Federal Advocacy

Title agents see firsthand the importance of 1031 exchanges for building and sustaining local communities. Like-kind exchanges provide an important incentive for investing in affordable housing and commercial real estate.

ALTA works closely with the U.S. Department of the Treasury to keep members informed of Geographical Targeting Orders (GTOs). GTOs apply to all title insurers, their subsidiaries and agents of (“Covered Business”).

ALTA strives to help members identify the benefits and risks associated with digital closings in order to put the industry in the best position to solve problems and inspire innovative ideas. ALTA is your source for tools and education about digital closings.

With states passing inconsistent laws and no uniform federal law addressing data privacy, there’s a patchwork of rules for companies to comply with. ALTA is dedicated to helping its members understand what they need to do to comply, if required, with data privacy laws.

ALTA is strongly opposed to any form of housing discrimination and is committed to proactively working toward solutions that protect the property rights of all homeowners.

The National Flood Insurance Program is critical to provide certainty to the housing market. Property owners need to have access to affordable flood insurance. Without flood insurance protection, homeowners will not be able to buy, sell or refinance real estate.

Given the importance of real estate to the U.S. economy, any law regarding foreign ownership should establish specific processes and procedures to protect valid property interests and avoid penalizing legitimate sellers, creditors, and future owners of property.

ALTA has brought together industry and outside experts to discuss the various ways industry and government can address the issue of heirs’ property, including how to quantify heirs’ property, how to better leverage estate planning resources, and how to expand access to programs and services for those with heirs’ property.

The title industry recognizes limiting access to certain personal information in government records can help protect the safety of at-risk groups. The best way to shield sensitive information is to limit who has access to the protected data, without removing or altering vital public records.

ALTA monitors Native American Lands legislation, regulation, case law, and ongoing litigation to determine its impact on title insurance and conveyancing and develop official positions regarding Native American Lands

ALTA supports efforts to protect consumers by prohibiting the filing of unfair real estate fee agreements in property records, a practice that creates impediments and increases the cost and complexity of selling, refinancing or transferring real estate.

Document recording fees represent a very small percentage of the closing costs associated with a real estate transaction. However, if the recording fee is calculated incorrectly it may adversely affect the closing.

The use of various payment rails in real estate transactions is governed by state Good Funds laws. These laws set requirements for acceptable forms of closing funds. They help to ensure final and disbursable funds are received prior to real estate transfers or closings.

Redaction is intended to shield the location and other personal information of individuals with recognized safety concerns from being accessible through documents contained in the public land records.

The Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic Notarization Act (SECURE Notarization Act) is bipartisan federal legislation that permits immediate nationwide use of remote online notarization (RON) with minimum standards and provides certainty for the interstate recognition of RON.

ALTA is proud to work alongside government and real estate industry partners to protect consumers from threats to their property rights and break down barriers to homeownership – the greatest source of wealth in the United States.

ALTA has engaged with the FHFA and government sponsored entities (GSEs) to help them understand the differences between title insurance and alternative products in the coverage and protection they provide.