State lawmakers in New York have introduced legislation that would block mortgage lenders from receiving title insurance payouts when real estate transactions are later found to be based on stolen deeds.
S.B. 7732 was introduced May 2 and seeks to prohibit title insurers from compensating lenders for losses tied to transactions deemed “false or fraudulent.”
A surge in commercial real estate transactions helped drive solid first-quarter 2025 earnings for the country’s largest title insurers.
First American Financial, Fidelity National Financial, Old Republic International and Stewart Information Services all reported year-over-year gains in commercial title revenue. Leaders at each company pointed to improved demand and strategic investments in growth.
The average closing costs for a refinance mortgage in the U.S. totaled $2,403 last year, or about 0.72% of the loan amount, according to a new report from LodeStar Software Solutions.
The findings mark the company’s first analysis of refinance-specific closing costs. Closing fees ranged widely by location and are influenced largely by state and local taxes.
Wayne Stanley, founder and CEO of Indiana-based real estate marketing firm Bowe Digital, died on May 1, the company announced. He was 38.
Stanley, who built Bowe Digital from the ground up in his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, was widely regarded not only as a marketing innovator but also as a mentor and friend.
His sudden passing has left a deep void in his professional and personal circles.
Stewart Title Insurance Co. has merged with its affiliate Stewart Title Guaranty Co. and will now operate in New York under the latter’s name.
Company leaders said the internal consolidation is intended to unify Stewart’s operations under a single underwriting entity in New York — with the goal of enhancing underwriting capacity and financial backing for transactions in the state.
Lawmakers in Illinois are considering a significant overhaul of the state’s title insurance regulatory framework through the introduction of S.B. 2648.