What's New in the Knowledge Base

12/22/2025
The Real Talk on Title Plants: What Agents Love, Hate, and Wish Existed
Title plants are essential for title agents to ensure they can efficiently access and manage recorded property documents. Here, we’ve gathered insights from agents who use different title plant software solutions to share what they love about their current systems and what could be improved. When it comes to title plants, title insurance agents across various states have strong opinions on the best tools for managing title searches, document records, and streamlining property transactions. Title plants are essential for title agents to ensure they can efficiently access and manage recorded property documents. Here, we’ve gathered insights from agents who use different title plant software solutions to share what they love about their current systems and what could be improved.
12/22/2025
How to Use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Loan Lookup Tools
By utilizing the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lookup tools accurately, title insurance professionals can streamline the mortgage payoff process, ensuring clear and marketable titles for property transactions Knowing how to verify loans registered with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac is crucial for title insurance agency employees. These tools help confirm the current loan holder and match it with the payoff provider, ensuring accuracy in your transactions. Here’s a comprehensive guide on when and how to use these lookup tools effectively.
12/22/2025
State-By-State Directory to Apply For or Renew Your Notary Commission
This comprehensive list covers notary public resources and requirements for all 50 U.S. states. The links direct to the official state government websites with details on becoming a notary, renewing a commission, and accessing notary forms and certificates. Every state has different rules for becoming a notary. Whether you’re renewing your commission, applying for the first time, or just trying to figure out which agency actually handles it (spoiler: it’s not always the Secretary of State), this is the directory you wish had sooner. We’ve pulled together all 50 state links—direct to the source, no fluff, no outdated blogs, no AI hallucinations. Just click, apply, done.
12/22/2025
Avoid Costly Mistakes: What is the Critical Role of Title Insurance in Real Estate?
In this article you'll learn:
12/18/2025
Annual Filing Deadlines of 1099-S Forms 2026
These deadlines are for reporting real estate transactions made during the 2025 tax year on 1099-S forms. These deadlines are for reporting real estate transactions made during the 2025 tax year:

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Wicked Title Folks Podcast

Cheryl.wtf on 12/17/2025🐐🎙️It Started with a Typewriter and a WTF Moment: The Story Behind Wicked Title
📌 EPISODE SUMMARY:(Scroll down for the full story)This episode isn’t about algorithms, hacks, or hot takes.It’s about how Wicked Title Forum came to exist—and why it refuses to look, sound, or act like anything else in the title industry.Wicked Title started with a typewriter, a teenage job in a one
Cheryl.wtf on 12/10/2025🐐🎙️The Hidden Hand Behind Every Closing: How Federal Regulators Shape Your Title Business
The patchwork of oversight isn’t going away—but understanding how these regulators connect can save you money, protect your license, and give you a voice in shaping what’s next.🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Subscribe | 📢 Be a Sponsor🎙️EPISODE SUMMARY:(Listen above or Scroll down to read th
Cheryl.wtf on 10/29/2025🐐🎙️20% of My Files Canceled Last Year—Here’s How I Stopped Bleeding Money
What do you do when a deal collapses mid-stream and you’ve already spent hundreds? How can title agencies protect themselves?🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a SponsorThe Hidden Cost of Canceled Title Files“This year, I watched nearly one out of every five files walk out the door w
on 10/22/2025🐐🎙️The Remembrance Clause - Part 2
🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Subscribe | 📢 Be a SponsorEvery industry has its ghosts. For title agents, they don’t wear white sheets or rattle chains—they live in the dead files, the canceled deals that drain our time, money, and sanity. Today is the exciting conclusion of the fictional,
Cheryl.wtf on 10/15/2025🐐🎙️The Remembrance Clause - Part 1
🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Subscribe | 📢 Be a SponsorEvery industry has its ghosts. For title agents, they don’t wear white sheets or rattle chains—they live in the dead files, the canceled deals that drain our time, money, and sanity. This is a story about those ghosts. It’s fiction, y
December 21, 2025
🐐🎁 Season’s Compliance & New Year Fixes
This Week in the Title Underground (21-December-2025): Holiday compliance updates, FIRPTA refund fixes, & a look at how my title work evolved—from typewriters.🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a Sponsor🎄 The Santa Goat Isn’t Hiding Forever…We’re heading into the heart of December, w
December 14, 2025
🐐 Caveat Emptor, Secret Tax Tempter, What is This Hidden Bias Allure?
This Week in the Title Underground (14-December-2025): Where title agents get tripped up. What annexation really impacts, and how to align your platforms, partners, and priorities now.🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a Sponsor🎄 Week Two: The Santa Goat Still Roams…If you haven’t jo
December 7, 2025
🐐Fraud Hits High, APOR Could Die, Phishing TOAD Will Make You Cry
This Week's Title Underground (07-Dec-2025): We don't call the markets, but did someone predict, 50% home price constrict? Watchdogs fact-finding, Are Email Agreements Binding?🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a Sponsor🎄 December Challenge AlertWe’re celebrating the launch of our ne
November 30, 2025
🐐Title Underground: Leftovers in the Fridge, No Links in This Email—Blame the Tryp­tophan
This Week in the Title Underground (30-November-2025): Still in a Turkey Coma? Same. Back Wednesday.🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a SponsorHey there holiday shoppers, Cheryl here (sort of), no Title Underground today. We’re thankful for a beak, and frankly half the industry is s
November 23, 2025
🐐Title Underground: Niche Goldmines, Avoid Landmines, Does the Deacon Sign the Deed?
This Week in the Title Underground (23-November-2025): Notaries guessing, feds progressing, underwriters stress-assessing, and the regulators still coalescing🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a SponsorView Last Week’s Poll Results Here📜Educational Resources🐐Search the Title Archive
November 16, 2025
🐐Title Underground: FICO Falls, Redlining Calls, CFPB Just Threw a Stone
This Week in the Title Underground (16-Nov-2025): As Washington reshapes the rules of credit and discrimination, the path to homeownership bends, keep an eye on the trends🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a Sponsor📜Educational Resources🐐Search the Title Archive by Topic🐐🐐2025 ALTA O
November 10, 2025
🐐Title Underground: Frozen FIRPTA, Fiery RESPA, and How Title Agents Can Cash In (Take 2)
This Week in the Title Underground (9-Nov-2025): FIRPTA’s frozen, RESPA’s heating up, and Fannie just torched the credit score floor. Title chaos? We call it Tuesday. Here’s what to do next.🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a Sponsor📜Educational Resources🐐Search the Title Archive by
November 9, 2025
🐐 Title Underground: Frozen FIRPTA, Fiery RESPA, and How to Cash In
This Week in the Title Underground (9-Nov-2025): FIRPTA’s frozen, RESPA’s heating up, and Fannie just torched the credit score floor. