Recent news, announcements and new features.
Dedicated to keep you informed of news, recent announcements and county updates.
APRIL 2011 IN THIS ISSUE
What’s Happening: NTC Employees Help Homeless Green Corner: Social Media What’s New: Life of Loan Services Service Spotlight: Assignment Services In the Press: NTC Passes Extensive Reviews County Update: Address and Fee Changes
WHAT’S HAPPENING Employees Help Homeless Employees volunteer in kitchen and hold a drive to benefit the Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) in Clearwater, Florida Employees from Nationwide Title Clearing (NTC), a leading post closing services provider for the residential mortgage industry, enjoyed helping a good cause by volunteering and collecting items of necessity for men, women, and children served by the Homeless Emergency Project (HEP) in Clearwater, Florida. Nationwide Title Clearing employees recently became acquainted with the HEP program and decided to contribute to their cause. To kick off the new initiative, NTC’s Erika Lance spearheaded a drive at the company offices throughout the month of November to collect items of necessity, including clothing, blankets, toiletries and canned food. About 20 large bags filled with items were collected for the HEP Thrift Store, proceeds of which go directly to support the
homeless in the community. In addition to the drive, several Nationwide Title Clearing employees contributed personal time as volun-
teers in the kitchens that cater to shelter residents. They experienced such positive feedback from the HEP staff and shelter residents that NTC has decided to make an ongoing project of it. As such, Nationwide
Title Clearing is scheduled to provide volunteers in the HEP kitchens once per month for the remainder of 2011 and plans to hold additional drives to collect items for the HEP Thrift Store. “We believe that the HEP program is making a lasting difference in the lives of many who have fallen on unfortunate times and we are happy to support their efforts. We encourage others in our community to learn more about contributing to HEP and we suspect they will find it as rewarding as we do.” said Erika Lance, Senior Vice President at Nationwide Title Clearing. HEP is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Since 1986, it has been their mission to provide homeless and very low-income individuals and families with housing, food, clothing, and support services necessary to obtain self-sufficiency and improved quality of life. Their goal is to break the cycle of homelessness and be the last homeless shelter an individual or family ever has to access. Visit http://ethep.org for more information.
THE GREEN CORNER Recent Environmental Initiatives In our continued efforts make green choices, NTC is reducing its paper mailings and print advertising to transition into increased electronic media. We hope that other companies recognize that small every day choices can contribute to a big difference to saving our planet’s natural resources. Follow us on our new social media sites that are designed to help keep you connected with what’s new at Nationwide Title Clearing.
We hope you find the information relevant, timely and interesting!
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT ASSIGNMENT SERVICES
broken assignment chains that could threaten their position. NTC’s hard won know-how of document and land record requirements, statutes, legal requirements and audited practices is invaluable to our clients, especially when they are under pressure. NTC’s assignment services include every step of the process to accurately prepare and record assignments in jurisdictions nationwide. Services are customized to include any of the following features:
Nationwide Title Clearing does not simply provide assignment preparation services; we ensure that every aspect of each assignment is accurately prepared and executed to protect our client. Assignments are not prepared until required deficiencies are located and cured. Our confidence and expertise is backed by a client indemnification. As national lien release, assignment and land records experts, Nationwide Title Clearing has a competitive edge. NTC’s processes, legal forms, signing practices and diligent processes have been thoroughly audited, examined and not only found to be legally sound, but unparalleled in the industry in terms of accuracy and thoroughness. NTC’s superior service comes from the experience of consistently processing documents in the multi-million range each year. Combine that with our extensively audited practices and you have an exclusive service that cannot be matched. NTC is unequaled when it comes to accuracy, volume capacity and cost. What makes NTC’s assignment services stand out is that assignment
preparation and recording services are paired with expert assignment chain reviews and validation. NTC ensures that each and every assignment is able to be accurately and legally prepared. Assignment processing is validated by extensive property reports performed off actual land records to ensure the highest level of accuracy. Deficiencies or past missing documentation is identified and reported to clients, thus alerting them proactively to curatives needed. We save our clients money too, because such research is only performed when it is deemed pertinent during the review process. This in depth service goes far beyond basic document preparation to protect our clients from hidden risks. There is no magic wand to instantly make your loan files 100% accurate. It takes a physical review of the recorded documents, detailed land records research and industry experience to locate deficiencies and determine how to legally assign a loan. NTC delivers this and more. In today’s market no mortgage lender/servicer can afford to be caught off guard with old un-recorded or ill prepared assignments in their loan files, or
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File imaging on or off location
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Document inventory/indexing
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Data capture
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Chain of assignment reviews
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Land records research and working with lenders/servicers to cure exceptions
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Quality control
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Assignment preparation
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Document execution
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Recording and eRecording
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Full data integration
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Website access to reports, images and statuses
All loans are not created equal, and unique circumstances can alter what is required for each individual loan or pool of loans. NTC’s expertise is founded on a deep understanding of document preparation and the legal requirements of the thousands of different recording jurisdictions nationwide. Whatever the specific circumstances of your portfolio, NTC can guide you to the most effective solution for your unique needs based on our experience. You need the leading assignment expert in your corner to protect your interests. Contact Nationwide Title Clearing today.
