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
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
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
Article by R. Michael Smith Correction from the author: George Mason did not teach Thomas Jefferson at William & Mary. William Small was his principal instructor. Jefferson and Mason were contemporaries who participated at the same time with Virginia's Committee of Correspondence. My stepson, a graduate of George Mason University, spotted my error. I thank … Continue reading Did Thomas Jefferson Believe in a Right to Property?
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
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
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
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)
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?
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
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
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
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
By Hayden-Anne Breedlove, CounselOld Republic National Title Insurance Company Fraud has rapidly evolved into one of the most significant sources of title insurance claims, particularly as real estate transactions increasingly rely on electronic communication, remote closings, and digital documentation. Schemes that once occurred sporadically are now routine, sophisticated, and alarmingly effective. I. False Owners and … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Fraud in the Modern Real Estate Transaction and Lessons From Recent Claims
Article by Jerry C. Booth, Jr. I. Introduction A judicial tax sale is a legal process used to collect delinquent real estate taxes by selling the property through a proceeding in the local circuit court. The procedure is governed by Article 4 of Chapter 39, Title 58.1, et. seq, of the Code of Virginia. The … Continue reading Guide to Judicial Tax Sales For Examiners & Underwriters in Virginia
Article by Hayden-Anne Breedlove When a buyer, lender, or settlement agent asks, “Do we really need a survey?”, they’re rarely thinking about the downstream risks. Yet for Virginia title professionals, surveys are one of the most powerful tools for uncovering problems before they turn into litigation, coverage claims, or unmarketable title.The American Land Title Association … Continue reading Why ALTA®/NSPS Surveys Matter in Virginia Residential Real Estate Transactions
Article by Kay M. Creasman & John Mashack Overview: Over the years, other VLTA Examiner articles and VLTA seminars have covered the basics of underwriting a commercial transaction, but agents experienced in residential matters now need additional information about the role of the escrow agent, instruction letters, title search issues, ALTA/NSPS surveys and endorsements specific to … Continue reading Commercial Transactions: Settlement Basics
