In filed states, the Underwriters have their rates and fees approved by their states Insurance rating bureau - and those are the set fees, for premiums and other charges, much like NY's Zones.

In unfiled rates, it is market price - so you can charge whatever you want for your premiums and fees (Illinois used to be one of those states, not sure if they still are or not, so someone here can help me out with that statement)   and your office carries  your own rate card.  Basically in unfiled states, the charges are very competetive and "market price" controlled, since the consumer knows they can actually "shop" rates.

There has been talk for years that the banks will eventually self-insure, but that gets into some sticky areas of monopoly, Sherman Anti-Trust, etc. but nothing in this industry or the lending industry ever surprises me.

I never worry about what the other guy is charging.  I was an award winning Top-Producing Realtor for 20 years, charging 7% commission to my clients.  I could care less what someone else charged b/c  what I charged was for my services, my own marketing above and beyond what my broker provided and the fact that I could sell any house within 60 days at no less than 96% of list value.

If the reason you lost an account, a sale, a client over what someone was charging vs services, I always felt it was the potential client's loss, not mine.  They have one house to sell, my job was to sell as many as possible, quickly, effiicently and for the highest pice acceptable to the owner.

Yes, title is different, but at the end of the day, people like to work with people they like.  They like to be treated as valued customers, they like communication, they like peace of mind that when you quote 48 hour turn around, you DELIVER on that promise, they like the value added things you do for them at no extra charge, they like to know that YOU recognize the value of their business.

It's not hard to create business, it's hard to retain it.   How you do that is not only based on the quality of service you provide but the personalized service you provide.

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