Bulletin: ID2017001

Dear Associates:

Effective Date: January 1, 2017

A number of changes have been made to the Rate Manual effective January 1, 2017. Below is a summary of the changes.

B.1. The minimum or flat charge was changed from $210 to $200. Also the per thousand charges were changed back to the rates in existence prior to July 1, 2015.

B.6.h. ALTA Expanded Coverage Residential Loan Policy and Short Form Expanded Coverage Residential Loan Policy. The ALTA Expanded Coverage Residential Loan Policy has been designed to afford lenders who make loans secured by one-to-four family residential property many of the same expanded coverages provided to consumers by the ALTA Homeowner’s Policy of Title Insurance as well as a number of additional coverages unique to the lenders. The policy is available in both a “long form” and a “short form” version. The policy is issued only on one-to-four family residential property. The charge for the policies is the same price as for an ALTA Loan Policy plus a surcharge of 10%.

B.6.j. The Simplified One-to Four Family Residential Loan rate was reduced to the rates in existence prior to the July 1, 2015, change.

B.6.l. ALTA Residential Limited Coverage Mortgage Modification Policy. This policy may be issued in connection with a mortgage modification by an institutional lender covering one-to-four residential real property. The charge for the policy is $150.  

B.6.10. Reissue Charges, Credits, and Additional Fees. The look back years was changed from 2 years to 5 years. 

Forms. The form of the policies referenced above have been filed with the State. Also, the new ALTA Commitment for Title Insurance promulgated by the ALTA on August 1, 2016, has been filed. The new commitment form should now be the form used.

C. Endorsements. A significant number of ALTA Endorsements were added to the manual. ALTA endorsements should be issued in all cases where available. CLTA and STG forms should only be used when the requested coverage is not available in an ALTA form. Further, small pricing adjustments were made to a number of endorsements.

The ALTA 2 has been decertified and is no longer available.

ALTA 9.6.1 Private Rights - Current Assessments - Loan Policy has been added. Charge is 15% of Basic with a maximum charge of $2,000.

ALTA 18.2 Multiple Tax Parcel has been added. The charge for the endorsement is $50.

ALTA 28.3 Encroachments - Boundaries and Easements - Described Improvements and Land Under Development has been added. The charge is 15% of Basic with a maximum of $2,000.

ALTA 36.7 Energy project - Fee Estate - Owner’s Policy has been added. The charge is 15% of Basic, $2,000 maximum.

ALTA 36.8 Energy project - Fee Estate - Loan Policy has been added. The charge is 15% of Basic, $2,000 maximum.

ALTA 40 Tax Credit - Owner’s Policy has been added. The charge is $75.

ALTA 40.1 Tax Credit - Defined Amount - Owner’s Policy has been added. Charge is $75 plus increased charge based on tax credit valuation amount.

ALTA 45 Pari Passu Mortgage - Loan Policy has been added. The charge is 5% of Basic with a $40 minimum and a $200 maximum charge.

ALTA 46 Option. The charge is 10% of Basic.

As a reminder, other forms should not be used if a comparable ALTA version is available. If a comparable ALTA version is available, the most current version of the ALTA form available in each state should be used, unless approved by a Stewart underwriter. 

Please contact PropertyInfo Customer Care or your title production software vendor to get the changes implemented in your system.

Do not use any Rate Manual (electronic or hard copy) dated prior to January 1, 2017.  

These changes have been made to the Rate Manual which can be found at here.

If you have any questions relating to this or other bulletins, please contact a Stewart Title Guaranty Company underwriter.

For on-line viewing of this and other bulletins, please log onto www.vuwriter.com.