Bulletin: SLS2018001

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Bulletin: SLS2018001

Bulletin Document
V 2
Date: January 23, 2018
To: All Issuing Offices
RE: GENERAL - 2018 Reminder Bulletin

Dear Associates:

This Bulletin reminds you of your obligations as a policy-issuing representative of Stewart Title Guaranty Company ("Stewart"). In addition to possessing the customary knowledge associated with real estate closings in your jurisdiction, you are required to have specific knowledge of, and comply with, Stewart's underwriting practices, requirements, and guidelines. These include, but are not limited to, our Underwriting Manual, Bulletins, and Special Alerts. These resources, together with other important information, instructional materials, and commonly used forms are contained in Virtual Underwriter, available online at www.vuwriter.com.   

Please note the following Bulletins relating to topics of current concern:

Underwriting

SLS2017004

UNDERWRITING - Land Used for Marijuana Activities
Stewart Title Guaranty Company is not currently insuring title to land that is known to be used or intended to be used for any lawful purpose under state law for recreational or medical marijuana activities, including cultivation, storage, transport, manufacture, retail, or distribution.

SLS2016004

UNDERWRITING - Condominium/Homeowner Association Lien Foreclosures
Issuing offices may not insure a property where the search reveals a foreclosure of a condominium association’s lien or homeowners association’s lien without the approval of a Senior Underwriter.

SLS2016002

UNDERWRITING - Foreclosures Extinguishing Subordinate Mortgages or Title Held By Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FDIC, or HUD
Requirements to insure a foreclosure of a prior lien where there is a lien held by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), or HUD.

MU2016001

UNDERWRITING - Updated Guidelines for ALTA Endorsement 4-06 and 4.1-06 (Condominium) and ALTA Endorsement 5-06 and 5.1-06 (Planned Unit Development)
An Insured Mortgage may or may not have priority over a condominium association's or homeowners association's lien for future unpaid charges and assessments.  Describes the differences in coverages of the referenced ALTA Endorsements with regard to lien priority.

SLS2014006

UNDERWRITING - Insuring Title Based Upon a Judgment, Order, or Decree: Appeal Period and Proper Notice 
When insuring title based upon a judgment, order, or decree, the order must be a final, non-appealable order.

SLS2014002

UNDERWRITING - Extrahazardous Risks
Underwriting approval is required to insure extrahazardous risks. Contains examples of Extrahazardous risks.

SLS2014001

UNDERWRITING - The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and The Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA)
Issues relating to PACA and PSA and related requirements.

SLS2009007

Mechanic’s Liens Recap 
Required procedures and recurring issues relating to mechanic’s liens (non-construction loans).

SLS2009004

Use of Starters for Title Search [Revised 3-23-09]
Requirements for relying on starters to begin a title search. 

SLS2008015

Paying Off Line of Credit Mortgages
Risks and requirements when paying off credit line mortgages.

SLS2007007

Insuring Around, Over, or Against Outstanding Enforceable Recorded Defects, Liens, and Encumbrances
Requirements for insuring over, omitting or insuring the subordinate nature of an enforceable recorded defect, lien, or encumbrance.

General

SLS2013003

Search Services and Limitation of Title Insurance Underwriting Agreement
Independent agents are prohibited from using the Stewart name on any non-policy product, including any search product. 

SLS2011010

Avoidance of Potential Conflicts of Interest
Issuing offices are prohibited from issuing title policies or closing transactions on any property in which a principal or agent has an interest, unless approved in advance.

SLS2010026

Issuing Authority and Escrow Instructions
Issuing agent's authority is limited to the issuance of title commitments and policies.  Issuing agents do not have the authority to bind the Company in any other way, including escrow agreements.

SLS2008001

Patriot Act Requirements and the Special Alerts Database [Revised 01/18/12]
Issuing office are required to comply with the USA Patriot Act and must check the Stewart Special Alerts Database. In addition to the required search of the Special Alerts Database, if you are aware of any alert or cautionary memorandum issued by Stewart or any other underwriter, you may not close a transaction or issue a Stewart policy without disclosure to, and prior written approval from, a Stewart Legal Services representative.

