May 6, 2020

In This Issue:

  • CORRECTED: TDI Accommodations for Financial and Licensing Filings Further Extended to May 31
  • ICYMI: Webinar on Temporary Use of Remote Ink-Signed Notarizations (RIN) Available On-Demand
  • MISMO Issues ALTA-Supported Uniform Closing Instructions
  • Businesses Continue to Apply for PPP Loans
  • TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist
  • Cyber-Attacks on Mortgage Professionals on the Rise During COVID-19

CORRECTED: TDI Accommodations for Financial and Licensing Filings Further Extended to May 31

TLTA | May 5, 2020
CORRECTED: When Dateline was distributed earlier today, the email address included with the title agent / escrow officer information below was incorrect. If you have questions about the extension of special licensing-related filing accommodations, this is the email address to which those inquiries should be directed, please: [email protected]
 
TDI recently updated their modified filings chart with deadline extensions attributable to COVID-19.
 
On Friday, May 1, TDI announced that the window of time during which the financial and licensing filings identified in the modified filings chart could be submitted without sworn statements, affidavits and notarization was further extended from April 30 to May 31.
 
Title Agent / Escrow Officer: Annual Audit of Trust Fund Accounts, Licensing Forms
Review the filings that can be submitted without sworn statements, affidavits and notarizations. If you have questions about title agent and escrow officer licensing filings, please email [email protected].

Corporate and Financial Filing
 Review the filings that can be submitted without sworn statements, affidavits and notarizations. If you have questions about financial filing requirements, please email [email protected].
 
 

ICYMI: Webinar on Temporary Use of Remote Ink-Signed Notarizations (RIN) Available On-Demand

TLTA | May 5, 2020
Remote Ink-Signed Notarizations (RIN) were approved last week by Gov. Abbott for temporary use under COVID-19 public health protocols. A record-setting 730 registrants participated in Remote Witnessing of Wet Signature Notarizations, a complimentary webinar presented by TLTA President-Elect John Bruce that walks through the steps of RIN and the prescribed procedures for staying compliant. 
 
If you don't need CE but you want to learn about RIN, you can watch a free recording of this webinar here. 
 
To earn escrow credit for this course, register for the complimentary on-demand version.
 
At TLTA's request, Gov. Abbott announced emergency executive action temporarily suspending traditional notary regulations to allow for Remote Ink-Signed Notarizations (RIN) under COVID-19 public health protocols.
 
Under RIN, a "wet signature" is still used, but the signature is witnessed by a notary via video and audio channels, and the notary seal is affixed at a later time. This temporary suspension of state notary statute is effective immediately and will be in effect until the earlier of May 30, 2020, or termination of the state's current coronavirus-related disaster declaration.
 
Learn more about the temporary use of RIN under COVID-19 public health protocols.
 
 

MISMO Issues ALTA-Supported Uniform Closing Instructions

ALTA | May 5, 2020
For the past few years, ALTA and the Mortgage Bankers Association have been working with the Mortgage Industry’s Standards Maintenance Organization (MISMO) to create uniform closing instructions.

Due to this collaborative effort, the title and mortgage industries now have standardized templates. On May 4, MISMO released uniform closing instructions, which provide common formatting within the templates to ensure that information pertinent to the closing can be found in the same place in the instructions—regardless of the lender.

The templates were developed with input from many sectors of the mortgage ecosystem, including title and settlement services companies, escrow companies, national and regional lenders, LOS vendors and document preparation vendors. In 2017, ALTA formed its Closing Instruction Working Group to help develop the templates. The group is led by James Lamphere, vice president of title and escrow for HomeServices of America, and Kate Steineman, vice president and business liaison manager for Wells Fargo.
 
Read More »
Review the Closing Instructions Templates and Implementation Guide »

Businesses Continue to Apply for PPP Loans

CNBC | May 4, 2020
Small business owners lucky enough to obtain an emergency loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have an uphill battle ahead: navigating forgiveness.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has made 2.2 million loans to small businesses in the week since it’s reopened the emergency loan program.

Congress refilled the pot to the tune of $310 billion, and so far more than $175 billion in funding is already spoken for, according to a May 3 announcement from the SBA.

Review the Updated FAQs From SBA Released on May 3 »
Learn More About PPP »
 

TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist

Texas Department of Insurance | April 21, 2020
The Texas Department of Insurance has a job opening that might interest you or someone in your professional network. The agency is hiring a "Title Industry Specialist" with meaningful title insurance experience. 
 
Read TDI's Posting and Apply »
 
If you have questions, please contact TDI's David Muckerheide.
 

Cyber-Attacks on Mortgage Professionals on the Rise During COVID-19

Mortgage Professional America | April 29, 2020
When COVID-19 slammed into the U.S. like a meteor, one corner of life most reshaped by the resulting shockwaves is how we work. Millions of Americans are now working from home for the first time in their lives.

As critical as remote work has been to keeping countless businesses alive during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also proven to be a boon for cyber criminals, who are taking advantage of remote workers’ naiveté and distance from their secure office environments to unleash an unrelenting wave of phishing, email and even telephone scams.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, over 18,000 fraud reports have been made related to COVID-19 since January 1. Over $13 million has been lost to fraudsters.
 
Read More »
 
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ready to learn more about COVID-19 scams and how to protect yourself, your business and your clients? Register now for TLTA's live webinar, CYBER - Can You Be Entirely Ready? COVID Scams & Schemes, which will be presented live May 12 at 1:30 p.m. 

In addition to the live webinars listed below, you have access to our library of more than 80 On-Demand webinars and videos covering the title industry topics you need to earn continuing education credits and stay ahead of the curve on the latest industry trends!