Misunderstanding Recent CFPB Enforcement

Misunderstanding Recent CFPB Enforcement

Over the past few years, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) has taken center stage for its aggressive enforcement posture.  While I have major disagreements with the CFPB’s regulation/guidance through enforcement practice, particularly as it impacts the real estate title industry given the fact that the vast majority of title agencies are small businesses that do not have the resources to hire in house compliance officers or hire expensive outside counsel, its most recent enforcement action seems to be misunderstood.

Our Standard Real Estate Contract Isn’t Worth The Paper It’s Written On

Our Standard Real Estate Contract Isn’t Worth The Paper It’s Written On

This is a pretty outrageous statement, particularly coming from the current Chairman of the Standard Forms Committee. A few times a year we handle transactions in which one party or the other decides they don’t want to go through with it.  However, sometimes by the time they make this decision, a contract has already been signed and all available avenues to void the contract have expired. 

Septic Waivers

Septic Waivers

Among the changes to the NVAR Residential Sales contract is a change to provision 12 – Utilities, Water, Sewage, Heating and Central Air Conditioning.  Specifically, the following language was added: “Septic Waiver Disclosure provided by Seller (if applicable) per VA Code section 32.1-164 1:1. State Board of Health septic system waivers are not transferrable.

Adding Value as a Title Company

Adding Value as a Title Company

Recently, I saw a good client of Vesta Settlements as we watched our boys playing soccer together.  We got to talking and he eventually asked a simple question as he congratulated me on the growth of Vesta Settlements.  “What distinguishes your company from the others that allowed you to grow and succeed?”

Important Notice Regarding Email Wire Fraud Schemes

Important Notice Regarding Email Wire Fraud Schemes

Several attempts have been made recently in the real estate industry to divert funds from both
Buyers and Sellers during the closing process. The fraudulent schemes typically involve the hacking of public domain email accounts (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL etc.) and/or the creation of a similar named account through which the perpetrator creates a separate thread of communication.

Split Closings: Believe Nothing Of What You Hear And Only Half Of What You See

An article, written by Kathy Orton, recently appeared in the Washington Post entitled, “Split
Closings: A worthwhile convenience or a costly delay?” This, of course, caught my eye and what I read proved to be riddled with inaccuracies and misunderstandings involving split closings. In this article, I want to dispel these inaccuracies and misunderstandings.

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