The Title Report - Utah Land And Title Association

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12November 2016The Title ReportTHE NEWSLETTER OF THE UTAH LAND TITLE ASSOCIATIONMonthly NewsletterNovember 2016Angie Watson Introduction 2We are quickly approaching MidwinterConvention February 2-3, 2017! We areexcited to meet together again and hope to seeall of you there. You can now register onlineat utahlandtitle.com under Upcoming Events.For more information please see page 7 ofthis newsletter.President’s Message 3ALTA Convention Recap 4Legislative Update 5Upcoming Events 6Executive Committee Information 7

;ULTA NewsletterNovember 2016Angie Watson IntroductionWe want towelcome AngieWatson as thenewMarketInvestigator forthe DepartmentofInsurance,which serves asaliaisonbetweentheDepartment of Insurance (DOI) and the titleindustry. We are excited to have her as apart of our team! As the ULTA, we want tocreate a great working relationship with her.Angie has worked in real estate for 17 yearsand started as an Escrow Officer Assistant16 years ago. In 2004 she got her Escrowlicense. Throughout the past 17 years, shehas worked as a recruiter, office manager,done some title work, and visited allspectrums of the industry, which we are alla part of. Her most recent job was with RealAdvantage Title, a company that she helpedto get off the ground. She worked there as arecruiter, staffer, and office manager. She isexcited about the stability and change ofpace that the Department of Insurance hasto offer her and her daughters. As a motherof two, she loves to hike, ski, mountainbike, and do other activities outside with herchildren and their dog. Angie looks forwardto being a partner with the ULTA andforming a strong relationship. We arehopeful that together, we can foster a greatpartnership with open communication.Please feel free to reach out to Angie andwelcome her. She can be reached at 801538-3786 or by email: Arwatson@utah.gov.-Miranda Olsen2

;ULTA NewsletterPresident’s MessageMark WebberI love this fall weather! It’s been sobeautiful! As I have traveled the state, I amreminded how fortunate we are to live inUtah.A few weeks ago I attended the AnnualConvention of the American Land TitleAssociation. It was the first time I haveattended an annual ALTA convention.Wow!.it was an amazing conference and Icame away so proud of our industry. Therewere hundreds of title folks from around thecountry, and we discussed everything fromlegislation affecting our industry to title andescrow issues, Best Practices, CFPBenforcement actions, to increasing sales.There was only one agency represented fromUtah, so we need to improve our attendancein the future. If you can, I highlyrecommendattendinganALTAconvention. You won’t be disappointed.We have lots going on behind the scenes atthe ULTA. Our Legislative Chair, GarrethLong, along with our Underwriting Chair,Glen Roberts, recently arranged a meetingwith Representative Curt Webb, who is fromour industry, to discuss the mechanics lienstatute and how we might be able to improvethe lien waiver process. We had severalunderwriters and agency representatives inattendance to discuss possible solutions. Weare trying to come together as an industry topropose some ways to improve the process,November 2016then see if we can get it passed in the cominglegislative year. Stay tuned. There is lots ofwork to be done.I want to thank those who are involved in theULTA. We appreciate our members andhope the ULTA is representing ourindustry. When we meet with the UtahDepartment of Insurance or legislators orother industry representatives, they often referto the ULTA as the entity that represents ourindustry. Yet, we have so many in ourindustry who are not part of ULTA. We wantto encourage all title agencies to be part ofULTA so that we are the voice of theindustry. We are stronger together.My grandfather John Webber, an earlypioneer in the real estate business in Utah,often said: “It’s your country, own part ofit.” We in the title business provide theopportunity for people to own part of thisgreat country. I’m proud to play a small partin that process. We have a great industry withgood people. Thanks to all.-Mark Webber3

