2019

December 18, 2019

• Texas Supreme Court Grants Petition for Review in Chicago Title v. Cochran
• TREC Seeks Public Input on Recently Proposed Rules
• Are There 'No-Risk' Areas on Flood Maps?
• World’s Biggest Banks Paying $386 Million to Settle Allegations of Price-Fixing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Bonds
• U.S. Finally Giving Boot to Official Foot Measurement

December 10 2019

• TDI Proposes New Stat Codes for Recent Rate Rule Changes
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Rein in Risky Mortgages
• States of Housing: Does Texas Still Have the Edge?

December 4, 2019

• As Experienced Texas Congressmen Retire, Will the State's Sway in Congress Decline?
• HUD Looks to Eliminate Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing
• FHA Increases Rehab Loan Limits for Opportunity Zones
• CFPB Fall 2019 Agenda Released: Loan Originator Compensation Rule Changes, GSE Patch, PACE, and More
• Meet the Man Loosening Bank Regulation, One Detail at a Time
• ALTA Registry Grows to More than 8,000 Listings; Get Your Free Listing Today

November 26, 2019

• CFPB Requests Public Comment on Plan to Assess TRID Closing Disclosure Rule
• Governor Abbott Announces Runoff Election Dates
• Interim Charges for Texas House of Representatives Released
• TREC: November Meeting Includes Rule, Form Changes
• Fake Deeds Allegedly Filed From Prison to Steal North Texas Properties

November 20, 2019

• Cybercrime Booms as Scammers Hack Human Nature to Steal Billions
• Texas Bankers Submit Amicus Letter in Freddie Mac v. Zepeda
• TREC Names Chelsea Buchholtz Executive Director; First Female ED in Commission's History
• TWIA to Consider 5 Percent Rate Hike at Next Meeting
• J.D. Power: Consumers Less Satisfied With Mortgage Lenders; Too Much Technology May Be the Culprit

November 13, 2019

• Underwriters: TDI Proposes 2020 Maintenance Fees and Assessments
• TLTA Submits Amicus Letter in Case Before Supreme Court of Texas
• Governor Abbott Appoints Five Texans to Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council
• FinCEN Reissues Real Estate GTOs for 12 Metropolitan Areas, Including Bexar, Tarrant and Dallas Counties
• Texas Realtor Legal Q&A: Who Gets to Pick the Title Company That Will Issue the Owner Policy?

November 6, 2019

• ELECTION UPDATE: 9 of 10 Constitutional Amendments Approved; Special Elections for Texas House Headed to Run-offs
• How a New Rainfall Study Affects Texas Commercial Real Estate
• MISMO Releases ALTA-Supported Closing Instructions Templates
• TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist

October 30, 2019

• TDI Quarterly Audit Results Published
• Early Voting Ends Friday, Nov. 1. Election Day Is Nov. 5
• Opportunity Zone Tax Breaks Are Off To a Sluggish Start
• Calabria: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Will Increase Focus on Exiting Conservatorship
• TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist

October 23, 2019

• Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Won't Seek Reelection
• Supreme Court Will Hear Constitutional Challenge to Structure of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
• Early Voting in Texas’ Constitutional Amendment Election Started Monday; Here’s What Voters Will Decide
• TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist
• Calabria Says He’s Willing to Wipe Out Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Shareholders

October 16, 2019

• Secret Audio Recording of Texas House Speaker Released
• Kraninger to Deliver CFPB's Semi-Annual Report to House Financial Services, Senate Banking Committees This Week
• TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist
• CFPB Issues Final HMDA Rule
• FEMA Bought 44,000 Flood-Prone Homes. They May Have to Buy Millions More

October 9, 2019

• TLTA Submits Amicus Letter in Case Before Supreme Court of Texas
• TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist
• Mike Savas: Consumer-Friendly Title Insurance Proposals Adopted by Texas Department of Insurance
• New Real Estate-Related Laws You Should Know About
• Commentary: In Case Against Ocwen, a Sign of Turmoil to Come for CFPB
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Now Appear to Be Here to Stay. How Exactly Did That Happen?

