NEW FINCEN REPORTING RULE EFFECTIVE MARCH 1ST

Starting March 1, title companies will be REQUIRED to collect very detailed information from both SELLERS and BUYERS on specific transactions in order to combat fraud/money laundering per the FINCEN rules and regulations.

These specific transactions must meet all three of these elements:

1) cash sales

2) into an entity such as an LLC or trust

3) for Residential Property.

** Subject to some exemptions

Here is the form that every title company closing one of these transactions must now fill out: https://www.fincen.gov/.../files/2025-09/RER-Form-508C.pdf

We are subject to serious penalties if we do not report, therefore we will not close until we get the information from both buyers and sellers on the FinCen reportable transactions.

Of course, we will let you know asap if any transaction is subject to FinCen reporting and do everything we can to make this as easy and seamless as possible.

Realand Title Holiday Party

Spent an amazing morning at Realand Title, LLC’s Holiday Staff Party! Mari from Mari’s Italian Cooking Lab in Fairhope showed us the magic of crafting fresh pasta with just two ingredients. Such a fun and delicious experience – who knew making pasta could be this entertaining? If you are looking for a fun thing to do with the family on the Eastern Shore- check out www.mariscookinglab.com

1.5% down FHA Loans and more!

Vicky Pitts with Barr Group Mortgage discusses some exciting new loan programs with Rachelle Wickware of Realand Title in Gulf Shores, Alabama

Paperless closings- Trends in Real Estate

Christy Hotz with EXP Realty and Elsa Vaneysbergen with Realand Title discuss paperless closings, electronic signatures and e-notarization.

Ever wondered what a title examiner does? Turns out it is a lot more than a google search.

What is an Owner's Title Policy?

Ever wonder what you are buying when you purchase an Owner's Title Policy? Check out this video from ReaLand Title, LLC to learn how title insurance protects your ownership interest.

The Problem of the Missing Heir

See how a little thing, like a fight over a TV remote, could lead to big problems with the title on a new house and how choosing the right title company can make a difference.

Access Issues- One of Many Reasons to Purchase an Owner's Title Policy

When purchasing a home, particularly in a rural area, you always want to ensure you have valid access.  In Baldwin and Mobile Counties, many properties appear to have access until an examination of the records determines that access is not legally valid.  When you purchase title insurance, we determine if you have valid access and we back it up with the title policy.  Often, access problems can be remedied before closing takes place.  This is why any savvy home buyer requires an Owner's title policy as a condition to purchase.  


New Rules Change how Student Loans Affect Mortgage Eligibility

A very informative USNews Report Article by Betsy Mayotte lays out the various ways student loans can affect mortgage eligibility.  The report covers FHA loans, USDA loans, and VA loans. For example, in the past FHA underwriting rules allowed  "consumers who had their student loan payments deferred for at least 12 months" to exclude that debt from the overall debt-to-income ratio."  This is no longer the case.  Now deferred loans will be included in the debt-to-income calculation "to the tune of 2 percent of the student loan amount or about $200 for every $10,000 owed." Read the article here.

Abraham Lincoln Lost His Home...Twice

Abraham Lincoln is well known for being our 16th president and a resident of Illinois, but his story starts in Kentucky-where he was born and from where his family was forced to move due to land title issues. Today we remember Lincoln for the freedoms he protected, not for the homes his family lost.