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Substantial discounts on Nationwide Title Clearing post closing services on loans closed through Lenders Title Solutions.
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Same guarantees and same service levels – the same contracted SLA’s apply to all loans
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Full reconciliation of all documents
Life of Loan Service Package
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Eliminates buy-backs or penalties due to lost document issues
National Title & Closing Services Integrated with NTC Services Results in Downstream Savings for Clients.
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Centralized accountable closings
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Less risk of agents going out of business or being unresponsive, when closed with Lenders Title Solutions.
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Imaging, hosting and web access
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Cohesive life of loan solution
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Document correctives and errors located and handled early in the process
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Quality Control by a third party before it’s a problem to the investor/buyer
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Lenders that close their loans through Lenders Title Solutions and have a relationship with NTC will see drastically improved processes from loan origination through to loan sale or payoff.
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Lenders Title Solutions, as a national title and closing services provider, outsources the Final Documents services to NTC as part of their standard deliverable to the lender.
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Nationwide Title Clearing’s unique relationship with Lenders Title Solutions will result in drastic savings for customers and lower closing costs to borrowers, while still getting the highest quality service available in the industry.
WHAT’S NEW Consider This
Life of Loan Service Nationwide Title Clearing and Lenders Title Solutions partnership results in a true life of loan solution and savings for customers. The unique integration between Nationwide Title Clearing and Lenders Title Solutions allows the two firms to offer drastically improved processes and downstream efficiencies to lender clients that use both companies. Nationwide Title Clearing is a leading provider of post closing services in the US and has formed a partnership with Lenders Title Solutions, who is a National Title Agent providing closings and insurance in all 50 states. Lenders that hire both Lenders Title Solutions and Nationwide Title Clearing will see drastically improved processes and downstream efficiencies on the post closing side. Lenders Title Solutions, as a title/closing provider, outsources to Nationwide Title Clearing the Final Documents services for mutual clients. That Final/Trailing Documents service includes full tracking, QC
audits, managing document curatives, imaging, and investor delivery. With this Life of Loan solution the mortgage, title policy and other relevant information is pre-loaded into the Nationwide Title Clearing system on the front end, creating a true post closing solution. This allows lenders to leverage the images and data to their advantage and work directly with Nationwide Title Clearing for future post closing services (lien releases, assignments, MERS transfers, etc.) at little to no cost. Through this partnership, a true life of loan service package is now available. Life of Loan Service Package Benefits •
Seamless integration companies
between
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Nationwide Title Clearing services are autonomous from Lenders Title Solutions services.
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Final document services by Nationwide Title Clearing are included in service package.
Contact Tammy Gardner directly for program details: Phone: 800-346-9152 x238 Email: Tammy_Gardner@nwtc.com.
mortgage lending and servicing clients have also recently conducted their own reviews of NTC’s operations over the past year and found that its signing and business practices relating to processing lien releases, assignments, document retrieval and other company services were sound and effective.
