News By Edition

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to combat and deter money laundering in residential real estate by increasing transparency.

The Maryland General Assembly is considering a bill that would prohibit the intentional fraudulent sale, conveyance, or lease of real property by a person who does not own the property and require the state police to disaggregate certain data collected for the Uniform Crime Report and create the Deed Fraud Prevention Grant Fund.

The former employee of a title insurer sued their former employer, arguing that the insurer sued them for discriminatory reasons. After the court granted summary judgment in the employer’s favor, the employee sought relief from the judgment.

The replacement lender of two liens on property in Washington, D.C. filed an action to determine the priority of the two liens, after the property owner filed for bankruptcy.

Fannie Mae issued its latest Selling Guide announcement. The guide provides updates regarding flood insurance requirements and signature requirements for notes.

The Arizona Legislature is considering legislation that would amend the state’s notary public requirements.

The New York Legislature is considering legislation that would implement procedures for returning surplus funds to homeowners in response to Tyler v. Hennepin County and to provide homeowners at risk of tax lien foreclosures the same protections that are afforded to borrowers in residential mortgage foreclosure proceedings.

A buyer filed a class action against the real estate services firm that assisted in closing on property in Pottstown, Pa., for overcharging him for notary services, alleging claims under the state’s Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, and unjust enrichment.

The Indiana General Assembly is considering legislation regarding residential real estate agreements.

The Rhode Island General Assembly is considering legislation that would require the written acknowledgement from any buyer of oceanfront or shoreline property that they have been informed of the public’s rights and privileges of the shore.

A Maryland real estate investor was sentenced to time in prison for stealing a residential property in northwest Washington, D.C.

Alameda County, Calif., District Attorney Pamela Price’s Consumer Justice Bureau launched the Real Estate Fraud Notification Program.

The Utah Legislature is considering a bill that would create civil liability for an individual who records a fraudulent deed and establishes a process by which an individual may nullify a fraudulent deed.

The Indiana General Assembly is considering legislation regarding the impact on insurance coverage of a transfer on death, as well as the validity of a transfer on death transfer.

The Kansas Legislature is considering legislation that would allow title insurance agents to submit escrow, settlement and closing funds through certain real time or instant payment systems.

The Maryland Insurance Administration issued Bulletin 24-6, regarding information security program certification. The first certification is required on or before April 15.

A Washington, D.C., man was found guilty of 12 federal charges stemming from a scheme in which he used a fake notary stamp, forged signatures, and fraudulent property deeds to steal residential real property.

A husband and wife and the wife’s mother purchased property in Westford, Mass., as joint tenants. After the spouses divorced and the mother passed away, the wife sold the property to a third party. The purchaser later sought to refinance her loan and was told of a potential title defect because there was a question of whether the mother’s descendants owned her interest in the property. The purchaser filed a complaint to address the possible issue.

The Oregon legislature is considering a bill that would allow the former property owner, or their heirs or successors, to claim from the county any surplus from a property tax foreclosure.

When a neighbor found out the owners of property in Ocean City, Md., were selling their property to a developer who wanted to take down the current residence to replace it with three residential dwellings, they filed a complaint arguing the new owner would not be able to do that under the city’s zoning code. After their title insurer denied their claim to defend them in that action, the current owners filed suit against it.

The Kansas Legislature is considering a bill that would regulate contract for deed transactions.

The Idaho Legislature is considering legislation regarding the release of liens.

A federal jury convicted the former Baltimore City state’s attorney of making a false mortgage application while she was in office.

The Arizona Legislature is considering legislation that would, among other things, add provisions to state law regarding real estate transactions, identification, and recordings.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills nominated a 20-plus year insurance policy veteran as superintendent of the Maine Bureau of Insurance.