November 20, 2004
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2002 TEXAS TITLE INSURANCE BIENNIAL HEARING |
On October 29 the Commissioner of Insurance announced that several Rule Hearing agenda items will be republished with an
additional comment period in effect through December 8, 2003. These items were
published in the Texas Register on November 7, 2003. Just as a reminder, these
items have not yet been formally adopted, although it is anticipated they will
become effective January 1, 2004.
To view the
full Commissioner's Notice of Adoption and details on submitting comments, click
here. In addition, the Commissioner disapproved some agenda items that
were under consideration.
For a complete list of
disapproved items, click here.
The 2002 Texas Title Insurance Biennial Rate Hearing will be held December 15 – 17, 2003
and is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in Room 100 of the William B.
Hobby Jr. State Office Building, 333 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas. Click
here to review a complete list of agenda items to be considered at the rate
hearing.
For those who plan to attend, TLTA has reserved
a block of rooms at a special rate of $119 per night at the Stephen F. Austin
Inter-Continental Hotel located at 701 Congress Ave. To make a reservation,
please call the hotel directly at 512.457.8800 and identify yourself as being
with Texas Land Title Association. The deadline for receiving the group rate is
December 1, 2003.
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NEW TLTA BOARD MEMBER ELECTED TO FILL VACANCIES |
Our new Board members are
Albert F. Jackson, III and Timothy J. Redding. Jack
is President and CEO of Title Resources Guaranty Company in Dallas and Tim serves as General Counsel
for First American Title Insurance Company in Houston. We would like to welcome these new members to the
Board of Directors.
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TTIGA REINSTATES GUARANTY FEE |
The Texas Title Insurance Guaranty Association has announced that effective January 1, 2004 title agents and direct operations will again be required to collect a Guaranty Fee of $1.00 per owner or mortgagee title policy reported on quarterly statistical reports. Click here for more information on the specific requirements regarding payment of this fee and a sample remittance form.
The statutory authority for the Guaranty Fund can be found in Article 9.48 of The Insurance Code. (Click here to view Article 9.48.) Section 6.(c) specifically refers to how funds derived from guaranty fees can be used. In addition to covering claims, funds are used to pay for audit expenses, providing a benefit to consumers by insuring the enforcement of state regulations governing title insurance. Questions should be directed to Burnie Burner at TTIGA, 512.474.1587 or bburner@longburner.com.
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2002-2003 TLTA FINANCIAL AUDIT COMPLETED |
The 2002-2003 TLTA Financial
Audit was recently completed with excellent results. We continue to make great
progress in reducing expenses and improving TLTA's overall financial position.
We are committed to maintaining the financial discipline that will enable
continual improvement of services, benefits, and advocacy for all members. If
you would like a copy of the audit, it is available through the TLTA office by
contacting Leslie Midgley.
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INDUSTRY NEWS |
U.S. Job Market in
Jeopardy
reprinted
with permission by The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University
College Station
– Jobs are leaving the
“When jobs disappear, industrial, retail and
office buildings go dark,” says Dr. Mark Dotzour, chief economist for the
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NEW MEMBERS |
Please join us as we welcome the following new members to TLTA:
| ACTIVE MEMBERS | ASSOCIATE MEMBERS |
American Home Title Company, LLC Roland Pelt, President 17440 N. Dallas Pkwy, Suite 110 Dallas, TX 75287 County: Collin Phone: 972.380.0599 Fax: 972.380.6215 email: rpelt@ah-title.com BLC Abstract & Title LLC dba Ellyson Abstract Mary G. James, Manager 410 North 5th Street P. O. Box 418 Alpine, TX 79831 County: Brewster, Jeff Davis, Presidio Phone: 432.837.5801 Fax: 432.837.1830 email: mary@ellysonabstract.com Imtiaz H. Shah Dba Counselor's Title Company Aanisah Nelson, Office Manager 6232 Hwy 146 P. O. Box 2281 Baytown, TX 77520 County: Chambers Phone: 281.630.6545 Fax: 281.428.2384 email: ihs987@hotmail.com Lone Star Title Company of Cass County Michael W. Flowers, Owner 1212 S. Main P. O. Box 1050 Linden, TX 75563 County: Cass Phone: 903.756.3375 Fax: 903.756.3377 email: lonestartitle@txk.net Mission Title, LP Gregory M. Lyssy, President 114 West Glenview, Suite 300 San Antonio, TX 78228 County: Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe Phone: 210.734.3500 Fax: 210.734.3507 email: gmlyssy@aol.com website: www.missiontitle.com National Closing Solutions, Inc. Steve Black, President-Texas Division 12808 W. Airport Blvd., Suite 300 Sugar Land, TX 77478 County: Fort Bend, Harris Phone: 281.207.0330 Fax: 281.207.0331 email: sblack@ncslenders.com website: www.nationalclosingsolutions.com Southern American Title Company Albert E. Butler, President 1455 West Loop South, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77027 County: Harris Phone: 713.335.8500 Fax: 832.242.0653 website: www.satitle.com |
