100 Corporate Dr., Ste. 568
Houston, TX 77036
832.725.9893
[email protected]
www.aqutitle.com
True Title Partners RGV
Contact: Mary Lou Sosa
2167 South McColl Rd.
Edinburg, TX 78539
956.348.2677
[email protected]
Selene Title, LLC
Contact: Christy Tabor
405 State Hwy. 121 Bypass, Ste. A250
Lewisville, TX 75067
877.338.4853
[email protected]
www.selectitle.com
Aurum Title, LLC
Contact: Jacki Tobar
304 W. 12th St.
Dallas, TX 75208
214.306.8606
[email protected]
www.aurumtitle.com
Houston County Title, LLC
dba Currey Title
Contact: Annette Rainer
605 E. Goliad Ave.
Crockett, TX 75835
936.544.2461
[email protected]
Tower Title of Texas, LLC
Contact: Amy Watkins
8582 Katy Fwy., Ste. 160
Houston, TX 77024
281.888.0325
[email protected]
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
MAD Title Services, LLC
Contact: Jamie Deal
2136 CR 4101
New Boston, TX 75570
903.227.6602
[email protected]
Security Service Federal Credit Union
Contact: Elvia Bara
15000 IH 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78249
210.476.4952
[email protected]
Beesley & Albert, PLLC
Contact: Liz Albert
610 S. Abe, Ste. A
San Angelo, TX 76903
325.653.1356
[email protected]
Pena and Pena, PLLC
Contact: Lisa Pena
P.O. Box 701476
San Antonio, TX 78270
210.410.0180
[email protected]
English-Spanish Glossary of 60 Most Common Real Estate Terms
Texas Real Estate Research Center | Feb. 2, 2022
Help your clients who prefer Spanish understand real estate terms with the English-Spanish Real Estate Glossary. This resource from the Texas Real Estate Research Center translates and explains 787 real estate terms—you can also click a term to hear it spoken in Spanish.
It’s available as an e-book for $2.99. You can also access 60 of the most common terms for free on the center’s website.
First National Title Insurance Company Adds Ashton Smith as Newest State Agency Manager in the Southwest Region
First National Title Insurance Company (FNTI) announced the addition of
Ashton Smith to its Southwest agency team as state agency manager. Ashton is an industry
veteran having previously served in the title industry as an escrow and administrative
coordinator with a large title agency.
Read the Press Release »
Old Republic Title Tech Companies Announces Leadership Changes
Old Republic Title Tech Companies (OR Title Tech), part of the Old Republic Title Insurance Group, is being restructured. The software companies include: eRecording Partners Network (ePN), iMarc, Inc. (dba EClosing), Pavaso®, RamQuest Software, Inc. (RamQuest) and SMKT. The following announcements reflect leadership changes at OR Title Tech and its companies.
Read the Press Release »
ICYMI: TLTA Professional Certification Testing Available Online
Building your professional reputation takes a lifetime, but some accomplishments—like earning professional certification from TLTA—help you stand out from the crowd of hardworking, experienced title pros fighting for customers and success.
We are excited to announce that TLTA certification testing is now hosted exclusively online through remote proctoring, making it a safe and convenient way for candidates to test on their own schedule.
Learn More or Apply for Certification Today »
Early Bird Registration Rate for 2022 Land Title School of Texas Expires Tomorrow, Feb. 25
Are you a title professional looking for basic knowledge in the title industry or seeking cross-training in order to become a more valuable asset in the newer, leaner title industry? Perhaps you want to expand your skills and learn from industry experts. Well, this is the program for you!
Land Title School of Texas
April 4-6, 2022
AT&T Executive Conference Center, Austin
Early Bird Registration Rate Expires Tomorrow, Feb. 25
Register Now
The Land Title School of Texas is an in-depth, interactive and comprehensive title industry program condensed into just a few days, saving your company time and money. With more than 7,000 graduates, we're the gold standard in Texas title industry education!
Here are just a few of the program highlights:
Learn industry basics, including the process of a typical residential closing.
Classes include sessions on current procedures, rules, forms and laws affecting title insurance in Texas.
A School notebook containing all written materials.
Interactive testing will reinforce students' learning and retention.
Earn up to 20 hours toward applying for your TLTA professional certification exam.
Escrow and MCLE credit available (pending approval).
Hotel and Event Registration for TLTA's Annual Conference and Business Meeting in Fort Worth Opens March 8
Mark your calendar for TLTA's Annual Conference and Business Meeting, which will be held in Fort Worth this year June 13-15. Registration and hotel reservations will be available March 8. You can review the schedule-at-a-glance here.
Save the Date!
TLTA's Annual Conference and Business Meeting
June 13-15, 2022
Omni Fort Worth
Event and hotel registration open March 8!
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!