October 2, 2019

• TLTA Submits Rule Proposals to TDI
• TDI Job Opening: Title Insurance Specialist
• U.S. House Approves Cannabis-Related Banking Legislation Designed to Give Certainty to Businesses Operating in States Where Marijuana Is Legal
• Treasury to Allow Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to Retain $45 Billion in Capital
• Appraisals Will No Longer Be Required on Certain Home Sales of $400,000 and Under

September 25, 2019

• TREC Amends Rules Related to Paying for Referrals of Business
• TLTA Hosts Grassroots Meet-and-Greet for Reps. Kacal and Raney in Bryan-College Station
• TREC Proposes Amendments to Continuing Education Rules
• Tarrant County Commissioners Court Increases Recording Fees
• Cyberattack on Corcoran Group Another Wake-Up Call to Industry
• VIDEO: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Won't Go to Market Until End of 2020, FHFA Director Says

September 18, 2019

• Senate Banking Committee Holds Hearing on Trump Administration’s Housing Finance Reform Plans
• ICYMI: New TDI Rules for All Texas Licensed Escrow Officers and Title Agents
• Calabria: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Won’t Privatize Until 2020’s End or Later
• Flood Insurance Extension Likely, But Reforms Elusive

September 11, 2019

• U.S. Treasury Department Releases Plan to Restructure Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Fidelity and Stewart Merger Terminated After FTC Complaint
• TLTA Co-Signs U.S. Chamber Letter Requesting Delayed Implementation of California Privacy Law

September 5, 2019

• Reporting Clarification: Stat Codes
• TDI: Fresh Look at Insurance Rules
• U.S. House Committee on Financial Services - Fall 2019 Priorities
• Outgoing Wire Preparation Checklist
• TDI: Going the Extra Mile to Improve Service
• Finance Commission of Texas: Residential Mortgage Loan Originators Regulated by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner

August 28, 2019

• Basic Manual Changes Effective Sept. 1
• More Legislative Changes Affecting Title Agents Effective Sept. 1
• Trump Administration to Release Plan for Fannie, Freddie After Labor Day
• Appraisals May Soon Not Be Required on Certain Home Sales of $400,000 and Under
• Moody’s Rates New FHA Condo Guidelines Credit Positive

August 21, 2019

• Sen. Brandon Creighton Honored With Outstanding Legislator Award
• Notice to Public and to All Interested Mortgage Lenders: Mortgage Credit Certificate Program
• HUD Officially Abandons New Rules for Down Payment Assistance on FHA Mortgages
• HUD Expands Section 220 Program to All Opportunity Zones

August 14, 2019

• SURVEY: How's It Going with RON?
• NAIC Issues Consumer Wire Fraud Alert
• Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Delaying Use of New Uniform Residential Loan Application
• Do I Really Need Flood Insurance?

August 7, 2019

• Congress Continues Wire Fraud Awareness Drumbeat
• CFPB Updates: TRID FAQs, Truth in Lending Annual Threshold Adjustments, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act Comment Period
• TLTA On-Demand Webinars Address TDI's New Rate Rule Changes and Title Agent Data Call
• TREC Releases Updated Seller's Disclosure Notice

July 31, 2019

• TLTA Digital Closing Resources Rolled Out
• TDI Quarterly Audit Results Published
• 6 Questions on the CFPB Plan to End Fannie and Freddie's 'Patch'
• Applications Now Being Accepted for TLTA's Leadership Academy

July 24, 2019

• TLTA Releases 2019 Legislative Report
• Congressman Cuellar Urges Secretary of the Treasury to Act on Wire Fraud Report Mandate
• TLTA Webinars Address TDI's New Rate Rule Changes and Title Agent Data Call
• ALTA Says Compliance Clarity Needed for Businesses Providing Services to Cannabis Industry
• Leslie Midgley and Aaron Day Provide Advocacy/Regulatory Update to FLTA

