WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The American Land Title Association (ALTA) reported title insurance premiums written during 2009 nearly held steady from 2008 after dropping significantly the past five years.

According to results from the ALTA’s 2009 Market Share Analysis, the industry reported a 4.5 percent decrease in title insurance premiums, falling to $9.6 billion from $10.0 billion in 2008. Title insurance premiums have fallen steadily since the height of the housing boom in 2005, when premiums reached their pinnacle of $16.9 billion.