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
Virginia Land Banks & The Receivership Statute: How They Work Together to Address Blight
Article by By Laura A. Wakefield Introduction Across Virginia, localities are grappling with vacant, abandoned, and blighted properties that threaten neighborhood stability and public safety. Two legal tools have emerged as particularly important in addressing these challenges: land banks and the receivership statute. Each has a distinct role, but together they form a powerful framework … Continue reading Virginia Land Banks & The Receivership Statute: How They Work Together to Address Blight
Walking the Tightrope: Protecting Property Ownership in the Age of Technology
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
TUTE Fall 2025
From the Solution in Search of a Problem Dept. From The Unknown Title Examiner (TUTE) A little-noticed change in Virginia mortgage foreclosure law went into effect July 1, 2024. Because it affects only foreclosures of junior deeds of trust, it’s likely that few agents have encountered it or had to deal with its provisions. [We … Continue reading TUTE Fall 2025
The History and Purpose of Land Records in the United States
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
What’s New With ALTA – September 2025
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
Fall 2025 Puzzle
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Virginia is for Homeowners: Trends to Watch
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
VLTA President’s Ponderings – Summer 2025
Article by Becky Taylor Welcome to Summer! Did you know that Friday, June 20, 2025, marks the first astronomical day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere? It is also known as the summer solstice or June solstice and the longest day of the year. My 33rd wedding anniversary is June 20, 2025, and as I … Continue reading VLTA President’s Ponderings – Summer 2025
VLTA Attends ALTA Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. May 5–7, 2025
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
Summer 2025 Puzzle
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What’s New With ALTA – June 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
Why Escheatment Matters
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
HOP – the FREE Marketing Resources Every Title Agent Needs at their Fingertips!
By: Tina Merritt What is HOP? HOP is ALTA’s Homebuyer Outreach Program; a valuable resource for title agents looking to educate consumers, real estate agents and other parties about the importance of title insurance and the closing process. By providing clear and concise information, HOP helps demystify the often misunderstood aspect of the title and … Continue reading HOP – the FREE Marketing Resources Every Title Agent Needs at their Fingertips!
IC3 Report Highlights Need for Heightened Cybercrime Awareness
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
FIRPTA: In a Nutshell – Part Two
Article by Kevin Pogoda. This is part two of "FIRPTA: In a Nutshell - Part One". Determining tax liability based on capital contribution is well beyond the expertise of the purchaser (who is liable for such withholding) or the settlement agent acting on the purchaser’s behalf. Other options to consider: (1) sending the full amount of … Continue reading FIRPTA: In a Nutshell – Part Two
Issues Involving Railroad Rights-of-Way in Virginia (Mostly) – Part Two
Article by R. Michael Smith This is the second installment of a two-part article that is an expansion of the materials included in the VLTA seminar, The Sound and the Fury: Railroads, Rights-of-Way, and Revesting, and a 2017 Examiner article, Derailed by the Supreme Court. Some sections have remained the same, other sections have been … Continue reading Issues Involving Railroad Rights-of-Way in Virginia (Mostly) – Part Two