News + Publications
News + Publications

ALTA’s publications and news center brings the latest information affecting the title and settlement services industry to ALTA members. Whether you are looking for industry news, practical insights on issues affecting title insurance or our suite of legal and regulatory publications we have the news you need.
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  Members of the title insurance industry work daily to assist consumers in purchasing new homes and enhancing their communities.
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  HomeClosing101.org
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Advocacy

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  TIPAC is the only PAC that directly represents the interest of the title industry in our nation's political system.
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  TAN is the premier grassroots organization promoting the value of the land title insurance industry.
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Events

ALTA, along with affiliated land title associations, organizes dozens of world-class meetings each year. Each event is an opportunity for you to learn from industry experts, meet industry vendors and network with your peers.
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Career + Learning

Since 1971 ALTA has been the source of practical knowledge and skill-based training solutions for the title insurance industry. ALTA is dedicated to providing cutting edge educational solutions to our members through several options.
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ALTA is committed to your professional development. By becoming a member of ALTA, not only do you strengthen the industry’s future, you gain access to valuable resources to help your company differentiate itself in the market.
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  You will NOT receive member benefits. ALTA is no longer utilizing an occasional use waiver as a part of the Policy Forms Licensing structure for 2024 and going forward. The Policy Forms License for limited use can be acquired for $50.
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Business Ops
Business Ops

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Policies + Standards
Policies + Standards

One of ALTA’s main reasons for existing is to provide the title and settlement industry with industry-specific policy forms and standards that help the industry stay compliant with current regulations.
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About
About

Founded in 1907 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ALTA is the national trade association and voice of title insurance agents, abstracters* and underwriters are Active Members, ranging from small, one-county operations, to large national title insurers in the united states.
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Topics
Topics

In our topics collection, you can stay up to speed on the most relevant issues in our industry—and learn how ALTA is engaged. Visit a topic page to find all the information ALTA has on that subject—from a summary to relevant events, educational resources, consumer and client-facing materials, business resources, and advocacy information.
- Title Waiver Pilot
  The Biden Administration released a plan aimed at lowering housing costs that includes a pilot to waive the requirement for lender’s title insurance on certain refinances. ALTA called the announcement a political gesture offering a false promise of savings for homeowners while exposing consumers, lenders and taxpayers to greater financial risk.
- Digital Closings
  ALTA strives to help members identify the benefits and risks associated with digital closings in order to put the industry in the best position to solve problems and inspire innovative ideas. ALTA is your source for tools and education about digital closings.
- Artificial Intelligence
  Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in the title insurance and settlement services sector, providing a diverse array of capabilities to enhance both efficiency and productivity.
- Cybersecurity
  Cybersecurity is a critical topic for the land title insurance and settlement industry and an ongoing threat to every title operation regardless of size, location or years in business.
- Wire Fraud
  Wire fraud is one of the biggest threats in the title industry. ALTA members must be aware of this threat and of the resources available to fight the fraud. This page includes many resources, tools and articles to help protect your company and customers from fraud.
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
  The proposed rule by U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) will require title and settlement companies nationwide to report information about all-cash residential transactions nationwide involving legal entities and trusts.

Industry News

Homestore narrows loss to $5 million

May 7, 2004

Revenue increases to $56 million

Inman News

Real estate media and technology provider Homestore today reported a first-quarter loss of $5.1 million, or 4 cents per share, an improvement from its net loss of $12 million, or 10 cents a share, the previous quarter.

The loss compares with a net income of $87.2 million during the same quarter a year ago. That income included a $104 million one-time gain related to the settlement of Homestore's distribution agreement with AOL.

Total revenue for the first quarter was $56.1 million, up from $54.9 million during the same quarter a year ago, representing the company's first year-over-year quarterly revenue growth. The increase was due to Homestore's media services segment, which added $1.7 million in revenue, and the software segment, which added $200,000, the company said. Revenue from the print segment decreased $600,000.

Homestore had $41.1 million in cash and short-term investments at the end of the first quarter. That compares with $5.5 million the previous quarter.

"We achieved several milestones in our first quarter, including our first year-over-year quarterly revenue growth, positive EBITDA and positive cash flows from operations," Homestore CEO Mike Long said.

In April, Homestore placed in escrow the final $3 million of its cash settlement agreement relating to the shareholder class action lawsuit. Last October, the company agreed to pay the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) $13 million in cash and issue 20 million shares of newly issued common stock to the group, which was the lead plaintiff in the suit. The company placed $10 million of the cash settlement in escrow last fall.

"While our investment and repositioning efforts are ongoing, I believe these results demonstrate the significant value our solutions offer the real estate industry, and early returns on the investments the company has made over the last two years," Long said.

Homestore (Nasdaq: HOMS) shares closed at $4.73 per share today, down 4.6 percent from the previous day's close of $4.96.

Homestore also operates Realtor.com, the official Web site of the National Association of Realtors.

Copyright: Inman News Features

Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].