The VLTA EXAMINER is the official online publication of the Virginia Land Title Association, offering articles of interest to land title professionals.
EXAMINER MAGAZINEAs 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 – March 2026
May 5, 2026 Regional Event - Virginia Beach Access Matters: Using Surveys to Identify and Resolve Access Issues in Real Property REIN - Virginia Beach, VA | May 5, 2026 | 8:30 - 12:30 PM Instructors: Kay Creasman, Esq., VCTE, VCTSA, Toula Dreifuss, Esq., Julie Ann Rutledge, VCTE This class will address access issues affecting … Continue reading VLTA 2026 Education & Networking Events
October 20-21, 2026 | Roanoke, VAHotel Roanoke & Conference Center What to Expect? EIGHT Speakers & Sessions (8-CE Hours & 7-CLE Hours pending) Monday Trivia Night with VLTA (optional) "Underwriters Unplugged" Dedicated Panel & Discussion Special Guest Speaker from ALTA New Member & First Time Attendee Welcome Reception (by special invite) Tuesday Opening Night Reception … Continue reading VLTA 2026 Annual Convention Preview
Article by Jerry C. Booth, Jr. Fraud has become increasingly prevalent in our society, and it affects many aspects of our lives. The title and real estate industries are no exception as we also regularly face scams and other fraudulent actions perpetrated by criminals. Seller fraud and impersonation has become increasingly common in our industry. … Continue reading Addressing Seller Fraud in Real Estate Transactions Pursuant to House Bill 163
The VLTA Explores the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and Contemporary Issues Concerning the Citizen’s Bundle of Property Rights “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty…” and Property.[1] The Declaration … Continue reading Life, Liberty and Property (A Series)
Article by Katherine Hunnicutt The moon hung low over the Virginia hills, casting long shadows across the path as Charles W. Thomas pressed onward, the weight of Big Lick’s future tucked securely against his chest. He had left the energetic and decisive voices of the Big Lick elites who had drafted the proposal; here in … Continue reading The History of Hotel Roanoke, Part 1: From Big Lick to Roanoke
Article by Sharron Kennovin Dear VLTA Members, I hope this message finds you well and that you have successfully weathered the biting cold of this past winter. It certainly felt like one of the harshest seasons we have experienced in quite some time, and I am personally thrilled to see warmer temperatures and the first … Continue reading VLTA Spring 2026 President’s Message
In support of our 2026 Annual Convention theme this year, "Use the Technology; Be the Human", we are inviting VLTA members to donate their creative talents and skills! We invite members to donate handmade items, homegrown goods, creative works, or donated time and services. Items should be crafted, curated, or personally provided by the donor. … Continue reading VLTA PAC 2026 Silent Auction: Share Your Talent!
Instructions. Complete the word search below.
We’re excited to kick off this Spring 2026 issue of the VLTA Examiner Magazine with our Top 10 most popular articles from 2025 — showcasing the topics and trends that resonated most with the industry, at a glance: “Twenty Helpful Title Research Tools Found Outside of the Land Records” by Michelle L. Statz & Jerry … Continue reading VLTA Top 10 Articles of 2025
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org. Below you will find five ALTA links listed in chronological order (oldest to newest): Behind Every Closing: The Complex Work of Clearing TitleMarch 10, 2026New research from ALTA shows the work performed by the title insurance industry, which includes searching property records, identifying defects and resolving issues before closing, … Continue reading What’s New With ALTA – March 2026
Article by Hayden-Anne Breedlove In January, the Virginia Land Title Association launched its first Book Club discussion. The inaugural selection was The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-First Century’s Greatest Dilemma by Mustafa Suleyman. The book examines the rapid emergence of powerful technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, and the challenges societies face in managing them … Continue reading The Coming Wave: Reflections from VLTA’s First Book Club
Article & permission to reprint by James L. Windsor, Kaufman & Canoles, P.C. In July of 2025, the Court of Appeals of Virginia issued a significant 24-page opinion in David Tidwell, et al. v. Kenneth. M Goldsmith, et al., Record No. 0629-24-1 and Record No. 0666-24-1, in consolidated cases concerning the ownership and use of certain easements. In … Continue reading Title Insurance Client Alert – Important Court of Appeals of Virginia Opinion Concerning the Ownership and Use of Certain Easements
Article by Michael Holden In November, the Ohio state legislature passed Senate Bill 155, promulgating regulations on real estate wholesaling in an effort to address lack of transparency and predatory practices against vulnerable homeowners in this emerging trend. Real estate wholesaling is considered an entry level “investment strategy,” where a wholesaler identifies likely targets, usually … Continue reading New State Laws Seek to Address Lack of Transparency in Real Estate Wholesaling
Article by Anna Marie Sossong *ALERT from Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: In light of a federal court decision, reporting persons are not currently required to file real estate reports with FinCEN and are not subject to liability if they fail to do so while the order remains in force.* For many years, the Financial Crimes … Continue reading The FinCEN Residential Real Estate Reporting Obligation
1. Why are you a member of VLTA? I joined VLTA because it brings together professionals who share a common goal: protecting the land title industry in a landscape that is constantly evolving with new developments in technology, new regulations, and market fluctuations. The title industry plays a sometimes quiet but essential role in every real … Continue reading VLTA Board of Director Spotlight: Jessica Snead
Article by Stephen C. Gregory We hope this column will become a regular feature of this magazine (regular being somewhat undefined at this writing). Because this is the first foray into the wonderful world of title claims, let’s go over a few basics. (Those of you who feel you have a pretty good understanding of the … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Spring 2026
