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The article reports on the re-emergence of contracts for deed whereby a home is sold by a private entity to a buyer that does not take out a real mortgage but instead contracts to buy the property in the U.S.

The article reports on the request by John O'Brien, register of deeds for the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds in Massachusetts, to the commonwealth's treasurer Steven Grossman to remove his department's funds out of Bank of America Corp. accounts in the U.S. It mentions that O'Brien protests of the bank's affiliation with MERSCorp Inc., which runs the Mortgage Electronic registry System. It also contends that MERS was listed as the mortgagee in public land records.

The article reports on a licensing policy created by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) for the use of its uniform title insurance policy forms in the U.S. Under the new policy, ALTA members will receive a free license to use the forms, while nonmembers will be required to pay a 195 dollar licensing fee yearly. An ALTA spokesman also says that the association must spread the cost to all form users and beneficiaries to improve and adapt the forms addressing the marketplace needs.

The article reports on the temporary improvements driven by government policy. It notes that the American Land Title Association continues to show accelerating losses, but the Washington based trade group said it feels the industry remains in a strong financial position. However, Dominion Bond Rating Service (DBRS) states that there will be more significant mark-to-market adjustments on security portfolios as earnings for the fourth quarter of 2008 roll in.

The article announces that title insurance sales people is required to be registered under a new state law in California. The new law defines a title marketing representative as a person employed by a title insurer, underwriter title company or controlled escrow company with the primary duty to market, offer, solicit, negotiate or sell title insurance. It notes that the competitive market in the state led to tile insurance that are below the national average.

The article announces the decertification of any version of the American Land Title Association's (ALTA) Loan and Owner's Policy form dated October 17, 1992 and endorsement forms that do not have an "-06" designation following the form name in Washington. The decertification had an effective date of June 17, 2007. However, the group noted that older forms may still be used in mortgage deals. ALTA added that the new forms have some major changes and improvements over 1992 forms.

The article presents information on an ongoing debate between the California Land Title Association and California insurance commissioner John Garamendi, who released a study stating that there is no competition for title insurance in California. Garamendi, who is running for lieutenant governor of California in the 2006 elections used this report to conclude that title insurance and escrow services are overpriced because there is no competition in the market. The study was also criticized by the Escrow Institute of California representing 742 independent escrow companies in the state.

This article presents information about the performance of the U.S. land title industry in the year 2004. Last year is considered to be the second best year ever for mortgage origination volume. It has turned out to be the same for the title industry, its second-best year in terms of revenue, the American Land Title Association has said. During 2004 there were a high level of refinancings and a strong market for both new and resale housing that drove both mortgage origination volume and the underwriting of new title insurance policies.

Reports on the increase of the gross revenue for the title industry, according to the American Land Title Association in the U.S.

Reports on the increase in insurance claims payment of American Land Title Association to compensate homeowners for losses they experienced under policies issued to them or to defend their titles from the claims of others.

Focuses on the land title insurance claims paid by the American Land Title Association. Criticisms against the title industry; Significance of title insurance to mortgage borrowers; Factors influencing title problems.

Reports on the call of the American Land Title Association to ban lenders from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from using alternative title insurance products in the U.S. Lawsuit filed by an insurance trade group against Radian Guaranty Co.; Questions on the accuracy of settlement sheets; Formation of a committee to study issues on alternative title insurance.

Reports on the American Land Title Association's (ALTA) lawsuit against Radian Guaranty for its alternative title insurance product. Efforts to stop Radian from offering Radian Lien Protection in California; Claim by ALTA that Radian Lien Protection is a form of title insurance, which Radian is not licensed to sell; Radian's claim that its product is a form of mortgage pool insurance that replaces a lender's title insurance.

Discusses reasons why title insurance is most likely the misunderstood part of the mortgage origination process. Ways in which title insurance helps lenders and borrowers avoid problems that might not have been obvious when the loan was originated; Policy developed by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) that it hopes consumers in the United States will find more fitting to their needs; Dispute between ALTA and mortgage insurance provider Radian Guaranty.

Reports on the American Land Title Association's (ALTA) development of a policy with expanded title insurance coverage. Lower-cost options for consumers to title insurance offered by non-title insurance firms such as Norwest and Radian Guaranty; ALTA executive vice president James Maher's comments on the difficulty of explaining to consumers why they need to acquire a borrower's title insurance policy.

Reports the charges filed by American Land Title Association against Radian Guaranty. Reason for filing the lawsuit; Violation of the title insurance policies; Response of Radian Guaranty.

Reports on the American Land Title Association's consideration of possible legal action against Radian Guaranty to stop the mortgage insurance firm from marketing an alternative title insurance product. Group's concern that Radian's alternative product is being represented as a title insurance product when it is really a form of a mortgage insurance; Lenders that are using the Radian Lien Protection.