;ULTA NewsletterNovember 2016ALTA Convention RecapOctober 4-7 in Scottsdale, AZThe American Land Title Association heldits annual convention October 4-7, 2016 inScottsdale, Arizona. The convention hadrecord number of attendees as ALTAcelebrated its seventh consecutive year ofall-time record membership. Meetingsincludedlargeentertainingandinspirational presentations, interactivesessions that engaged the attendees, classesthat focused on timely issues and trendsaffecting our industry, and of course plentyof opportunities to network and enjoy goodcompany. Through it all I was remindedthat while many may attend a national orstate convention for CE/CLE credits, thesemeetings offer so much more.For starters, it is easy to get bogged downin daily work and forget the importantthings we are doing. In addition tocreating peace of mind for propertyowners, here are Six Land Title IndustryFacts: Protects property rights for millionsof American homebuyersCollects 4.75 billion each year inback income taxesRecovers 325 million each year inunpaid child supportEmploys more than 107,000 peoplesupporting nearly 223,000 jobsProduces 26 billion in goods andservices each yearPays almost 8 billion in wageseach yearIf that isn’t inspiring enough, conventionsoffer a chance to mingle and learn from topindustry leaders. Underwriters and vendorsare present to help you stay up-to-date ontrends and issues affecting you each day.We have a chance to learn about legislationand other issues threatening our livelihoodand how to protect ourselves. And throughit all there isgoodfoodandgreatpeople!The2017ALTAconventionwill be held inMiami,Florida nextfall. A crosscountry tripandweekawayfromwork may bea lot to ask for many of us. However, theULTA Mid-Winter Convention is coming upFebruary 2-3 in Salt Lake City and theULTA Summer Convention will be heldJuly 30 – August 2, 2017 in Sun ValleyIdaho. Both of these conventions will coverCE credits, but again offer so much more.We hope you will make the commitmenttoday to attend. We know that if you do,you will walk away better informed andready to face the challenges of your jobwhile being inspired by the real significanceof the Land Title Industry.-Meg Watson4

;ULTA NewsletterNovember 2016Legislative Update:New OvertimeRulesin theFairLaborStandardsStandardsActAct likelylikely toIndustryPayPayNew OvertimeRulesin theFairLabortoaffectaffectTitleTitleIndustryThe Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) gave most Americans a right to earn overtime (one-and-a-halfpay) when they worked more than forty hours in a week. However, the FLSA excluded “white collar”employees from the Overtime Rule (“White Collar Exemption”).W hite Collar Ex em ptionU nd er th e cu rren t W hite Collar Ex em pt ion , Escrow Officer P et e w ould b e ex em p t from th eOvertim e R u le if he w as a salaried em p loyee (not an h ourly em ployee) w h o earn ed at least 45 5per w eek (th e equ ivalent of 23 ,6 60 .00 per year) an d h e perform ed ex ecut ive, adm in istrative orprofession al fu n ct ion s at h is Tit le Com pany.Under the new rule, the salary threshold increases from 455 per week to 913 per week (or 23,660.00per year to 47,476.00 per year). Thus, beginning December 1, 2016, the new Three Part Test for anexecutive, administrative or professional employee to qualify under the White Collar Exemption is:Em ployer’s Option sR aise salaries to m eet th e n ew th resh old an d k eep em ploy ees ex em pt fromov ertim eThis opt ion w ou ld w or k for em p loyers w ho p ay th eir salaried em ployees near t heam ou n t requ ired D ec 1. I n m eeting th e n ew th resh old, an escrow officer’scom m ission s m ay satisfy u p to 1 0 percen t of th e new salary t hreshold, providedth ese paym ent s are m ade on at least a qu arterly basis.P ay em ploy ees ov ertim eThis ap proach w ork s for em ployees w ho typ ically w ork 4 0 hou rs or few er in aw ork w eek. Th ere is no requ irem en t to convert em ployees from salaried to hou rlypay b efore calculating ov ert im e.I m plem ent a com bin ation of th e aboveSho uld y ou seek adv ice from a Law yerBecau se th e FLSA requ ires em ployersdeterm ining w heth er an em ployeeEx em ption requires a legal analy sis onw ould be w ise to seek co unsel from anto k eep certain reco rds and becausequalifies u nder the W hite Collarth e “prim ary duty ” of the em ployee, itattorn ey on you r pay ro ll policies.-Garreth Long5

