U.S. Secret Service observes sharp increase in Real Estate Fraud
The U.S. Secret Service has advised about an increase in reports of real estate fraud concerning vacant properties. These schemes involve a criminal that identifies…
Author: Land Title Association of Alabama
Member Highlight – Agent: Tara Leiter
Tara Leiter is the Director for the counties of Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Perry, Dallas, Wilcox, Marengo, Sumter, Greene, and Hale. Tara helped open, and manages,…
Member Highlight – Agent: Meagan Yarbrough
Meagan is the director of the Northeast region consisting of the following counties: Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Dekalb, Cherokee, Etowah, Blount, Marshall, Cullman, and Morgan. Meagan…
Statewide home sales decrease 15% year-over-year in August
Source: Alabama Real Estate Journal / James Benedetto James Benedetto has reported that home sales in the state decreased in August 14.5% year-over-year from 6,345…
MV Realty files for bankruptcy
Source: HousingWire By Brooklee Han Right-to-list agreement firm MV Realty has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 33 states. The story was first reported by…
eRecording in Alabama
Good news! eRecording is available in Alabama. You can eRecord your documents in Alabama through multiple vendors right now. Below is a list of counties…
Helpful Hint: Baldwin County Mineral Tax
Baldwin County charges a Mineral Tax but Escambia, Mobile and Monroe Counties do not collect for these charges. The charge is $.15 an acre rounded…
Member Highlight – Agent: Scott Thornley
Scott Thornley is a director for the counties of Colbert, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, Walker, and Winston. Scott is a Partner in the…
New Regulations: DOI Licensing and Compliance
The Alabama Department of Insurance has updated several regulations concerning licensing and compliance requirements for several categories of insurance professionals. Click on the links below…
Member Highlight – Agent: Stephanie Martin
Stephanie is the owner/operator of Elite Title Services, Inc. of Rainbow City, AL. She has been in the title insurance industry for 24 years. She…
Abstractor Tips for Lee, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Tuscaloosa Counties
Following up on the Alabama Abstractor’s Helpful Hints, here are some county-specific tips that we hope you find useful: LEE COUNTY: Hours: 8:30 am to…
Alabama Abstractor’s Helpful Hints
This month’s edition features “Helpful Hints” from many of our experienced title searchers, abstractors, and examiners. The ability to search the Probate real estate records…
Un-Real Estate: Forged signatures, Fake ID and other Phony documents
WWL-TV’s series “Un-Real Estate” by investigative reporter David Hammer has uncovered forged signatures, fake identification, and other phony documents being used by scammers to lay…
Seller Impersonation Fraud
Fraudsters committing seller fraud are becoming more creative and sophisticated. In many areas, two or more agents a week encounter and fortunately stop fraudsters mid-transaction.…
Interesting Texas Law: Dirty Deeds
Texas has adopted an interesting new law that allows Texas Clerks to require photo identification whenever anyone tries to file paperwork changing a property’s ownership.…
Member Highlight – Agent: Kathy W. Shirah
Kathy started her career in mortgage banking in 1990 with First Alabama Bank which later became Regions Mortgage, Incorporated. She has worked in various functions…
Alabama Joins List of States Banning Unfair Real Estate Fee Agreements
Alabama has joined a growing list of states to pass legislation protecting homeowners from the predatory practice of filing of unfair real estate fee agreements…
Press Release: The Hidden Revenue Potential of Idle Escrow Account Balances
Higher – and fluctuating – interest rates haven’t exactly been kind to those in real estate or to buyers and sellers, but there could be…
Member Highlight – Agent: Lauren Baum Malbrough
Lauren was born and raised in Gadsden Alabama and is a proud graduate of the University of Alabama and Cumberland School of Law. She aspired…
Alabama REALTORS® Releases Alabama Economic and Real Estate Report for April 2023
According to the April 2023 Alabama Economic and Real Estate Report released by the Alabama Association of REALTORS®, the number of homes sold in Alabama…
