Insurance
Home Insurance
With National Flood Insurance Program Expiring in Six Months, Realtors® Sound the Alarm
On September 30, just six months from today, the National Flood Insurance Program will expire. The National Association of Realtors® is working closely(link is external) with federal regulators and members of Congress to strengthen the program(link is external) and clear the way for a private market to take hold; NAR has also issued a series of principles(link is external) to improve access and affordability for consumers.
Subcommittee Assesses U.S.-EU Covered Agreement
Members of the Financial Services Housing and Insurance Subcommittee met on Thursday to discuss and hear expert testimony on the recently announced “covered agreement” reached between the United States and the European Union on insurance and reinsurance.
American Land Title Association Supports Effort to Improve Real Estate Closing Process
The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance and real estate settlement industry, sent a letter to the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) offering support of efforts to promote the understanding of remote electronic notarizations.
American Land Title Association Announces National Notary Association as an Elite Provider
The American Land Title Association (ALTA) has announced that the National Notary Association (NNA) has been named an ALTA Elite Provider.
American Land Title Association Statement on HUD Nominee Dr. Ben Carson
The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance and real estate settlement industry, released the following statement today in response to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing to confirm Dr. Ben Carson as the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
FHA TO REDUCE ANNUAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS ON MOST MORTGAGES
As the nation’s housing market continues to improve, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro today announced the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will reduce the annual premiums most borrowers will pay by a quarter of a percent. FHA’s new premium rates are projected to save new FHA-insured homeowners an average of $500 annually
House Passes Bill to Increase Transparency in International Regulatory Discussions
The House passed legislation on Wednesday that would enhance congressional oversight of international deliberations relating to insurance standards by a vote of 239-170. Sponsored by Housing and Insurance Subcommittee Chairman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), the Transparent Insurance Standards Act directs federal regulators to solicit public comments, consult with state officials, and report to Congress before adopting international capital standards or other requirements for U.S. insurance companies.
Consumer Advocacy Groups Condemn Federal Court’s Decision Regarding CFPB
The Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in PPH Corporation v. CFPB, a case dealing with the CFPB’s ability to order New Jersey mortgage-lending company PPH to pay a $109 million enforcement penalty after the corporation was found offering illegal kickbacks to mortgage insurance partners.
American Land Title Association Names Daniel D. Mennenoh as President
The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, announced that Daniel D. Mennenoh ITP, NTP has been installed as president for the 2016-2017 year.
Housing Subcommittee Discusses Potential Covered Agreement with the EU
The Housing and Insurance subcommittee held a hearing to examine international factors affecting domestic insurance markets. Subcommittee members questioned hearing witnesses on the various international regulatory standards being considered by the G-20, the Financial Stability Board, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, and other international supervisory authorities. In addition, today’s hearing gave members the first real opportunity to examine the covered agreement negotiations between the United States and the European Union.
ALTA Consumer Survey Shows 40% Confused by Title Fee Calculation on Closing Disclosure
Over 40 percent of American homebuyers feel taken advantage of or are confused by the calculation of title insurance fees on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) new mortgage disclosures, according to a new study by the American Land Title Association (ALTA)
Testimony of Federal Insurance Office Director Michael McRaith before House Financial Services Subcommittee on...
Chairman Luetkemeyer, Ranking Member Cleaver, Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me to testify today on the impact of U.S. – EU dialogues on insurance markets. Today’s hearing focuses on prudential aspects of international insurance matters, including the prospect of an agreement on such matters between the United States and the European Union. With respect to these topics, Congress granted the Federal Insurance Office (FIO) the following authority
ESA Changes to National Flood Program will Harm Housing Affordability
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today urged Congress to oppose the inappropriate use of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to change the focus of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) away from protecting lives and property due to flooding loss
PCI’s 5 Step Disaster Reality Check for Financial Preparedness and Insurance Readiness
Just within the last month the U.S. experienced the first hurricane hitting Florida in more than a decade, historic flooding in Louisiana, and the strongest earthquake on record in Oklahoma. Because Mother Nature has the power to change lives overnight, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) is urging property owners to take a “Disaster Reality Check” regarding their preparedness and ability to recover from a natural disaster or other emergency.
