Mortgage rates climb to highest level in two months as Trump's tariffs continue to rock markets
Interest rates on home loans had been steadily falling since March, which may have encouraged some prospective buyers to enter the market at the start of peak homebuying season. But President Donald Trump's scattered approach to tariffs and an escalating trade war with China has injected volatility into the stock market, and resulted in a sell-off in US bonds last week.
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With deed fraud increasing, state eyes ways to protect owners
Maine realtors, county registers and others are waiting for an upcoming vote in the Legislature on LD 353 which would establish a commission to find ways of preventing deed or title fraud.
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EquityProtect Expands Partnerships with Title Companies Nationwide to Strengthen Property Fraud Prevention
EquityProtect, a leading innovator in real estate fraud prevention and data security, is partnering with title companies across the nation to provide property owners with enhanced safeguards that complement their existing title insurance. EquityProtect's free title monitoring service adds an extra layer of protection by alerting property owners to any changes in their property title.
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Fraud alert system to launch in Wake County, here's how to sign up: 'It's not a stopgap'
Tammy Brunner with the Wake County Register of Deeds says, "It's an entire land record system. Everything is changing about our land record system, and it's included in this new fraud alert system." Once a property owner signs up for the fraud alert system, it alerts them if anyone files paperwork on their property.
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UWM sued by Ohio attorney general over allegations it conspired with brokers
United Wholesale Mortgage is facing a lawsuit from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who is accusing the company of conspiring with mortgage brokers to deceive customers and drive up loan costs. "Buying a home is hard enough without having to worry about a lender scheming behind your back," Yost said in a statement. "This predatory business practice has no place in Ohio."
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'Forged' deeds can count as 'recorded' deeds under section of Arizona law, court rules
A "forged" property deed can still count as a recorded deed for a section of Arizona law that allows individuals a certain of time to challenge property ownership, the state supreme court has ruled. State law currently allows someone up to five years to challenge ownership of a piece of property. But a dispute over a lot in Maricopa County has resulted in the Arizona Supreme Court clarifying whether the five-year rule should apply to circumstances involving a possible "forged" deed.
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FinCEN Renews Residential Real Estate Geographic Targeting Orders
Today, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced the renewal of its Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) that require U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind shell companies used in non-financed purchases of residential real estate.
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