Title insurance is a contractual obligation that protects against losses that occur when title to a property is not free and clear of defects (e.g., liens, encumbrances and defects that were unknown when the title policy was issued).  Title insurance also guarantees loan priority. The terms of the policy define what risks are covered and what...

The closing process in commercial real estate transactions can be multifaceted and a bit enigmatic to those new to the industry, or for those with a new type of real estate deal. As such, an overview of the closing process – including escrow and settlement statements – can be very helpful.

An ALTA Survey is a specialized boundary survey of a property that adheres to strict standards developed by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). An essential part of any legal ownership of land, the boundaries of a property must be properly and professionally delineated, making note...

After 15 years, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) Board approved the revised 2021 ALTA Owner’s and Loan Policies in July of last year. The ALTA Forms Committee, which is made up of industry experts and includes some of First American’s brightest and most seasoned underwriters, was tasked with reviewing and revising the forms. The changes...

 Ethics are an important component of our everyday lives, especially in business and in commercial real estate transactions. Ethics are the moral principles that guide a person’s behavior, or a code of moral principles practiced by a group of people, such as a code of conduct set by a business.

Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.7 signed on March 19, 2020 authorized notaries public to officiate documents remotely using what is known as Remote Ink Notarization (“RIN”). RIN allows a person seeking a notary’s services, using audiovisual technology, to ink-sign a document signed at a location different from the notary. The ink-sign...