AfBAs And MSAs Are Bad For Consumers

Written by Federal Title on April 12, 2019.

Written by: Tyler J. Turner, Executive Director of the Utah Association of Title Professionals In a case of legislative railroading spurred on by national real estate brokerages, Utah lawmakers cast aside a longstanding consumer protection...

How to change your chosen title company after you have a ratified sales contract

Written by Federal Title on November 2, 2016.

Most homebuyers know by now that it’s their legal right to choose their own title company and that shopping for title services is one of the most effective ways to reduce costs at the closing table. (For those who haven’t heard this, read...

A wake-up call from CFPB regarding Marketing Service Agreements

Written by Guest on February 26, 2014.

If you are an agent, broker, or mortgage lender who has been solicited by a title company to enter into a Marketing Service Agreement (MSA), you would probably be best served to avoid the temptation. The Consumer Protection Financial...

Another driver of increased closing costs – Marketing Service Agreements (MSAs)

Written by Guest on August 15, 2013.

Affiliated Business Arrangements (ABAs), once known as Controlled Business Arrangements (CBAs) are becoming a focus of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Recent efforts by the CFPB, evidenced by enforcement actions and resulting...

The Closing Costs Calculator Company

Written by Guest on August 5, 2013.

With the exception of Federal Title & Escrow Company, nearly all major title companies write a check to real estate brokers or mortgage companies as a “Thank You” for the referral of business. In some cases, the payment...

A win for the consumer

Written by Guest on August 2, 2013.

We’d like to applaud Wells Fargo for announcing a move toward eliminating their role in the ABA/CBA marketplace. The bank announced last week that it would discontinue 8 joint ventures, according to a report in American Banker. We’ve...

Marketing Service Agreements may be more dangerous than Affiliated Business Arrangements

Written by Guest on July 25, 2013.

Federal Title is an independent title company, which means that, unlike most of our competitors, we do not enter into Affiliated Business Arrangements (“ABAs”) or Marketing Service Agreements (“MSAs”) with lenders...

Unique anti-AfBA business model pays off

Written by Guest on February 4, 2013.

Title company’s unique anti-AfBA business model pays off [Oct. 18, 2009]

Marketing services agreement: A kickback by another name

Written by Todd Ewing on November 28, 2012.

While Affiliated Business Arrangements (also known as a The Legal Kickback) between settlement companies and real estate brokers have been much discussed and criticized over the years as anti-consumer, they continue to permeate the market. Here...

Borrower pays $2,000 for in-office closing?

Written by Guest on April 18, 2012.

Your refinance loan application has just been approved and your lender asks if you have a preference in selecting a title company. The borrower (name redacted) in the HUD-1 you see below answered “No” to this question and was...

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Tag: affiliated business arrangement

AfBAs And MSAs Are Bad For Consumers

How to change your chosen title company after you have a ratified sales contract

A wake-up call from CFPB regarding Marketing Service Agreements

Another driver of increased closing costs – Marketing Service Agreements (MSAs)

The Closing Costs Calculator Company

A win for the consumer

Marketing Service Agreements may be more dangerous than Affiliated Business Arrangements

Unique anti-AfBA business model pays off

Marketing services agreement: A kickback by another name

Borrower pays $2,000 for in-office closing?

Settlement Observer

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