Bankers Title and the Circuit Courthouses

will be closed on

Monday, February 20, 2023

in observance of President's Day

The Best Leaders Are Comedians

by Antonio Garrido

Leaders can learn a lot from comedians. They’re captivating public speakers, they practice economy of language, and they’re experts at insight -- a critical leadership skill. Comedians are wonderful at drawing seemingly unrelated pieces of information together in new and unexpected ways. The best leaders have a similar gift: they have the ability to ‘see beyond the data’ and notice patterns, trends, or truths that nobody else sees. And then, like comedians, when they draw attention to the path of their particular perspective, suddenly everyone else sees it too – this is insight in action. Click HERE to learn more.

Is it Time to Shake Up Your Work From Home Routine?

by Elizabeth Grace Saunders

We’re approaching three years since the initial office exodus, where millions of people found themselves stationed at home full-time, overnight. The initial shock of that transition has worn off. So if you participated in the office flight, you’ve likely settled into some semblance of a routine. But is it time to make a change? As a time-management coach, I’ve seen that some small tweaks to your schedule can make a big impact and could give you a fresh approach to the new year. Click HERE for a few reasons why you may want to shake things up — and how to make these changes effectively.

Must-Watch Banking Battles of 2023 Revolve Around CFPB

By Steve Cocheo

Expect the gridlock to be worse and the posturing more partisan on the banking committees during the meeting of the 118th Congress. The banking docket is more than full, with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau facing an existential crisis and the status of fintechs still hazy. Potential help: a revamp of the data rules in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act is in the offing. Click HERE to learn more.

Fostering an Ownership Mentality to Boost Your Business

by Shaara Roman

When you think of an entrepreneur, you think of someone who is constantly hustling. They’re highly invested in their work, extremely driven, innovative, and agile. Now, wouldn’t it be great if all employees operated like that? Of course you want your employees to work for you the way they would work for themselves…and it’s possible. By nurturing an ownership mentality, you can create a team of people who are genuinely invested in the ongoing success of the business. Fostering a company culture driven by a ‘we’re all in this together’ mindset is easy – click HERE for 10 actionable strategies.

Preparing Your Super Bowl Game Day Menu:

12 Delicious Dips for Your Party

from The Old Farmers' Almanac

Our delicious dip recipes are perfect for the Super Bowl, game days, or snack time. We’ve got all the favorites: onion dip, guacamole, spicy buffalo chicken dip, spinach artichoke dip, nacho layer dip, and more. Just add tortilla chips, pita, or crackers and you’re set to kick back and enjoy the game. Check out these recipes and more HERE. Eat well and enjoy the big game!

Inside Mortgage Lenders' Strategies for 2023

by Flavia Furlan Nunes

Now that the refi party is over and total volume is down, lenders are fighting to gain market share. 2023 will be a challenging year for mortgage lenders -- and strategies will have to pivot to accommodate for the rough landscape. Click HERE to learn what mortgage analysts and executives expect for 2023 and find out how they plan to run their businesses successfully in spite of challenges.

LENDERS: Is Asking for An Owner's Title Policy On Your New Customer Checklist?

by Tanya Clark, Bankers Title, LLC

When property is purchased, the purchaser will be offered an Owners Title Insurance policy to insure their interest in the subject property. At Bankers Title we always encourage the purchase of an Owners policy because we know the protection it provides far outweighs the expense of the one-time premium. An Owners policy will protect the purchaser’s investment against claims of others that may have been missed in a search of the public records, or that result from factors that could never be discovered by a search of the public records. This coverage is imperative to a property owner’s peace of mind, but did you know that in addition to this protection, having an Owners policy can also save the property owner time and money every time they take out a loan on the subject property? 

The maximum savings is realized when the title company is provided with a copy of an Owners Title Insurance policy at the time the new order is placed. When we have this policy in hand at order placement, we will only need to have title updated from the date of the policy forward rather than requiring a full 40-year search. This type of search is referred to as a current owner search and not only is it 25-30% less expensive than a full search, it is also turned around much quicker by our title abstractors. 

If you do not provide an Owners policy at the time of order placement you may be contacted by our Title Insurance Underwriters to inquire if your customer can provide one. The most common reasons for requesting this are unreleased mortgages, or judgment liens against prior property owners. Having a copy of an Owners policy, with no exception for said unreleased liens, will almost always allow us to insure over said liens. Having a copy of the Owners policy in our file from the time of order placement will save everyone time and effort and avoid unnecessary delays which often occur while customers search for a copy of their policy. 

Whether we receive the Owners Policy at the time the order is placed, or because we specifically request it, we will always apply a Reissue Rate discount to the title premium once the policy is in our hands. The discount in Virginia is 30% off up to the face amount of the Owners Policy. For a $250,000 loan policy this results in a savings of up to $217 on the premium for a new loan policy! This discount will apply to every loan policy purchased during the duration of ownership, which, along with the discounted title search, can add up to a significant savings over time!

Please help us to help you and always ask your borrowers at loan application if they have an Owners Title Insurance Policy!

Why First-Time Buyers Are Ideal Victims for Scammers

by Melissa Dittmann Tracey

Younger home buyers who don’t have prior experience in the real estate market may be more naive to the red flags of wire fraud. Even though many are digitally savvy, cybercriminals have become more sophisticated over the last decade and are willing to wait for weeks or even months to strike. These fraudsters will often use fake emails, phone numbers or websites to impersonate a trusted real estate professional. That’s why scammers likely are targeting first-time buyers, which means you need to beef up on cybersecurity best practices and share ways to thwart common hacking threats with these clients. Click HERE to learn how you can inform and protect them.

The Rising Cybersecurity Risks That Will Plague Banking in 2023

by John Carey of AArete

Security breaches have become one of the biggest threats to financial institutions. Remote working, cloud computing and the current geopolitical climate have all played a part, but older forms of infiltration also continue. Hackers, social engineering fraudsters, human error and customers who are just plain careless with credentials are all security threats that banks must take into account. Prevention requires an in-depth, multiyear strategic plan, not a short-term, quarter-to-quarter focus that leads only to reactive solutions. Outlined HERE are some of the top threats that lie ahead and what approaches we’re seeing to address this.

How Banks Can Avoid Losing Small-Business Loans to Fintechs

by Jonathan Katz, Amount

Research indicates that fintech lenders have been encroaching on underserved markets in banks' own territories, to grab small-business loan share at banks' expense. Technology to combat the competitive threat exists, but many banks aren't latching onto these tools. Those that do take the digital plunge stand to benefit from the deeper business insight this offers. It's insight that rivals like Amazon already have access to. Yet banks still have multiple opportunities to catch up— and even surpass — what specialized fintechs are doing today. Success hinges on adopting three key technologies. Click HERE to learn more.

Builder Confidence Uptick Signals Turning Point for Housing Lies Ahead

from National Association of Home Builders

A modest drop in interest rates helped to end a string of 12 straight monthly declines in builder confidence levels, although sentiment remains in bearish territory as builders continue to grapple with elevated construction costs, building material supply chain disruptions and challenging affordability conditions. While NAHB is forecasting a decline for single-family starts this year compared to 2022, it appears a turning point for housing lies ahead. Click HERE to learn more.