The legality of private transfer fee covenants is being heavily debated on the federal and state level.

Trade associations, title insurance agents, title underwriters, homebuilders, mortgage lenders and politicians are weighing in on whether these fees should remain legal, require more transparency or should be forbidden entirely. The recent developments have spurred a number of questions in the title industry about what this all means.

What are private transfer fee covenants; what do they mean to the title agent; how do you find them; how do they affect the property; and why all the controversy surrounding them? Also, which states have banned them? Are the bans retroactive? Are there other types of covenants that could be tied to the property?

Hear from three experts who answer these questions and offer thorough insight into private transfer fees in an instructional Webinar format. A title agent business leader will educate on how to find these fees, what to do if they are found, his personal account of going through the legislative process of banning these fees in his state, and why it is essential for title professionals to know about their effects on the title.

Two trade association representatives discuss what is happening at the federal and state level regarding these fees, the controversy surrounding them and the recent activity among political, legislative and industry group leaders.

After this Webinar, you will know:

• How the private transfer fee issue has affected title businesses;
• Why fee covenants are being contested;
• The states that have banned these fees and their reasons for the bans;
• How to uncover fee covenants and what to do when you find one;
• And much more!

Added Bonus: Information packet included! With this Webinar, you will also receive access to a number of exclusive feature articles from The Title Report, The Legal Description and RESPA News and other materials related to private transfer fees.

Presentation Preview:
Click the images below for a larger view

Featured Speakers:

Cort Ashton
Vice President, Cottonwood Title Insurance Agency, Inc.

Cort Ashton is the vice president of Cottonwood Title Insurance Agency, Inc., a title and escrow company doing business in the state of Utah.  He has been in the title business for 16 years. In 2009, he was selected as the president of the Utah Land Title Association, and is currently serving as its past president. Also in 2009, he was selected by Utah Governor Gary Herbert to be one of five commissioners of the Title and Escrow Commission for the state of Utah, and he currently serves as its chairman. He has been active in politics, winning election to the Salt Lake County Council in 2002, and has stayed involved in politics and community affairs.    

Steve Gottheim
Legislative and Regulatory Counsel, American Land Title Association

Steve Gottheim is the legislative and regulatory counsel at the American Land Title Association. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in history, government and politics. He received a Juris Doctor at the University of Maryland School of Law and has previously worked for the Senate Banking Committee and a small community based lender.

Jerome Nagy
Senior Policy Representative, National Association of Realtors

Jerome Nagy is the senior policy representative at the National Association of Realtors. His issue areas cover appraisals and federal housing programs including FHA, VA and USDA Rural Development. Previous work focused on affordable housing issues at the Fannie Mae Foundation and while working for a NeighborWorks nonprofit organization in upstate New York. Nagy is a graduate of The George Washington University and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.

Moderator:

Andrea Golby
Editor of The Legal Description