Rate has launched a pilot in which it will use automated analyses of loan data to determine whether certain refinances can be originated without a lender’s title insurance policy. Processing Content The EnTitled program, available in 23 states, appears to be in line with Fannie Mae’s test of insurance waivers. Refinance loans in the program […]
Rate may allow some refinance loans to skip title policies Read More »
Mortgage vendors are entering a new phase of consolidation as they respond to rising regulatory and cybersecurity pressures, according to a white paper released this week by investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey. Scale is also becoming a decisive advantage for companies that sell mortgage technology and services, a trend that follows a mergers-and-acquisition wave among
Mortgage vendors face consolidation as compliance costs rise Read More »
The title insurance business is reliant on mortgage application activity to drive its results. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s April forecast reported an over 100,000 decline in unit volume of mortgage originations between the fourth and first quarters, from 1.57 million to 1.46 million. Processing Content Still for the four largest title underwriting families, the first
Fidelity, First American, Stewart, Old Republic report 1Q results Read More »
First American Title Insurance Co. is suing a former agent to recover sums owed after her firm erroneously wired funds, claiming she changed her business’ name to evade more than $600,000 in penalties. Processing Content In a lawsuit filed in Eastern District Court of New York, First American accused Patricia Stein-Oliva, principal of Consumer Direct
Title agent accused of rebranding to evade fraud penalty Read More »
Compass International Holdings has appointed a longtime executive to lead its integrated services division. Cory Perkins will oversee the unit, which focuses on combining services such as title, escrow and other transaction support into a more unified platform. The appointment follows the planned retirement of Don Casey, who will remain involved with the business in
Compass International Holdings names president of integrated services Read More »
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is ramping up efforts to protect homeowners in creating the city’s first office focused solely on deed theft. Processing Content The Office of Deed Theft Prevention, which will be led by local attorney Peter White, will flag suspicious real estate filings, improve data sharing across agencies and conduct public
First deed theft office opened by NYC Mayor Mamdani Read More »
Real estate fraud has evolved rapidly, and professionals across the industry already recognize that today’s schemes are more complex and convincing than ever. What has changed most is the scale — driven by artificial intelligence (AI) that can generate realistic emails, cloned voices and even live deepfake video impersonations of buyers, sellers or agents. In
How fraud gets stopped in its tracks by real estate and title pros Read More »
Approximately one-third of states do not have any deed-fraud specific statutes covering residential property titles, a new quarterly ranking from EquityProtect noted. Processing Content The EquityProtect Property Protection Scorecard classifies the 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, into five tiers, ranging from major laws acted through minimal or no action. Seven states have
A third of states lack deed fraud laws, report finds Read More »
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 1,008,597 complaints of cyber-enabled crime in 2025, with reported losses surpassing $20.8 billion — a 26% increase from the previous year. Real estate fraud alone accounted for 12,368 complaints and $275.1 million in losses, showing a continued and growing threat for housing professionals and their clients. Business
FBI: Cybercrime losses topped $20.8B in 2025, real estate fraud hit $275M Read More »
FNF Family of Companies has hired nine experienced professionals across its New England agency operations during the first quarter of 2026, adding senior underwriting and sales capacity in Massachusetts and the broader region, according to an announcement earlier this week. The additions, announced by the company, are intended to strengthen underwriting support, agency relations and
FNF adds nine senior title and agency professionals across New England Read More »