LIEB BLOG

Legal Analysts

Thursday, January 18, 2018

New York State Senate Says Aye to Bill Allowing Title Insurance Marketing Expenses

With 61 ayes and 0 nays, the New York State Senate passed S6704 which provides a definition for “an inducement for, or as compensation for, any title insurance business” in Insurance Law 6409. The new definition allows title companies and agents to continue usual and customary marketing activities such as taking clients out for coffee or lunch. The only requirement is that these marketing expenses must not be offered as a quid pro quo for a particular piece of title insurance business.

Nonetheless, title insurance companies and agents are still holding their breath as it is still in the Assembly’s hands to approve A8467 and effectively ease Regulation 208’s prohibitions on inducements for title insurance business.


You can track the Assembly’s actions on A8647 through this link

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Title Regulation Testimony before the NYS Assembly - A Must Watch

The NYS Assembly held a hearing before the Committee on Insurance on January 12, 2018, which goes into great detail about new Insurance Regulations 206 and 208.

During the first approximate 2 hours of the hearing, Superindent Maria T. Vullo of the Department of Financial Services made a statement and fielded many questions about these regulations and the industry as a whole. Then, a second panel of the big 3 title insurance underwriters discussed their take on the regulations. Next, a consumer advocacy panel and then, a title insurance agency representative testified, which were followed by the President of the New York State Land Title Association and an independent title closer. Finishing up the testimony, the Executive Director of TIRSA testified.

Beyond this hearing, real estate professionals should continue to track New York State Bills A8467 and S6704, which each relate to the definition of the phrase "an inducement for, or as compensation for, any title insurance business" as set forth in Insurance Law 6409 and can further change the title insurance industry, if signed into law.

Tuesday, January 02, 2018

Top 5 Real Estate Laws of 2017