01.09.08

NALTEA Certified Abstractor (NCA) Test Jan 20th - New Orleans

Posted in Education, Industry News, Licensing at 11:52 am by Jeanne

The National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors (NALTEA) has extablished a Certified Abstractor (NCA) designation. This is the first national industry recognition to distinguish excellence in Land Title Abstracting. The designation illustrates superior national skill levels and proficiency in the trade and demonstrate superior value in the quality of products delivered. The designation is obtained both through comprehensive study and testing of industry knowledge. The national exam will be given at the Naltea conference in New Orleans on January 20th.

In preparation for the exam, the NALTEA education committee has put together an important manual that can be used as a resource for the NCA examination. Persons who have signed up for the exam will be supplied with the study guide, along a two hour exam-prep session lead by long-time abstractor-teacher Jeanne Johnson, at the conference. The manual is also available online at this site.

NALTEA consists of smaller committed independent professionals who service the land title industry, care about quality, are concerned with industry standards; and are dedicated to competence.

Objectives of NALTEA associated with the NCA designation are:
• To establish and maintain uniform standards and practices for the profession of land records abstracting by setting forth guidelines for training, experience and ethical conduct.
• To foster better relationships among title examiners/abstractors and those whom they serve, i.e., title insurers, lending institutions, attorneys and other land title professionals.
• To provide information and education to the membership of the Association; to members of local, state and federal legislatures having jurisdiction over the land title industry; to consumers; and to businesses engaging in the transfer of ownership interests in real estate.
• To promote understanding and awareness of the importance of the proper examination, abstracting and reporting of land title records.

Those members who receive the Naltea Certified Abstractor designation demonstrate both a commitment to the industry and a solid working knowledge of national abstracting and searching knowledge. It is a designation to be revered and cherished by our industry.
I encourage you to consider working toward your NCA designation, it is a worthwhile badge both for you and our industry. For more information contact NALTEA

01.04.08

Title Insurance Mafiosa - a true crime book

Posted in Money and Finance, Mortgage and title Fraud, Real Estate fun, Value of a title searcher at 2:42 pm by Jeanne

Ten years ago, who would have believed the sleepy little Title Insurance business could be the subject of an amazing true crime book. Yes, we’re all reminded daily of the problems in our industry: greed, fraud, forgery, gluttony, sub-prime lending, phoney appraisals and more, but now here’s a real life tell-all.

A Family Cursed: The Kissel Dynasty, a Gilded Fortune and Two Brutal Murders uncovers classic Title Mafioso. The author, Kevin McMurray covers the life of two wheeling-dealing brothers. Andrew Kissel was convicted of forging mortgage deed releases and other fake documents to subvert millions in order to live an excessive lifestyle.

But Fidelity National Title recognized Kissel’s mortgage scam. By searching title to property, Fidelity found several active mortgages on property being used as collateral to secure a $6 million mortgage loan. Kissel gave Fidelity falsified mortgage releases to show the loans were paid off. Creating the bogus documents was as easy as the click of a mouse, McMurray accurately writes. Had it not been for a thorough Title Underwriter (You’ll have to read the book to find out how they figured it out) Kissel would probably still be perpetrating his real estate fraud. He was charged with federal bank fraud obtaining tens of millions in fraudulent loans from banks and other institutions.

I am an avid reader of mysteries, etc. but this one really hits home not because it’s just plausible, but because it happened and continues to happen every day.

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