Article by Becky Taylor, VLTA President Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Virginia Land Title Association. As we entered the 51st year of VLTA, we used the Power of the Past to Focus on the Future. To that end, in September 2024 the Board of Directors met for a two-day Strategic Planning Retreat … Continue reading VLTA 2025 Outgoing President’s Message From Becky Taylor
Article by Genady Vishnevetsky The Digital Pickpocket in Your Computer Imagine a thief who can quietly walk through your office, photographing every password you jot down, every client file you open, and every financial document on your desk—all without you ever realizing they were there. That's basically what an infostealer does to your computer. Infostealers … Continue reading The Silent Threat Targeting Real Estate Professionals: Understanding Infostealers
Article by Taylor Hubbard, VLTA Staff Every member of the Virginia Land Title Association plays a vital role in the legislative success of our organization. Grassroots advocacy is one of the most effective tools we have, and at the state level it can make a significant impact. The VLTA Legislative Committee meets monthly throughout the … Continue reading The Power of Grassroots
ALTA Files Amicus Brief Supporting Fidelity’s Challenge to Rule Article by Jeremy Yohe with ALTA FinCEN’s final rule requiring certain industry professionals to report information to the agency about non-financed transfers of residential real estate to a legal entity or trust will have a significant financial and process impact on title and settlement companies. The rule, which … Continue reading Title and Settlement Companies Face Substantial Cost to Comply With FinCEN’s AML Real Estate Rule
Article by Tina Merritt with permission to reprint, originally published in the THE ROANOKE TIMES. In today’s business world, AI is already a practical tool for small businesses like mine, not just a futuristic idea. It’s changing how we communicate with clients, create marketing strategies, and streamline operations. It is important for Virginia elected officials … Continue reading Ensuring AI Policy Works for Us All
Article by Becky Taylor, VLTA President Did you know that Virginia has 120 Clerks, and their Association is the Virginia Court Clerks Association (VCCA)? The Virginia Land Title Association initiated quarterly meetings with the President and President-Elect of the Virginia Court Clerks Association in 2017-2018. The VLTA Vision Statement is “To be the driving force in Virginia … Continue reading Conversation With the Clerks: Continuing the Conversation
Article by Michael Holden A new federal pilot program that experiments with an automated title review process to assess title risk remains under scrutiny as the program gains steam with two title insurance underwriters now approved as vendors for the duration of the pilot. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Title Acceptance Pilot, launched in … Continue reading Walking the Tightrope: Protecting Property Ownership in the Age of Technology
Article originally published and provided by Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) with permission to reprint. Adopted by the PRIA Board on January 15, 2025. Introduction-and-History-of-Public-Records_Style_CLEAN_02_2025 (1)Download
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or communications@alta.org. IRS to Eliminate Paper Checks for Payments, RefundsThe Internal Revenue Service will discontinue the use of paper checks for most federal payments and disbursements effective Sept. 30, 2025... ALTA Urges FinCEN to Delay AML Real Estate Reporting RuleALTA sent a letter to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Director Andrea … Continue reading What’s New With ALTA – September 2025
EACH VOICE COUNTS The Virginia Land Title Association (VLTA) is thrilled to announce our Annual Convention, taking place October 23-24, 2025, at the Hilton Short Pump in Richmond, Virginia. This year’s convention promises dynamic education sessions, powerful networking opportunities, and plenty of fun as we come together to celebrate the people and progress of our industry. Whether you’re a … Continue reading Virginia Land Title Association 2025 Annual Convention
Share with VLTA what you’re doing in your community, your new jobs, promotions, retirements, milestones, professional accomplishments, good deeds, events, awards, or even a member advocacy story, or testimonial while you’re at it! News can include a relevant link to an article, blog post, press release, video, landing page, or website. New Stewart Underwriting Counsel … Continue reading VLTA Members in Motion – June 2025
Article by Ryan Price & Dominique Fair, Virginia REALTORS® June is Homeownership month, a time to not only celebrate homeownership but also encourage and educate prospective homebuyers on its benefits. Some of those benefits include financial ones such as predictable housing payments, building home equity, and tax advantages. This financial security can lead to people … Continue reading Virginia is for Homeowners: Trends to Watch
Article by John Rinaldi I don’t know whether to be proud of or to be depressed by the fact that I am now at the point in my career when I can use phrases like: “When I started practicing law…” or “When I learned how to do it, we always….” Causing every younger attorney within earshot … Continue reading The Claims Corner: Back in My Day…
Article by Sharron Kennovin Earlier this May, VLTA proudly participated in ALTA Advocacy Day—a pivotal three-day event dedicated to educating and empowering members of the title industry to effectively engage with lawmakers. The experience was packed with impactful speakers, strategic training, and invaluable conversations about the future of our industry at the national level. Attending … Continue reading VLTA Attends ALTA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. May 5–7, 2025
How to Spot Phishing: A Guide to Keeping Your Operation SafePhishing is one of the oldest tricks in the hacker playbook—but also one of the most effective. And it’s not just big businesses being targeted—individuals and small title agencies are vulnerable. The good news? You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect yourself. … Continue reading What’s New With ALTA – June 2025
Article by Carol Frye Escheatment is often overlooked by title companies, yet it serves several critical purposes: Legal Compliance and Avoiding Penalties Failure to comply with Virginia’s escheatment laws can result in significant penalties. Under Virginia Code 55.1-2528, entities that fail to file an unclaimed property report or to submit abandoned assets on time may … Continue reading Why Escheatment Matters
Article by Michael Holden, Author of The Ramblings of a Title Man and Vice President of AmTrust Title Insurance Company. Each year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) releases a detailed report on the number of cybercrime complaints fielded in the previous year. This year as it marks its 25th anniversary, the agency highlighted … Continue reading IC3 Report Highlights Need for Heightened Cybercrime Awareness
