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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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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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.
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- 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

First Bergen Title Insures More Than $1.5B in Transactions Over Past Year

March 18, 2014

Hackensack, N.J.-based First Bergen Title Agency insured a total of more than $1.5 billion of real estate financing and purchase transactions in New Jersey in the past year.

The residential real estate sector’s rebound was also reflected in the total, accounting for $1 billion of the transactions insured by First Bergen.

“The year-long trend was that residential properties were in great demand, and those that did become available drew considerable interest from investors,” said Allen Meccia Jr., one of the firm’s managing members. “We expect that trend to continue in 2014.”

Among the residential transactions insured by First Bergen – all rental apartment properties – were financings of $95 million in Hudson County; $15.45 million in Bergen County; a $15.06 million purchase financed by Fannie Mae and the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Financing Agency in Passaic County; $8 million in Monmouth County; and $7.65 million purchase and financing in Bergen County; among others.

The firm also insured more than $550 million of commercial transactions – mixed-use, industrial, warehouse/industrial and office.

“Mixed-use properties also saw continued improvement in demand in 2013,” according to Meccia.

Major transactions included a $22.5 million financing in Hudson County; a $20 million financing in Bergen County; a $18.35 million construction mortgage in Bergen County; and $11 million financing, also Bergen County.

Other significant transactions during 2013 consisted of a $32 million policy by First Bergen, encompassing a single transaction in Bergen County. Warehouse/industrial included $27.75 million for a portfolio in Bergen and Middlesex counties.

“We see increasing momentum as the real estate industry continues to rebound from the recession and its after-effects, with the first quarter of 2014 starting off stronger than it has in several years,” Meccia said. “Projects we are currently working on include $130 million for an adaptive reuse in Hudson County, and $51 million in financing for another project, among others.

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