Do Texans pay too much for title insurance?

(STAR-TELEGRAM) - In Texas, unlike every other state except for Florida, the state sets the rates for title insurance, so there’s no way for homeowners to shop for a better deal.
Rates are reviewed every two years. They were reduced 6.5 percent in 2004 and 3.2 percent in 2006, but stayed the same in 2008.
Currently, the [...]

Silanis is a Finalist in IBM Beacon Awards

Silanis Technology, the leader in electronic signatures, announced today that it is a finalist in the IBM Beacons Awards, in the category of Outstanding Industry ISV.
Montreal, QC (PRWEB) June 11, 2009 — Silanis Technology, the leader in electronic signatures, announced today that it is a finalist in the IBM Beacons Awards, in the category of [...]

Don’t reduce your property insurance coverage to reflect lower home values

(LOS ANGELES TIMES) - There are a number of steps every homeowner should take to lower the cost of property insurance. But reducing the amount of coverage to match today’s lower values is probably not one of them.
Because it costs more to rebuild than it does to start from scratch, the market value of a [...]

Property insurance: Florida stands alone

(JACKSONVILLE.com) - If a hurricane hits this year, it may be financially devastating. Major insurance companies have left the state, unable to make a profit at the rates they are allowed to charge. The catastrophic fund and state-run “insurer of last resort” both are underfunded. This is the second of a three-part series in which [...]

Property insurance hook digs deeper into us all

(ST PETERSBURG TIMES) - Ever noticed how we’re all on the hook to be billed more, and more often, for potential debts we never personally incurred? They are piling up fast. Here are three looming examples.
$30,000: How much a typical U.S. family owes based on the amount the federal government is borrowing.
$1,017: How much a [...]

Property insurance: Consumers need choices

(JACKSONVILLE) - Gov. Charlie Crist needs to sign a bill that would start to revive a dying property insurance industry in Florida.
The bill, introduced in the House by Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, would free property insurance companies from many of the state regulations strangling them.
As a result, insurance companies are cutting back or [...]

Key Provisions of Property Insurance Bill Passed in Florida

(INSURANCE JOURNAL) - Key provisions of the measure, HB 1495, sent to Gov. Charlie Crist by lawmakers on May 1, as identified by the Florida Banking and Insurance Committee staff include:
Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

Implements a rate “glide path” capped at 10% per year for Citizens’ policyholders until rates are actuarially sound.
Allows Citizens to increase its [...]

Chinese Drywall: Builders, Subs Face Huge Uninsured Losses From Home Owner Claims

The Chinese Drywall problem is the latest construction defect crisis to rock the home building industry. No one knows for sure how it will play out, but the potential damages are astronomical when taking into account the shipments of defective drywall that have entered the country. Many commentators are advising home builders and drywall subs [...]

Independent Title Insurance Agents Meet for 1st Annual Conference in Atlantic City, NJ

NAILTA, The National Association of Independent Land Title Agents, an association committed to promoting the interests of the independent land title agents, will hold its first annual conference on May l8th at the Trump Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City New Jersey.
Chadds Ford, PA (PRWEB) April 22, 2009 — NAILTA, The National Association of Independent [...]

Lawmakers must confront painful property insurance challenge

(tbo.com) - Florida lawmakers want to put Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and the state’s hurricane catastrophe fund on firm financial footing. It is going to take guts and imagination.
No one in Tallahassee wants to raise property insurance rates in the middle of a recession, but the state is on the hook to cover losses should [...]