July 17, 2019

• TDI Issues Annual Title Agent Data Call
• Federal Reserve Responds to Wire Fraud Letter
• Trump Team Wary of Fannie-Freddie Fix Before 2020 Election
• Trade Groups Cast Doubt Over FHA's Attempt to Remove Lending Roadblocks

July 10, 2019

• TLTA Submits Amicus Letter in Case Before Texas Supreme Court
• ALTA Alert: Companies Should Take Steps to Protect Systems
• TDI Commissioner Kent Sullivan: 'Let’s Help People Complain'
• VA Loan Churning Is Driving Up Mortgage Costs for all Government Borrowers

July 3, 2019

• Financial Services Appropriations Bill Contains Report Language on Wire Fraud
• Coalition to Stop Real Estate Wire Fraud Launches to Protect Consumers From Growing Scam Targeting Homebuyers
• CFPB Reviews Defining Abusive Acts or Practices Under the Dodd-Frank Act

June 26, 2019

• Compliance Webinar: New Rate and Rate Rule Changes to the Basic Manual
• Texas Tops the U.S. for Real Estate Development Spending and Jobs
• Free Guide Outlines Legal Issues for Texas Landowners
• Push to Overhaul Fannie, Freddie Nudges Up Mortgage Costs

June 19, 2019

• Gov. Abbott Signs Last of TLTA's Legislative Priorities as 86th Legislative Session Officially Closes
• Democrats, Republicans Vote Unanimously to Pass Flood Insurance Reform
• Moody's: Increased Competition for Fannie, Freddie Would Be a Credit Negative
• SEC, FBI Reportedly Investigating Live Well Financial Collapse

June 14, 2019

• TDI Adopts Order for Rate and Rule Revisions
• Governor Signs Industry's Priority Bills
• Draft of Reorganized Basic Manual Published by TDI for Public Comment
• Following Industry's Advocacy, Texas Members of Congress Submit Letter to Fed Requesting Closer Examination of Wire Fraud, Development of Potential Solutions

June 5, 2019

• Texas Society of Professional Surveyors Updates Standards, Specifications for 1A, 1B Surveys
• TDI Commissioner Sullivan Offers Resources to Support Plain Language Initiative
• CFPB Video: How to Protect Yourself and Your Closing Funds From Mortgage Closing Scams
• New TILA-RESPA Factsheet From CFPB
• FHFA Merges GSE Issuance to Common Security in Bid to Cut Housing Costs for Millions

May 29, 2019

• Legislative Update: 100% of TLTA's Legislative Priorities Approved by Lawmakers
• TDI Rate Hearing Held in Austin May 23
• TREC Proposes New Rules for Settlement Service Providers
• First American Issues Statement Re: Their Ongoing Information Security Investigation
• Here Are 5 Things the CFPB Will Focus on in 2019
• Calabria: U.S. Government Could Stagger Fannie, Freddie Privatization

May 22, 2019

• Legislative Update: Final Week of the 86th Session
• TDI Rate Hearing in Austin Thursday
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Are Refinancing Fewer Mortgages Than at Any Point Since the Crisis
• Calabria: Ending the Net Worth Sweep Is Step One of GSE Reform, IPOs Are an Option
• Baltimore Property Market Resets, Using Manual Workaround to Avoid Hacked Computer Networks

May 15, 2019

• Legislative Update: Less than 2 Weeks Remain in the Texas Legislature's 86th Session
• TDI Rate Hearing In Austin Next Week
• TLTA Delegation Meets With Congressmen, Regulators and Staff During ALTA Advocacy Summit 2019
• CORRECTION: TDI Publishes Corrected Title Agent Experience Report for 2017
• FinCEN Reissues Real Estate Geographic Targeting Orders for Bexar, Tarrant and Dallas Counties
• ALTA Supports Anti-Money Laundering Bill
• CFPB Details Plan to Reconsider and Potentially Eliminate Existing Rules

May 8, 2019

• Legislative Update: TLTA Bills in Senate Business and Commerce Committee Tomorrow
• Sen. Cruz Reintroduces Bill to Eliminate CFPB
• New TREC Commissioners Confirmed: Welcome Barbara Russell and Jason Hartgraves
• Real Estate’s Latest Bid: Zillow Wants to Buy Your House

