Author: Emily Rice
What is FinCEN and Why Does the Title Company Care About It?
By Karen Burnett, Senior Vice President, Escrow Manager FinCEN is part of the US Department of the Treasury that was created to help identify how some cash funds were being […]
Read More of What is FinCEN and Why Does the Title Company Care About It? >>How Does Your Title Company Protect You and Your Clients from Cyber Threats and Fraud? Independence Title Uses CertifID
By Kara McGregor, Independence Title’s Sr. VP of Branding and Public Relations Real Estate transactions are a rich target for fraudsters and cyber criminals, with valuable assets and staggering amounts […]
Read More of How Does Your Title Company Protect You and Your Clients from Cyber Threats and Fraud? Independence Title Uses CertifID >>The Changing Real Estate Market: What You Need to Know
by Mark Sprague, Independence Title’s Director of Information Capital The real estate market is changing. For the last 10+ years, lending rates have been artificially low. That, in turn, with […]
Read More of The Changing Real Estate Market: What You Need to Know >>Brokers Have Some Decisions to Make … FAST …
by Kara McGregor, Senior Vice President; Roland Love, Attorney and Vice President; and Kaema Roberson, Vice President of Education June 24, 2024 – As the legal landscape on agent commissions […]
Read More of Brokers Have Some Decisions to Make … FAST … >>Economic Update
by Mark Sprague, Independence Title’s Director of Information Capital DATELINE: May 3, 2024 The Federal Reserve will likely maintain higher interest rates for an extended period due to firmer-than-expected inflation […]
Read More of Economic Update >>Asking the Right Questions About the National Press on Austin
Per the Wall Street Journal: “Once America’s Hottest Housing Market, Austin is Running in Reverse” Rebuttal from Mark Sprague, Director of Information Capital, Independence Title The proposition by the media: […]
Read More of Asking the Right Questions About the National Press on Austin >>Unlocking the Power of Customer Reviews for Business Excellence
By Emily Rice, Social Media Manager In the dynamic business landscape, leveraging customer reviews is a game-changer for enhancing credibility, fostering trust, and garnering referrals from potential clients. These authentic […]
Read More of Unlocking the Power of Customer Reviews for Business Excellence >>But wait, about rates, you said …
by Mark Sprague, Independence Title Director of Information Capital First, my apologies for not anticipating the Fed’s reversing direction after two years of raising rates to pivot and talk about […]
Read More of But wait, about rates, you said … >>Your Real Estate Business and Upcoming CTA Deadlines
Compliance update for the 2023 year-end and the 2024 new year By Roland Love, Independence Title Vice President, Attorney, and Educator The Corporate Transparency Act, which goes into effect in […]
Read More of Your Real Estate Business and Upcoming CTA Deadlines >>Some Texas counties subject to special reporting requirements by FinCEN
by Kara McGregor, Senior Vice President, Independence Title Beginning on November 21, 2023, Travis County will join Bexar, Dallas, Harris, Montgomery, Tarrant and Webb counties as part of the geographic […]
Read More of Some Texas counties subject to special reporting requirements by FinCEN >>Has the Residential Real Estate Market Changed? Market Update with Mark Sprague
By Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital A question Realtors, economists, real estate analysts, and more have been getting for the past 18+ months: Has the residential real estate market changed? For […]
Read More of Has the Residential Real Estate Market Changed? Market Update with Mark Sprague >>Rates Up or Down? Market Update with Mark Sprague
By Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital Yes, inflation is coming down somewhat, increasing hope that interest rate hikes will pause and go down. Yes, the FDIC-driven sales of mortgage-backed securities prompted […]
Read More of Rates Up or Down? Market Update with Mark Sprague >>Facebook Real Estate Listing Update!
By Shanahan Ramos, Curriculum Lead & Education Specialist YES, you can still promote your Listings on your Facebook Business Page even after January 30, 2023, but here is everything you need […]
Read More of Facebook Real Estate Listing Update! >>Market Update with Mark Sprague
By Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital The Federal Reserve Bank’s policy-making committee (FOMC) raised rates this week (at the November 1-2 meeting) by .75% and kept a hawkish tone given the […]
Read More of Market Update with Mark Sprague >>Property Tax Time in Texas – Tax Prorations
By Karen Burnett, Senior Vice President, Escrow Manager Property tax time comes around October 1 of each year. That is the date that the county tax assessors are supposed to […]
Read More of Property Tax Time in Texas – Tax Prorations >>How the Federal Reserve Impacts Mortgage Rates
Compiled by Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital The other day was the Federal Reserve meeting; their decision was another 75-basis point / ¾ point rate hike. Mortgage rates have surged […]
Read More of How the Federal Reserve Impacts Mortgage Rates >>TREC Wants Your Input!
By Kaema Roberson, VP – Director of Education Get involved! Comment on the proposed TREC form revisions by September 26th. Currently, the proposed forms are out for public comment, and […]
Read More of TREC Wants Your Input! >>Wire Fraud – Is It Still a Thing?
By Karen Burnett, Senior Vice President, Escrow Manager Yes, it is! Stealing has been part of human history since the beginning of time and as we have evolved, so have […]
Read More of Wire Fraud – Is It Still a Thing? >>The Long-Awaited Slowdown In the Pace of Economic Activity Nationally is Here, or Is It?
By Mark Sprague, State Director of Information Capital Jobs nationally and locally continue to be created at a robust pace. (Job openings are twice the number of people out of work nationally and […]
Read More of The Long-Awaited Slowdown In the Pace of Economic Activity Nationally is Here, or Is It? >>Tax Time in Texas – Homestead Exemption Q&A with Roland Love
By Roland Love, Vice President, Business Alliances & Field Operations Our recent note regarding the legislative change generally allowing a person to claim a homestead exemption anytime during the year […]
Read More of Tax Time in Texas – Homestead Exemption Q&A with Roland Love >>