Rates and/or Forms Update

MU2017003

RATES AND/OR FORMS UPDATE - ALTA Short Form Residential Loan Policy (12-03-12) and ALTA Short Form Residential Loan Policy - Current Violations (04-02-15) 
Describes the differences in coverages of the referenced ALTA Short Form Residential Loan policies with regard to insuring the lien priority of the Insured Mortgage in relation to the lien of a condominium association's or homeowners association's lien for future unpaid charges and assessments.

MU2016006

RATES AND/OR FORMS UPDATE - ALTA Expanded Coverage Residential Loan Policies - Assessments Priority (04-02-15) or Current Assessments (04-02-15); and ALTA Short Form Expanded Coverage Residential Loan Policies - Assessments Priority (04-02-15) or Current Assessments (04-02-15) 
Describes the differences in coverages of the referenced ALTA Expanded Coverage Residential Loan policies with regard to insuring the lien priority of the Insured Mortgage in relation to the lien of a condominium association's or homeowners association's lien for future unpaid charges and assessments.

Claims Avoidance

SLS2016005

CLAIMS AVOIDANCE - Email Impersonation Wire Fraud Scheme Targeting Customers; FinCEN Advisory
Email impersonation wire fraud scheme designed to cause the customer to wire funds to a bogus account.
   

Mechanic’s Liens During Construction

A significant source of risk for the Company is the insurance of construction loans. Please note the following Bulletins which describe issues and requirements relating to mechanic’s liens during construction:
 

MU2010009

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - No Priority (2)
Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon
 

MU2010008

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - Initial Priority if No Commencement (3)
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming
 

MU2010007

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - Priority if No Lien or Suit Filed when Disbursing (1)
District of Columbia, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Vermont
 

DE2010002

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction
 

FL2010002

Mechanic's Liens Coverage on Lender's Policies During Construction
 

GA2014002

UNDERWRITING - Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction

IL2010005

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - No Priority
 

LA2010010

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - Initial Priority if No Commencement
 

MA2010002

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction
 

MD2014002

UNDERWRITING - Mechanic’s Liens Coverage During Construction - Priority For Future Advances Established Upon Recording of Mortgage
 

MI2010007

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction
 

NC2010003

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - Initial Priority if No Commencement
 

ND2010001

Mechanic's Liens/Construction Liens Coverage During Construction - Priority if No Lien or Suit Filed when Disburse
 

NJ2010005

Construction Lien Claims in New Jersey
 

NM2015002

UNDERWRITING - Insuring Construction Loans in New Mexico; New Rules Effective August 1 and August 15, 2014
 

PA2010009

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction - Initial Priority if No Commencement
 

TX2010008

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction
 

VA2010001

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction
 

WI2010005

Mechanic's Liens Coverage During Construction

As an accommodation, Stewart also distributes Bulletins and Special Alerts electronically. You are encouraged to sign up for electronic distribution of Bulletins and Special Alerts by contacting the Bulletin Coordinator at sylvia.lopez@stewart.com. Please also promptly forward any changes regarding your email address. Please ensure that emails from Stewart are not blocked or misdirected to your spam folder. Please add (sylvia.lopez@stewart.com)to your Address Book and Safe Senders List.  

As a reminder, you are responsible for knowledge of and compliance with the information contained in all Bulletins and Special Alerts as posted on Virtual Underwriter (www.vuwriter.com), whether you receive them by electronic distribution or not. 

If you have any questions relating to this or other bulletins, please contact a Stewart Title Guaranty Company underwriter.

For on-line viewing of this and other bulletins, please log onto www.vuwriter.com.

THIS BULLETIN IS FURNISHED TO INFORM YOU OF CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS. AS A REMINDER, YOU ARE CHARGED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT ON VIRTUAL UNDERWRITER  AS IT EXISTS FROM TIME TO TIME AS IT APPLIES TO YOU, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS. OUR UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS DO NOT AUTHORIZE OUR ISSUING AGENTS TO ENGAGE IN SETTLEMENTS OR CLOSINGS ON BEHALF OF STEWART TITLE GUARANTY COMPANY. THIS BULLETIN IS NOT INTENDED TO DIRECT YOUR ESCROW OR SETTLEMENT PRACTICES OR TO CHANGE PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE UNDERWRITING AGREEMENTS. CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY, OR NONPUBLIC PERSONAL INFORMATION SHOULD NEVER BE SHARED OR DISSEMINATED EXCEPT AS ALLOWED BY LAW. IF APPLICABLE STATE LAW OR REGULATION IMPOSES ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS.


References