IN THE PRESS NTC PASSES EXTENSIVE REVIEWS Nationwide Title Clearing’s Practices Pass Extensive Reviews. The company received favorable reviews for the SAS-70 Type II audit, among others. Nationwide Title Clearing successfully completed its SAS-70 Type II audit (Statement on Auditing Standards No. 70: for Service Organizations). This is the company’s fourth consecutive annual SAS-70 review, and one among several audits that NTC has successfully completed over the past year. Upon in-depth examination by reputable independent auditing firms and reviews by several top national clients, Nationwide Title Clearing’s general management controls and signing procedures were found to be effective and legally sound. As is customary in the industry, the lengthy and extensive SAS-70 Type II review was completed by a reputable
third-party independent auditing firm. Key operational components that were audited include NTC’s general management controls, risk management, information security and communications systems. The extensive audit also covered NTC’s core practices as it relates to integrity and ethical values, commitment to competence, management philosophy and style, organizational structure and responsibility and human resources policies and practices. The Type II designation indicates that the specific controls were also tested and documented to be effective throughout the six month audit period. NTC passed the SAS-70 Type II audit with no exceptions. Additionally, in July 2010 Ernst and Young completed their own third party examination to validate NTC’s business practices and controls on behalf of one of NTC’s leading clients and NTC passed with no exceptions. Several of NTC’s leading national
“We’re very proud of our performance when it comes to customer reviews and independent audits, especially in the face of current media misrepresentations about our industry,” said Jeremy Pomerantz, Senior Vice President of Nationwide Title Clearing. “Several of our largest clients have reviewed our signing practices and confirmed that we met their standards. Some stated that our practices and controls are better than theirs, which is as it should be. We are experts in the services that we offer and financial services firms should expect their partners to be a best-of -breed solution.” NTC’s professional include:
qualifications
• Extensive Disaster Recovery & Continuity Plans •
SAS-70 Type II
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Extensive Indemnity Coverage
• Errors & Omissions Insurance and Professional & General Liability Coverage •
Bonded for Fidelity & Crime
• Audited Physical Information Security Controls
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• Employees Undergo Extensive Background Checks and Drug Testing •
Fireproof Vault Storage
If you would like a copy of NTC’s SAS-70 Type II review, or additional information, please send us an email today at: nwtc.info@nwtc.com.
COUNTY UPDATES Recent County Changes & Updates ADDRESS CHANGES FL, Collier Collier County, FL sent Nationwide Title Clearing a notice that effective Nov 1, 2010 their physical address will be changed to: Collier County Clerk of Circuit Court Attn: Recording Department 3315 Tamiami Trail E, Ste. 102 Naples, FL 34112 The notice says that their PO Box mailing address will remain the same.
NC, Buncombe Buncombe County Register of Deeds, NC, sent Nationwide Title Clearing a notice that effective February 9, 2011 they will be moving. The new address is: 35 Woodfin St. Suite 226 Asheville, NC 28801
PA, Lackawanna Lackawanna County, PA sent out a notice that effective Oct 12, 2010 their office will be moving. The new address is: Lackawanna County Gateway Center 135 Jefferson Ave Scranton, PA 18503
FEE CHANGES AZ, Maricopa Maricopa County, AZ sent Nationwide Title Clearing a notice regarding new fees for recording government-related documents effective Nov 1, 2010. These fees apply to any documents where the US, the State or a political subdivision is a party to the document, the document is recorded at the request of the US, the State or a political subdivision and the recording fee is to be paid from public monies.
IL, Ford Ford County, IL sent out a notice to Nationwide Title Clearing that effective December 1, 2010 they will apply a $5.00 recording charge to each transaction. The new fees have increased to $44 for the first 4 pages and $1 for each additional page.
IL, Fulton Fulton County, IL sent out a notice to Nationwide Title Clearing that effective January 1, 2011 they will increase the recording fee by $5.00. The new fees have increased to $56 for the first 4 pages and $1 for each additional page.
IL, Perry
Title Clearing that if you are releasing multiple mortgages on a property at once there is an additional recording fee of $0.50 per mortgage. Important note: They will reject the release without the proper recording fee.
NY, Nassau Nassau County, NY sent Nationwide Title Clearing a notice that effective Dec 1, 2010 the Block Fees will increase from $10.00 to $75.00. To view Nassau County’s list of recording fees by document type go to this link. http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Clerk/Fees/realestate.html
Perry County, IL sent out a notice to Nationwide Title Clearing that effective October 4, 2010 they will increase their recording fees by $5. Fees have increased from $38 to $43.
OH, Geauga
NY, Qswego
Fee: $32.00 for the 1st two pages including one marginal + $8.00 each additional page + $4.00 for each additional marginal.
Oswego County, NY notified Nationwide County updates like these are posted regularly on the NTC Blog. http://ntcpeople.blogspot.com
Geauga County, OH sent Nationwide Title Clearing a notice that effective immediately they have adjusted their fees for marginal references on mortgage releases.