History Holds Its Secrets… The Investigation Continues at the 2026 VLTA Annual Convention Not every mystery begins with a smoking gun. Sometimes, it begins with a deed. This October, step back to 1882 Roanoke, where railroad expansion, hidden records, and long-buried secrets set the stage for The Christmas Current Mystery. Throughout Convention, clues will be … Continue reading 2026 VLTA Annual Convention: Sneak Peek
VLTA Summer 2026 President’s Message
Article by Sharron Kennovin As we move further into the summer months, I hope each of you is experiencing renewed momentum in your business. With school out and families eager to relocate or invest in home improvements, many areas across our state are reporting increased activity. It’s encouraging to see this positive shift, and I’m … Continue reading VLTA Summer 2026 President’s Message
2026 VLTA PAC Silent Auction: Made by Members, Powered by Purpose
Supporting the PAC, one member-made contribution at a time. This year, we're inviting VLTA members to help bring our 2026 Annual Convention theme, "Use the Technology; Be the Human," to life through the PAC Silent Auction. Rather than focusing on traditional auction items, we're celebrating the creativity, craftsmanship, and generosity of our membership by featuring … Continue reading 2026 VLTA PAC Silent Auction: Made by Members, Powered by Purpose
Did Thomas Jefferson Believe in a Right to Property?
Article by R. Michael Smith The Declaration of Independence famously proclaims that citizens of the United States were entitled, by that citizenship, to certain self-evident, inalienable rights, which include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.[i] Among historians and political philosophers the second sentence of the Declaration has often been called the greatest sentence … Continue reading Did Thomas Jefferson Believe in a Right to Property?
VLTA Members in Motion – June 2026
As a VLTA Member, we invite you to share what you are doing in your community, new jobs, promotions, retirements, milestones, professional accomplishments, good deeds, events, awards, or even a member advocacy story, or while you’re at it! News can include a relevant link to an article, blog post, press release, video, landing page, or … Continue reading VLTA Members in Motion – June 2026
New Virginia Notary & Settlement Agent Requirements (2026-2027)
Article by Juanita M. Little-Lyons, Technical Advisory Committee Chair, Virginia Association of Notaries (VAN) Over the last decade, deed fraud (fraudulently stolen real estate) has increased nationwide, resulting in millions of dollars of loss for property owners. Prior to the 2025_26 Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Housing Development Authority was granted authority to research the … Continue reading New Virginia Notary & Settlement Agent Requirements (2026-2027)
NON-JUDICIAL TAX SALES PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE § 58.1-3975
Article by Jerry C. Booth, Jr., Virginia & West Virginia Underwriting Counsel, The Fidelity National Financial Family of Companies 1. Background Virginia Code §58.1-3975 provides Virginia localities with an optional, nonjudicial foreclosure process to sell certain properties without the necessity of the time and expense associated with filing a lawsuit. In most cases, these are … Continue reading NON-JUDICIAL TAX SALES PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE § 58.1-3975
The Claims Corner: Take the Claims Quiz
Article by Joe Shepherd, FNF Below are 4 actual, yet abbreviated, claim scenarios that have occurred in Virginia. How good are you at resolving each? 1. You are claims counsel for ABC Title Company and receive the following claim. Big Bank has recently foreclosed on a four acres parcel in Smyth County on which ABC … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Take the Claims Quiz
What’s New With ALTA – June 2026
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org. Below you will find five ALTA links listed in chronological order (oldest to newest): New Data Reveals Implementation Challenges Under FinCEN RuleApril 9, 2026Significant operational strain, widespread uncertainty and growing concern defined the title industry’s experience under FinCEN’s Residential Real Estate Rule, according to a new survey from ALTA. … Continue reading What’s New With ALTA – June 2026
VLTA 2026 ALTA Advocacy Testimonials
ALTA Advocacy 2026 Testimonials from VLTA Members & Leadership. The ALTA Advocacy Summit should always remain a vital part of VLTA because it ensures our voices are heard throughout our Capital. For me personally, one of the most meaningful aspects of attending is the opportunity to talk with professionals from across the country and learn about the issues they’re facing in … Continue reading VLTA 2026 ALTA Advocacy Testimonials
FBI’s Annual Internet Crime Report Offers Impetus for a Security Refresh
Article by Michael Holden The data that emerged from The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center’s (IC3) 2025 Internet Crime Report was sobering across the spectrum of financial services: Cyber fraud losses surpassed the $20 billion mark, a 26% jump from the previous year. Investment-related fraud topped the list of losses. Business email compromise (BEC) and … Continue reading FBI’s Annual Internet Crime Report Offers Impetus for a Security Refresh
Hammers Plus Hearts Equals Homes
Article by Edda Berglund “Bang, bang, bang-OUCH (expletive deleted)!" Turns out, I’m more skilled at making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches than I am at swinging a hammer. But, as my volunteer thumb screamed at me to put aside the unyielding carpentry tool and pick up the butter knife, I realized something important: a Habitat … Continue reading Hammers Plus Hearts Equals Homes
VLTA 2026 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Wrap-up
Article by James Pickral The 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly convened on January 14th and adjourned on March 14th. The Commonwealth’s first female Governor was elected in November of 2025 giving Democrats control of both the Executive and Legislative branches of government. The Session and its aftermath were, and continue to be, rocky. … Continue reading VLTA 2026 Virginia General Assembly Legislative Wrap-up
Advocacy in Action
Article by Jeremy Yohe More than 250 title professionals came to Washington, D.C., for ALTA Advocacy Summit in May, setting an attendance record and signaling the industry’s growing commitment to advocacy. The turnout reflected how directly policy decisions in Washington affect title and settlement companies, consumers and the real estate market. Over several days, attendees … Continue reading Advocacy in Action
Celebrating National Homeownership Month: What Virginia’s Housing Data Tells Us
Article by Sejal Naik, Deputy Chief Economist, Virginia REALTORS® June is National Homeownership Month — a timely reminder of the vital role that owning a home plays in building wealth, stabilizing communities, and strengthening the broader economy. For real estate professionals, this annual observance is more than a celebration: it is an opportunity to examine … Continue reading Celebrating National Homeownership Month: What Virginia’s Housing Data Tells Us
The History of Hotel Roanoke, Part 2: The Grand Old Lady on the Hill
Article by Katherine Hunnicutt, Welcome to the second installment of this 3-part series. Read part one below: https://vltaexaminer.com/2026/03/31/the-history-of-hotel-roanoke-part-1-from-big-lick-to-roanoke/ Figure 1: “Hotel Roanoke 1910”. Virginia, Bourbonism to Boyd, 1870-1925 (1968). Retrieved from WikiCommons. In the public domain. The late afternoon sun in November of 1989 threw the Tudor-revival peaks of Hotel Roanoke into silhouette, casting the … Continue reading The History of Hotel Roanoke, Part 2: The Grand Old Lady on the Hill
What Is Title Insurance on Its 150TH Anniversary?
Article by James Gosdin Welcome to the first installment of the 3-part series exploring the 150th Anniversary of Title Insurance. An essential characteristic of title insurance, and one that was critical to its growth, is strict liability. The Insured is not required to establish that the title insurer was negligent in its own examination in … Continue reading What Is Title Insurance on Its 150TH Anniversary?