September 2016SAVE THE DATE!Midwinter ConventionSLC University Park MarriottFebruary 2-3, 2017Each year, the ULTA holds two conventions. At theconventions, we provide continuing education courses where youcan receive information on the latest updates in the title world.You can associate with other people that are invested in theindustry. There is a guaranteed room rate of 164 per night,available through January 4, 2017 by calling 1-800-228-9290 andreferencing the Utah Land Title Group. Registration for theconvention will be available on our website soon.We hope you join us!We are looking forward to next summer!Summer ConventionSun Valley ResortJuly 30- August 2, 2017Meetings will be held July 31 & August 1. Rooms at the lodge, Inn, and Condos are alldiscounted. The discount and room block expires July 2, 2017. Reservations can be made by calling 1800-786-8259 or reservations@sunvalley.com and referencing Utah Land Title Group.Utah Land Title Association339 E Brambleberry LaneDraper, UT 84020meg@utahlandtitle.comutahlandtitle.com6

;ULTA NewsletterNovember 2016UTAHLAND XECUTIVEEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE2016-2017COMMITTEEMARK WEBBER, PresidentFirst American Title215 South Main Street, Suite 280SLC, Utah 84111(801) 578-8888 markwebber@firstam.comCell: (801) 541-3700SHERI OLSEN, MembershipFirst American Title1935 E. Vine Street, suite 280Murray, UT 84121(801) 716-8627 stolsen@firstam.comCell: (801) 573-4103SCOTT HALVORSEN, 1st Vice PresidentIntegrated Title Services1092 East South Union AvenueMidvale, UT 84047(801) 307-0160 scott@itstitle.comCell: (801) 455-7576JAMES SEAMAN, 2nd Vice PresidentInwest Title Services2037 W. Commerce WayWest Haven, Utah 84401(801) 399-3544 jseaman@inwesttitle.comCell: (801) 635-4569MEG WATSON, SecretaryUtah Land Title Association339 E. Brambleberry LaneDraper, UT 84020(801) 450-4098meg@utahlandtitle.comJIM HICKMAN, Past PresidentHickman Land Title112 N. Main StreetLogan, UT 84321(435) 752-0582 jimh@landtitleco.comCell: (435) 770-4365JUSTIN SCOTT, Capitol Region VPNorth American Title290 S. Main St., Suite ABountiful, UT 84010(801) 596-2037 jscott@nat.comCell: (801) 663-3983DAVID FREEMAN, Northern Region VPNorthern Title Company11 W. Center StreetLogan, UT 84321(435) 752-3600 davidf@northerntitle.netCell: (435) 512-3038SUSAN HOUGHTON, Central Region VPTooele Title Company123 W. Vine StreetTooele, Utah 84074(435) 882-1120 susan@tooeletitle.comCell: (435) 830-7907GLEN ROBERTS, Chair Underwriter SectionStewart Title1270 West 2320 South, suite FSalt Lake City, UT 84119(801) 822-4303 groberts@stewart.comCell:GARRETH LONG, Legislative ChairMeridian Title64 East 6400 South, Suite 100Murray, UT 84107(801) 264-8888 glong@mtcutah.comCell: (801) 633-0029JONATHON IVINS, Education ChairMeridian Title64 East 6400 South, Suite 100SLC, UT 84107(801) 264-8888 jivins@mtcutah.comCell: (801) 860-0937JANE LANCASTER, Eastern Region VPSouth Eastern Utah Title175 E. 100 S.Price, UT 84501(435) 637-4455 jane@southeasttitle.comCell: (801) 633-8665JEFF BARNES, Dixie Region VPFirst American Title50 E. 100 S., ste. 100St. George, UT 84770(435) 673-5491 jtbarnes@firstam.comCell: (435) 632-3976PAUL SPERRY, Southern Utah VPJuab Title & Abstract240 North MainNephi, UT 84648(435) 623-0387 paul@juabtitle.comCell: (435) 660-1723CHARLIE EVANS, LobbyistCharles Evans & AssociatesP.O. Box 2361SLC, Utah 84110(801) 983-1629 charlie.evans@mac.comCell: (801) 560-73967

(801) 578-8888 markwebber@firstam.com Cell: (801) 541-3700 SHERI OLSEN, Membership First American Title 1935 E. Vine Street, suite 280 Murray, UT 84121 (801) 716-8627 stolsen@firstam.com Cell: (801) 573-4103 SCOTT HALVORSEN, 1st Vice President Integrated Title Services 1092 East South Union Avenue Midvale, UT 84047