Good News and A Few Green Shoots: Title insurance premiums increased 1.4 percent from a year ago during the third quarter 2009, the first year-over-year growth in more than three years, the American Land Title Association reported.
ALTA’s preliminary Third-Quarter Market Share Report showed the title insurance industry generating $2.51 billion in premiums during the quarter ending […]

The American Land Title Association (ALTA) testified Thursday, June 25, 2009 in Annapolis, Md., during a public hearing held by the Maryland Insurance Commission (MIC) to Study the Title Insurance Industry. 
Notably,  no community members voiced concern to the commission. More than 35 title insurance professionals listened to testimony from 10 individuals, including Justin Ailes, ALTA’s director of government affairs. […]

After cutting thousands of employees to stem losses in 2008, title insurers have finally seen a dramatic increase in business in recent months that’s largely driven by homeowners rushing to refinance loans to take advantage of low interest rates. This refinance-mania represents more than 40% of all policies written.
As business picks up, First American Corp. […]

We know about autos (and their troubled big three), but in real estate, we have our own big four (for now) title insurance underwriting companies — soon to be the big three. Read the breaking story at Inman News.
In fact, in 2007, the top four title insurers controlled 87 percent of the $14 billion U.S. […]

IT TOOK JUST 90 MINUTES FOR THE DAILY NEWS TO STEAL THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
In one of the biggest heists (pranks) in American history, the Daily News “stole” the $2 billion Empire State Building. Find out how.
The story is both hilarious and scary. Even more reason to value good and marketable title and […]

LandAmerica’s future is now, officially, in doubt (again). Going from bad to worse ….
11.26.08 >> Title insurer LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. said Wednesday it will file for bankruptcy protection, while competitor Fidelity National Financial Inc. said it will acquire three of LandAmerica’s subsidiaries.
The bankruptcy filing of LandAmerica’s holding company and subsidiary LandAmerica 1031 Exchange […]

The point is often is often raised that there is some value in eliminating title insurance. Kimberly Palmer, in her article in U.S. New and World Report today, makes clear that the answer to whether to opt out of title insurance is: DO NOT!
When attorney Mark Rutzick sold his home in Fairfax, Va., and bought a new […]

Here is yet another very significant indicia of the declining real estate market, as of April 2008, as reported by Inman News:
There has been a 28 percent decline in revenue which helped push title insurer LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. to a $24.2 million first-quarter loss, despite ongoing cost-cutting measures that include the elimination of the equivalent […]

The new buzzword in legal and banking circles these days is WORKOUT. So what exactly does that mean and how does it translate on a daily basis?
Well, given the trend toward more commercial defaults, here is a possible workout solution to consider. We at MarylandCommercialTitle are always trying to look at novel solutions to solving our […]

Things can go wrong and when they do, it’s not pretty. Securing proper endorsements on your title insurance policies requires a full review of all your options.
John Murray’s Blog provides a detailed look at how Limited Liability Company’s (LLC’s) — which have been adopted by all 50 States, the first coming into existence back in 1977 – […]