Common Ground Online

A message from the President

September 14, 2011

As I write this note to you, the heat of summer has faded and the kids are back in school. The continuous heat waves this summer were certainly wearing, similar to the real estate market, which is wearing all of us down. Where is that real estate market comeback? It’s got to get better. Where [...]

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Anne Anastasi’s Year as ALTA President

September 14, 2011

in Industry News,People & Pictures

As Anne Anastasi, CLTP begins to wrap up her term as ALTA President, she took a moment with PLTA to reflect on her journey along the way and share with us her plans for the future. When asked what she viewed as the major accomplishments of her Presidential year, Anne spoke first about Title 101, [...]

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Who Owned it Before That?

September 14, 2011

in Back Title

by Katherine McKay, CLTP, former Administrator of PLTI and Executive Vice President of PLTA Since this column is entitled Back Title, I thought I’d revive an old chestnut about the ultimate back title. This story’s been around many times, from several sources, but it still gives me a laugh. So, to take your mind away [...]

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The Energetic Eighties – A Cruise through Common Ground

Back Title July 21, 2011

by Katherine McKay, CLTP, former Administrator of PLTI and Executive Vice President of PLTA Do you remember the ‘80s? Ginormous shoulder pads for women that made them look like NFL linebackers in drag. Waiting all summer to find out who shot J.R. Ewing on Dallas. Ronald Reagan in the White House and Mikhail Gorbachev ruling [...]

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New TIL + GFE Combination Form in the Works

PLTA News July 21, 2011

By Sue Morgan, PLTA Public Relations Committee Chair On May 18, 2011 the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released two draft designs for the new “single, simpler mortgage disclosure form.” The goal of the new form is to combine the information found on the TIL and GFE into one all-inclusive, easy to read form that [...]

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William Corrigan Joins Old Republic Title

Notepad July 21, 2011

William (Bill) Corrigan, Esq., CLTP, recently joined Old Republic Title as Associate Counsel. In this role, he will assist agents and employees with underwriting questions on both commercial and residential transactions. He also will assist with regulatory compliance issues and in making educational presentations on behalf of the Company. Bill will work out of the [...]

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LEGISLATION BANNING PRIVATE TRANSFER FEES SIGNED BY PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR

Industry News June 24, 2011

On Friday, June 24, 2011 Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Corbett signed into law House Bill 442, which will ban the practice of Private Transfer Fees (PTFs) throughout the Commonwealth. With this signing, Pennsylvania becomes the 36th state to have banned or restricted PTFs. The Pennsylvania Land Title Association ® (PLTA) has worked for many months to [...]

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Best Intentions

PLTA News May 6, 2011

By Diana T. Sabol, CLTP, PLTA President Did you ever wonder what dogs would say if they could talk? Since I adopted Chance a year and a half ago, I’ve always tried to do the very best thing for him but, it seems doing that hasn’t always worked out for the best. Last spring, I [...]

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The Insidious Bargain and Sale Deed

PLTA News May 6, 2011

A Very Brief History of the Origin of the Deed and Recording System in the United States. By Dave Jenkins, Senior Claims Counsel – Mid-Atlantic Region, Fidelity National Title Group In feudal England, as in modern America, it was quite common for those who own land to donate it to churches or affiliated organizations. Church land [...]

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