Patrick, the market is already headed in that direction. The permanent loss of business is simply proceding at a slower rate. I personally no longer abstract because there is no money to be made in it.

All I have read on this board lately are complaints about lost business, low ball competitors, and VM's playing one abstractor off against another for the lowest price. I would encourage the abstractors to look into supplemental forms of income in preparation for the inevitable. It is wiser to cut your losses. I think funds would be better spent on preparing for a more rewarding line of work than on technology for a declining industry. I am seeing droves of abstractors in this area leaving for more profitable work.