#title-insurance

#title-insurance

Consumers should be aware AOLs are being offered as substitutes for title insurance but they do not, and legally cannot, offer the same protection as title insurance, the letter states. The gap in coverage may leave consumers without protection that they believe they purchased. White states that as long as the AOL does not offer consumers coverage that meets the definition of insurance as outline in the Code of Virginia, it is not subject to his Bureau's regulation.

Tara brings a powerful combination of industry expertise, strategic vision, and customer focus, Sally Tyler, the president of First American Title, said in a statement. She's ideally suited to drive strategic growth planning across the enterprise and accelerate our multi-brand strategy. Smith is not a newcomer to First American, having joined the firm in 2024, serving as a direct title group executive. Prior to this, she served as group president at Stewart Title, leading its title agency group.

According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) report, cyber-enabled crime and fraud resulted in losses of $174 million in the real estate sector during 2024. Seller impersonation fraud, where criminals forge deeds to illegally sell someone else's property, have increased, with 28% of title insurance companies experiencing at least one attempt in 2023. These crimes can derail lives, drain savings, and force families into costly legal battles simply to defend what's already theirs.

By surfacing title decisions early, lenders can identify potential issues sooner by speeding up approvals, reducing fallouts, and minimizing manual work. The Upfront Title configuration allows lenders to apply title insurance rates that save borrowers 40% to 70% compared to traditional rates.

Fidelity National Financial has a long history of working with the GSEs and FHFA in protecting homeownership and property rights. We look forward to collaborating with the GSEs and FHFA on innovative title insurance solutions.

"Over the last 10 to 15 years, the IDFPR's willingness to engage and take on some of these bad actors has dissipated to the point where they literally do nothing."

While title insurance offers some level of protection, it often does not cover post-closing fraud, prompting the need for enhanced monitoring solutions.