Morris Chavez, the superintendent of New Mexico's Department of Insurance, a division of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, announced on June 30, 2009 that real estate title insurance premiums would rise by 10.7 percent overall. Additionally, the remittance rates from title agencies to underwriters will increase from 19 percent to 20 percent for residential properties. The new rates are effective August 1, 2009. The ruling was based on findings of pre-filed testimony, direct testimony, facts of law and a rate hearing held in November 2008 and a final information hearing in the first week of June 2009.

Wachovia Insurance Services changed its name to Wells Fargo Insurance Services USA, a combined business making it the world's fourth largest insurance firm.

The former owners of a Staten Island title company were arrested on charges of embezzling over $1 million from their clients and FNF, the title agency's former underwriter.

Officials collaborating with Ohio's Organized Crime Investigations Commission recently exposed the inner-workings of a major fraud scheme that battered Columbus' real estate market.

Resource Title Agency will celebrate 25 years of service in the Cleveland area by donating a portion of its forthcoming revenue to Cleveland-area charities from now through December.

The American Land Title Association supports expanding the government-sponsored enterprises' authority under HARP to approve mortgages with greater loan-to-value ratios.

Fidelity National Financial will release its second quarter 2009 earnings after the close of market trading on July 27, 2009 and will sponsor an investor conference call the following day.

Kendall Law Group is investigating shareholder claims arising from the acquisition of First Advantage by the First American Corporation.

Pending home sales showed a sustained improvement, rising for four consecutive months as favorable housing affordability and the first-time homebuyer tax credit boosted activity.

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Michael Rand, Beazer Home's former chief-accounting-officer, with conducting a multi-year fraudulent earnings management scheme.

Today, the company released the new HUD-1 in its AIM title and escrow production system, which many title and escrow offices rely upon to process their transactions and produce closing documents.

The alleged leader of a complex mortgage fraud scheme was recently convicted on four felony counts of fraud, including violating Colorado's Organized Crime Control Act.

The expansion of the Obama administration's Home Affordable Refinance Program will include participation by borrowers who are current but up to 125 percent underwater on their mortgage.