May 1, 2019

• Legislative Update: Priority Bills Advancing, Upcoming Deadlines, Final Month of Session
• TDI Publishes Title Agent Statistical Report for 2017
• TDI Quarterly Audit Results Published
• Compliance Reminder: Guaranty Fee Reinstated as of TODAY
• TLTA Welcomes ALTA's New Chief Executive Officer Diane Tomb
• New TREC Chair Appointed - Scott Kesner of El Paso
• ICYMI: FBI Releases Internet Crime Report

April 24, 2019

• Legislative Update: Priority Bills, Property Taxes, State Budget Conferees
• Compliance Reminder: Guaranty Fee Reinstated as of May 1
• Texas Realtors: What Date Goes on the T-47?
• ICYMI: Wells Fargo: Settlement Agent Communications
• A Kinder, Gentler CFPB? Bureau Announces New Enforcement Rules
• Calabria on GSEs: “A Path to End the Conservatorship”

April 18, 2019

• Legislative Update: Major News in the Years-Long Battle Over Re-Regulation in Texas
• Texas Senate Passes Property Tax Bill, Avoids 'Nuclear Option' Procedural Move
• VIDEO: Kraninger: 'The Next Phase for CFPB'
• Mark Calabria Takes Over as FHFA Director, Begins Push for Housing Finance Reform
• UBS Hires Jeb Hensarling

April 10, 2019

• Legislative Update: TLTA's Legislative Priorities Advancing as Planned and Objectionable Bills Remain Static
• Texas Senate Passes Two-Year Budget With Money for Property Tax Cuts — But No Plan for How to Spend It
• Commissioner Sullivan's Efforts to Modernize Technology at TDI Include Artificial Intelligence Pilot Project
• FTC: Comments on Proposed Amendments to Safeguards, Privacy Rules Due June 13
• Big Bank CEOs Are About to Face Angry Federal Lawmakers

April 3, 2019

• Legislative Update: Steve Streiff Testifies on Priority Legislation, State Budget Advances, Property Tax Relief, and More
• Property Tax Reform Bills Get a New Spark of Life in the Texas Legislature
• New TDI Reports Available Online Include Data on Agents, Underwriters and Licensed Title Professionals
• Why All Guarantors Must Serve a National Market
• Marijuana Banking Bill Approved By Congressional Committee

March 27, 2019

• Legislative Update: TTIGA Bill Advances, State Budget, Property Tax Relief, and More
• When Big Businesses Want to Fight Their Property Tax Bills, Texas Law Hands Them an Easy Way, Critics Say
• Fannie and Freddie Return to Senate Spotlight as Crapo Seeks Fix
• World’s Biggest Banks Accused of Price-Fixing Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Bonds
• What Housing Industry Marketers Need to Know About Facebook's Latest Moves

March 20, 2019

• Legislative Update: TTIGA Bill Has Hearing, Property Tax Reform Advances, State Budget Development Continues
• ALTA Advocacy: Congressional Hearing Highlights
• U.S. Consumer Bureau Under Fire in Congress Over Reduced Protection Activity
• Latest FHA Shift to Mitigate Risks May Shut Out Some Homebuyers

March 13, 2019

• TDI Sets May 23 Hearing Regarding TLTA's Rate Petition
• Legislative Update: TLTA's Legislative Priorities Filed, Bills We're Monitoring, Special Election Results
• New CFPB Director Kraninger Testifies Before Congress - Addresses Simultaneous Issue Disclosure Problem
• Licensing Update: New Title Licensing Rules, Basic Manual Changes as of March 7
• ICYMI: Positive Testimony About Texas' Title Insurance System During Recent Legislative Hearing

