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This summer a former Philadelphia Records Department employee was sentenced to two years in prison for creating and filing bogus deeds to about 100 properties in the city.  Meanwhile, another Records Department employee was charged with taking bribes and cheating the city out of more than a half-million dollars in fees.  Records Commissioner Joan Decker [...]

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By Diana T. Sabol, CLTP, PLTA President McDonald’s, bingo, Christmas trees and fireworks….what do they all have in common? They all are tied to western Pennsylvania.  The Big Mac originated in Uniontown…the game of bingo was first introduced to the US in Pittsburgh…Indiana County is the Christmas tree capital of the world…and New Castle is [...]

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By Diana T. Sabol, CLTP, PLTA President We have all taken chances in our lives from time to time, making a leap of faith in the hope that things will work out for the better.  Here’s the story of a recent Chance I’ve taken: Eight months ago, I was in Wilkes Barre visiting agents when [...]

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By Lauren P. McKenna, Esq. Insured brought claim against title insurer arguing that it was entitled to recover the difference between the value of the property subject to a title defect and the value without the defect.  The insurer defended, claiming that the value of the property without the defect was fixed by the purchase [...]

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New Requirements for Allegheny County Deeds

Industry News July 20, 2010

by Paula Mack, Esq. On June 1, 2010, the Allegheny County Department of Real Estate is implementing the following changes:  -          All deeds must have TWO (2) Certificates of Residence completed – one for the tax bill mailing, and one for the owner. They can be the same address if the owner does not have [...]

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A Qualifying Financial Relationship Can Result in an Exemption From Philadelphia Transfer Tax

Industry News July 20, 2010

A version of this article first appeared on the PA Title Insurance Blog. Philadelphia homeowners are saving money on their property transfers, and it all comes down to three letters:  FIP What is an FIP?   In the City of Philadelphia, in accordance with Bill #070541 amending the Realty Transfer Tax section of the Philadelphia Code, [...]

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Executive Committee of 1942 Discusses Holding Convention Due to War

Thumbnail image for Executive Committee of 1942 Discusses Holding Convention Due to War Back Title July 20, 2010

by Katherine McKay, CLTP, former Administrator of PLTI and Executive Vice President of PLTA One of the few compensations of getting older is that we become more able to see current events as part of a continuously re-occurring cycle of history.  New events acquire a depth and dimension that cannot be fully appreciated without knowledge [...]

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PLTA Installs 2010-2011 Officers

Notepad June 25, 2010

On June 12, 2010 during the annual PLTA convention, the slate of elected officers of PLTA took their oaths of office.  Diana Sabol, CLTP of First American Title Insurance Company in King of Prussia, PA became the 89th President of the Pennsylvania Land Title Association Philip S. Janny, CLTP of the Plunkett -Graver law firm in Allentown, PA became [...]

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South Central Chapter Installs New Officers

Notepad June 25, 2010

Loxley’s Restaurant in Lancaster, PA was the site of the installation of the Officers of the South Central Chapter of PLTA.  On June 17, 2010 PLTA President Diana Sabol, CLTP conducted the ceremony and administered the oath of office to the Chapter leaders. Donna Moyer, of Security Title Guarantee Corp. in Lancaster is the Chapter Chairperson. [...]

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A Study (and possible reform) of the PA Tax Collection System is on Its Way

Industry News May 10, 2010

 “If called to testify, every title professional would have at least one anecdote about the impossibility of obtaining tax information from a tax collector.” This was but one statement made by PLTA in its April 21, 2010 letter of support for Senate Resolution 250, concerning current tax collection systems throughout the Commonwealth.  Specifically, Senate Resolution [...]

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