September 13, 2023
In This Issue:
- UPDATED: New Laws Took Effect Sept. 1 That Could Impact Our Industry, Your Business
- Check Washing Makes a Comeback
- Texas Small Rural Land
UPDATED: New Laws Took Effect Sept. 1 That Could Impact Our Industry, Your Business
TLTA | Sept. 14, 2023
Earlier this year the Texas Legislature passed nearly 800 bills that took effect Sept. 1.
To learn more about new laws that could impact our industry and your business, here are resources developed by TLTA's Advocacy Team:
TLTA's 88th Session Results Report includes bills passed this session that are relevant to our industry, some of which took effect on Sept. 1, including the following:
- Trust as Grantee Clarification SB 801
- PID Transparency SB 1916
- Pretended Sale Exception on Certain Rural Homesteads HB 207
- Release of Lien HB 219
- Insurer Electronic Communications HB 1040
- Electronic Audit Filing HB 1901
An additional statutory change that could impact you is
SB 869 which repeals the statute of limitations for Child Support Liens and allows for the renewal of previously expired liens which would have priority on the basis of the date the renewed lien notice is filed. (See Sections 9, 11 & 16 of the bill)
On-Demand Webinar: New Laws That Could Impact Title Industry
For a more comprehensive review of new laws that took effect Sept. 1 and other bills passed this year you should be aware of, the following webinar is available in TLTA's Online Learning Center:
2023 Texas Legislative Session: New Laws That Could Impact Title Industry.
Have questions about new laws effective Sept. 1 that could impact our industry?
Send us a note – we're happy to help.
TLTA Editor's Note: Please note the new paragraph above on SB 869, an addition made after this article was first run in Dateline last week.
Also, ICYMI, new Seller's Disclosure Notice is in effect as of Sept. 1 as directed by passage of HB 697. Click here to learn more.
Check Washing Makes a Comeback
Consumers' Checkbook | March 16, 2023
When Lawrence Brandon of Philadelphia looked at his November bank statement, he couldn’t believe what he saw: The $57 check he’d mailed to his health insurance company a few weeks earlier had been cashed for $4,950.
Read More »
TLTA Editor's Note: This subject will be covered as part of our upcoming live webinar: Mortgage payoffs: The top fraud threat facing title agencies today.
TLTA member companies have been combatting rapid growth in fraud in recent years. Seller impersonation, vacant lot fraud, buyer cash to close scams, you name it. While it hasn’t grabbed the news headlines as frequently, mortgage payoff fraud requires a lot more awareness and attention within the title industry. To learn more, register now for our live webinar Oct. 18.
New Live Webinar Oct. 18
Mortgage payoffs: The top fraud threat facing title agencies today
Texas Small Rural Land
Texas A&M Real Estate Research Center | Sept. 7, 2023
Since 1966, the Texas Real Estate Research Center has collected a large sample of rural land sales data from across Texas. The reported transactions include a mixture of land uses including but not limited to farming, ranching, wildlife management, recreation, and mineral extraction. Most of the Center's reporting has intentionally excluded the smallest group by size to focus on large land sales.
This report starts with a look at the combined data set (all rural land sales of at least ten acres and less than $30,000 per acre in sales price). It then looks at the differences between the small tracts (bottom 20 percent) and the large tracts (upper 80 percent) by median size and price per acre. This shows that the markets for small tracts and large tracts are quite different, particularly when it comes to price per acre. The remainder and bulk of this report delves into the small rural land sales characteristics statewide and by region.
Read More »