Category Archives: Continuing Education

Continuing Education

E-Recording

 

E-Recording…Today’s technology to streamline closing processes

E-Recording is a hot topic in the industry right now; especially as the market has slowed and title agents are trying to do more with less and gain competitive advantage.
The presentation will address doing business with digital documents and explain the e-recording process from the title industry perspective. During the presentation, we will review and outline eDocument legislation that permits e-recording both on a federal and state level. We will conclude by discussing the competitive advantages that e-recording brings to title agents specifically.

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Learning Objectives
Participants will gain a better understanding of the e-recording industry and how to improve their overall workflow.
The education track of this session includes regulatory statutes as well as several facets of business operations. Participants will be able to leave this session empowered with knowledge that will help streamline their post closing process. Benefits of e-recording include:

      • Increased customer satisfaction
      • Improved agent/underwriter relationship
      • Streamlined post-closing workflow
      • Reduced per-transaction costs
      • Fewer file touches
      • More time for business development

About the Presenter

Vicki DiPasquale

Vicki DiPasqualeVicki DiPasquale, has more than 30 years in the title insurance and real estate industry working both with underwriters and agencies in many different states. She consulted on a Freddie Mac e-closing project in 2001 and has been an avid supporter of the e-recording process since its inception. Vicki has a Doctorate degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership. She has an outstanding record of success in identifying business opportunities, developing strategies and implementing actions to boost business performance. With a focus on technology, Vicki recognizes the importance of innovation as a way to streamline business processes.

Continuing Education

MERS, the core concepts

Mike SkalkaMichael B. Skalka
Executive Vice President

MERS operates an electronic registry, the MERS® System, for tracking servicing rights and beneficial ownership interests in residential mortgage loans, and MERS® Commercial for the commercial mortgage‐backed securities (CMBS) and multifamily marketplace. This session will educate the agents about MERS, its uniqueness in the lending industry and to address many of the misunderstandings about MERS. We will discuss the business model, the corporate structure, the MERS System, the benefits to the lending and title insurance industries, the general litigation concerns as noted in the press, and various regulatory and legislative issues.”

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About the Presenter

In April 2012, Mike Skalka relocated to Virginia to join MERSCORP Holdings, Inc., parent company of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. He also serves as Corporate Secretary for MERSCORP Holdings and MERS.  MERSCORP Holdings, which operates an electronic registry of mortgage loan servicing rights and ownership on behalf of the lending industry, is presently addressing the challenging issues associated with foreclosures and mortgage record holding – areas in which Mr. Skalka’s background and knowledge is uniquely suited.

Mr. Skalka received his B.A. degree from C.W. Post College of Long Island University and his J.D. degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Skalka began his career in the title industry and then went on to private practice; subsequently, reentering the title industry years later.

Mr. Skalka joined Stewart Title in 1988 as the founding president of Stewart Title Insurance Company, domesticated in New York. Shortly thereafter, in the early 1990s, he helped establish Stewart’s operations in Canada and theUnited Kingdom, and then relocated from New York to Houston, in 1993, to serve as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Stewart Organization until 2005.

As Stewart continued to seek opportunities outside of the U.S., Mr. Skalka led those efforts by becoming Chairman of Stewart’s International Group in 2005. In 2007, he became the first person outside of the Morris and Stewart families to be appointed President and Managing Director of Global Underwriting Services of Stewart Title Guaranty Company, where he remains a member of its Board of Directors. Mr. Skalka had also helped to lead the National Title Services Division of Stewart since 2009.

With his more than 35 years in the title and real estate industries, Mr. Skalka has established himself as an admired member of the real estate community. He has had the honor to be appointed to the Board of Governors of the American Land Title Association®, as well as to serve upon its various committees; and, is a past President of the New York State Land Title Association.

In the spring of 2007, the Houston Chronicle published a feature article about Mr. Skalka and his international activities on behalf of the Stewart Organization.  He also has been quoted in Continental Airlines Magazine concerning the real estate market in Latin America.  Mr. Skalka has spoken before numerous bar association, land title asso
ciation, and related industry functions throughout the United States and England and has had articles published by the Bank Lending Institute, the New York Law Journal, the Practicing Law Institute and the National Register of Commercial Real Estate.

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ALTA Best Practices, Continuing Education

PA ALTA Best Practices Pillar 2 Escrow Accounting course available in Pennsylvania

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This course is one in a series of Courses that discuss ALTA Best Practices. This one covers Pillar 2. The objective of the course is for the learner to complete the section of their policy and procedure manual for the pillars discussed in the course. Also, upon completion the learner will be confident that they will be able to pass an ALTA Best Practice audit for the pillars discussed in the course.

Pillar 2 is about Escrow Trust Accounting. Appropriate and effective escrow controls and staff training help title and settlement companies meet client and legal requirements for the safeguarding of client funds. These procedures help ensure accuracy and minimize the exposure to loss of client funds. Settlement companies may engage outside contractors to conduct segregation of trust accounting duties.

The course covers the 73 questions asked in the ALTA Pillar 2 Workbook so that the learner understands what is expected to be compliant. The course covers the Action Items report, Assessment Readiness, and Certification

Streamline Consulting has done the research and put together the content for the course. Streamline Consulting is a privately owned company that was formed in order to meet the personnel, technical and business needs of Title Insurance Companies. They are advocates for their clients in all aspects of the title insurance industry.

While the nature of the business is the same in all states, the nuances of each title company, even within the same city, can be very different. Streamline customizes every project and product for each title company, regardless of size, location or products and services provided to their customers.

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