March 6, 2019

• Legislative Update: Rep. Muñoz Files Title Insurance Regulation Bill, RON Clarification Filed, School Finance Reform
• Texas Association of Realtors Hosting a Conversation With Texas Senate Committee Chairs March 7
• U.S. House Financial Services Committee to Hold Review Hearing of CFPB March 7 –Kraninger Included as Witness
• Real Estate Industry Groups Push 'Access and Affordability' in Letter on GSE Reform
• Frequent Cryptocurrency Theft Gives Rise to New Area of Insurance

February 27, 2019

• Legislative Update: Chairman of Senate B&C Files Title-Related Legislation, Bill Filing Deadline Looming
• Hear Positive Testimony About Texas' Title Insurance System During Recent Legislative Hearing
• U.S. Senate Banking Committee Approves Calabria as Head of FHFA
• U.S. House Financial Services Committee Announces March 7 Hearing on CFPB
• Fannie and Freddie Fist Fight Brewing Amid Trump Administration Infighting

February 20, 2019

• Legislative Update: Day at the Capitol, Our Legislative Agenda Continues to Advance
• TTIGA: Guaranty Fee Reinstated as of May 1
• Do You Have Questions About the Texas Real Estate Commission's Laws or Rules?
• 5 Questions Facing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2019
• Sen. Perdue (R-Georgia) Introduces Bill to Change CFPB's Funding Source

February 13, 2019

• Legislative Update: Bills We're Monitoring, Senate Property Tax Committee Advances Property Tax Reform Legislation, Special Election Results
• TLTA Volunteers Continue Assisting TDI's Plain Language Initiative
• National Association of Realtors Unveils GSE Reform Proposal
• Fannie, Freddie See Massive Increases in Trading in January
• Redfin, Zillow Now Buying Houses in Dallas, Houston

February 6, 2019

• Legislative Update: Governor's State of the State, Property Tax Reform, Day at the Capitol
• CFPB Update: FAQs on TRID Rule Published
• U.S. Sen. Crapo Shakes Up GSE Reform With Housing Finance Plan of His Own
• Lawmakers Need to Decide Nature of Texas Windstorm Insurer, Sunset Commission Says
• FHFA Names New Chief of Staff

January 30, 2019

• Legislative Update: Special Election Results, Day at the Capitol
• Guaranty Fee to Be Reinstated May 1, 2019
• TDI Quarterly Audit Results Published
• Why the Shutdown Was a Big Deal for Housing
• Five U.S. House Freshman to Watch on Housing Issues

January 23, 2019

• Legislative Update: Senate Committee Assignments, Senate Finance Hearings Begin, Bill Tracking and More From the 86th Session of the Texas Legislature
• CFPB Director Says Bureau Will Examine TRID Effectiveness
• Texas Attorney General Opinion Regarding Electronic Signatures Supports TLTA's Pursuit of Remote Online Notary Clarification at Texas Legislature
• 106th Congress Sees 10 New Members From Texas, Changes on Key Committees
• FHFA Will Not Defend Its Constitutionality in Court

January 16, 2019

• Legislative Update: Inauguration, Budget Proposals, Bill Tracking
• Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Case Challenging Constitutionality of CFPB
• The Shutdown's Impact on Financial Services
• Meet Maren Kasper – The New Head of Ginnie Mae
• New Push for Eminent Domain Reform Expected at Texas Legislature

January 9, 2019

• The Texas Legislature Is Back In Session
• Day at the Capitol: Registration Deadlines Approaching Quickly
• Five Things to Watch As the Texas Legislature's 86th Session Gets Underway
• Maxine Waters: Much of My Work Will Be Undoing Mulvaney's 'Damage' to CFPB
• Watt Out: OCC's Otting Officially Takes Over As FHFA Director

January 3, 2019

• Newly Elected Legislators Prepare for 86th Session of Texas Legislature – Which Starts Jan. 8
• Compliance Reminder: Stop Collecting GARC Fee
• Underwriters: TDI Adopts 2019 Maintenance Fees and Taxes, Examination Assessments
• CFPB: Kraninger Kills Bureau Name Change
• Fannie Mae Releases New Policies for Originations During Government Shutdown
• FHFA's 2019 Plan for Fannie, Freddie