Hensarling: New Law Modernizes Outdated Housing Rules
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) made the following comments after President Obama signed into law H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act
Hensarling: Attack on FHA’s Insurance Fund Must be Stopped
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) delivered the following opening statement at a hearing with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro about sudden policy changes the Secretary is making to the sale of nonperforming loans insured by the government
Builders Urge Caution as Congress Reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program
Extreme flood insurance rate hikes and inaccurate floodplain maps drive up the cost of homeownership and threaten small businesses, the nation’s home builders told Congress today
REALTORS® to Congress: Flood Insurance Rates Post Threat to Business, Homeownership
Flood insurance costs continue to put small businesses and homeownership at risk, but the National Association of Realtors® told U.S. Senators today that a range of solutions are on the horizon
AL BAXTER, MAINTENANCE PERSON OF THE YEAR
The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA Rural Development) announced the winners of the National Multi-Family Housing Maintenance People of the Year for 2016. We are proud to announce Al Baxter, Maintenance Mentor at Willow Landing Apartments I & II, was one of two recipients of this award. This is the second year USDA Rural Development has given an award for Maintenance Person of the Year
Institute Testifies About Using Incentives to Reduce Cost of Disaster Response
The way to achieve resilience in U.S. communities is through an approach that incorporates input, consensus, leadership and action from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from insurance and finance-related companies, lenders and foundations; forward-thinking communities and government agencies; and important decision makers, including homeowners, businesses and utilities.
Architects Praise Introduction of National Mitigation Investment Act of 2016
Legislation will reduce disaster losses and save lives by shifting the federal focus to pre-disaster mitigation and resilient construction. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) today applauded Reps. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., and Albio Sires, D-N.J., for the introduction of bipartisan legislation to focus federal disaster policy on preventing losses.
Flood Insurance Legislation Promises Flexibility for Consumers
Property owners who opt to purchase flood insurance in the private market rather than through the National Flood Insurance Program may do so under current rules, but they risk paying higher rates if they return to the NFIP. H.R. 2901, the "Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act," passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 419-0 and seeks to alleviate that concern
Freedom Mortgage Corporation Agrees to Pay $113 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act...
Freedom Mortgage Corporation has agreed to pay the United States $113 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting single family mortgage loans insured by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Federal Housing Administration (FHA) that did not meet applicable requirements for the FHA insurance program, the Justice Department announced today. Freedom Mortgage Corporation is headquartered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey.
NAMB Applauds Congressional Flood Insurance Initiative
NAMB—The Association of Mortgage Professionals has commended the House Financial Services Committee for taking up HR 2901, the Flood Insurance Market Parity and Modernization Act of 2015
National Apartment Association Reaches All 535 Congressional Offices With Strong Message: Lawmakers Must Address...
Members of the National Apartment Association (NAA) and nearly 170 affiliated associations this week turned out for their largest ever advocacy campaign, both on Capitol Hill and in congressional districts from coast to coast. Telling lawmakers that apartments work, industry members emphasized that lawmakers must enact public policies that promote rather than obstruct the industry’s ability to provide housing and jobs.
United States Resolves Civil Suit Against Westbury-Based Mortgage Lender
Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, David A. Montoya, Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Frederick W. Gibson, Acting Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation today announced the settlement of claims against Continental Mortgage Bankers d/b/a Financial Equities and its president, Walter Stashin, in United States v. Rainy Day Holdings, LLC. et al., Civil Action No. CV-15-5576. The case is pending in federal court in Central Islip before United States District Judge Joseph F. Bianco.
FHA Cuts Multifamily Insurance Rates for Affordable and Energy-Efficient Housing
January 28, HUD announced that the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will reduce its multifamily insurance rates to stimulate the production and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. These rate reductions, effective April 1, will apply to the FHA-HFA Risk-Sharing program and other FHA multifamily housing programs that help finance properties housing low-income families and developments installing energy-efficient systems or building within federal energy guidelines.
New Vision Insurance and Telemedicine Program Available to Realtors
National Association of Realtors® members now have access to two new offerings through the Realtors® Insurance Marketplace; members now have access to Realtors® Vision Insurance plans and Members TeleHealth, a telemedicine service plan
HSI Special Agent rescues building occupants from pending fire
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan Special Agent Jeremiah Gonzalez passes the Universal Insurance Company building in Caguas, Puerto Rico every day.
5 Tips for Relocating Your Small Business
Whether your company is expanding or you’re nearing the end of your lease, relocating can be a lot of work on a business. Once you’ve found the new location for your office space, you must diligently come up with a plan of action for the day of the move. While you may not have thought of planning for the move, it is imperative to saving your business time and money.