American Research Service Tracy Short, President 1600 Hutchinson Dr. Mesquite, TX 75150 County: Dallas Phone: 972.613.8695 Fax: 972.613.1265 email: americanresearchservice@comcast.net Carroll, Pratt & Jones, P.C. Darryl V. Pratt, Shareholder 2595 Dallas Parkway, Suite 105 Frisco, TX 75034 County: Collin Phone: 972.712.1515 Fax: 972.712.2832 email: dpratt@cpjlaw.com website: www.cpjlaw.com Community Bank & Trust Lori Falk, Sr. Vice President Mortgage Banking 3535 Calder Ave., Suite 200 Beaumont, TX 77706 County: Jefferson Phone: 409.981.7099 Fax: 409.981.7086 email: lfalk@cbtmail.net website: www.communitybankssb.net GE Mortgage Insurance Natalie Cooper, Account Executive 16479 Dallas Parkway, Suite 220 Addison, TX 75001 County: Dallas Phone: 972.897.7744 Fax: 972.930.8058 email: Natalie.cooper@ge.com Richard M. Kilgore, Attorney & Counselor Richard M. Kilgore, Attorney 104 South Village Center Drive Southlake, TX 76092 County: Tarrant Phone: 817.310.0987 Fax: 817.310.0999 email: kilgorelaw@charter.net Micro Integration David A. Patterson, President 2901 Wilcrest, Suite 155 3350A Hwy 6, Suite 567 Sugar Land, TX 77478 County: Fort Bend Phone: 713.785.4596 Fax: 713.785.2276 email: davep@microint.com website: www.microint.com Porter & Sheffield, PLLC Stephanie Porter, Attorney 12758 Cimarron Path, Suite 102 San Antonio, TX 78249 County: Bexar Phone: 210.561.2525 Fax: 210.561.2955 email: pspllc@texas.net Security Holdings, Inc. Ross K. Smith, President 5995 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 215 Greenwood Village, CO 80111-4710 Phone: 303.889.8100 Fax: 303.773.8205 email: mrucker@stgco.com website: www.stgco.com SOURCECORP Rick Hightower, Regional Business Consultant 7231 Baker Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76118 County: Tarrant Phone: 817.589.2661 Fax: 817.284.0315 email: rickhightower@srcp.com website: www.srcp.com Tracy Waddell, Attorney at Law Tracy L. Waddell, Attorney 1203 Ira E. Woods Ave. Grapevine, TX 76051 County: Tarrant Phone: 817.421.4933 Fax: 817.488.4138 email: twaddell@landam.com Wells Fargo Bank Texas, NA Barbara Fox, Vice President 111 Congress Ave., 3rd Floor (78701) MAC T5215-030, P. O. Box 2019 Austin, TX 78768-2019 County: Travis Phone: 512.344.7382 Fax: 512.344.7347 email: Barbara.e.fox@wellsfargo.com website: www.wellsfargo.com/com/biz |
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INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN - REACHING OUT TO ALL IN OUR INDUSTRY |
The response to the TLTA Individual Membership program has been very positive. As of November 19 we have 175 Individual Members. The message we hope to communicate is simple: Each person who joins our association is one more title professional who can represent our industry. By joining as an individual member, your employees can get more involved in their profession and in TLTA. For more information click here http://www.tlta.com/about/indmemberprizepromo.asp.
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THE TLTA GREENSHEET |
Looking for the best method to reach other title industry professionals? Whether
you are advertising for a job opening, selling your business, equipment or service, the
TLTA GREENSHEET
is your answer. Click
here for the latest GREENSHEET classified ads, your on-line link
to title industry related employment and business opportunities in Texas.
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PUBLICATIONS |
|
CEUs and LEARNING, TOO |
TLTA
seminars are continuing to draw great participation levels from all over the
state. The Advanced Closing Seminar
held November 13 in Irving was no exception, with 136 attendees and the Land
Title Institute is nearing 400 participants. Kudos to our TLTA Education
committee and staff who have worked hard to develop innovative and timely topics
for you and your co-workers.
Upcoming on TLTA's Calendar:
Texas Land Title Institute Hyatt
Hill Country Resort, December 4 and 5
Houston Regional Seminar Doubletree at Post Oak, January 13 and 14
Abstract & Examining Workshop Doubletree at Post Oak Hotel Houston,
January 15
Abstract & Examining Workshop
Don't
miss the great line-up of programs TLTA is offering this year- and earn CEUs at
the same time!
For more information about
any of these seminars, or to view the 2003-2004 TLTA education calendar, click
here.
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JANUARY BOARD MEETING |
Your TLTA Board of Directors will meet on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 14, 2004 in Houston at the Doubletree Hotel Post Oak. We encourage you to get involved in your association by attending board meetings. A preliminary agenda is available approximately two weeks prior to the meeting and can be obtained by calling Leslie at the TLTA office at 800.472.1711.
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WE'RE
LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD M0VERS AND SHAKERS |
Sadly, we don't have anything to report in this section of Downdate this month. We know you're out there, and we know you're doing great things! Please send your employee and business news to kathy@tlta.com. We want to let everyone know about your accomplishments and endeavors.
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SEND US
YOUR FEEDBACK – AND YOUR IDEAS |
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love to hear your comments about DOWNDATE. Please send your feedback or article
for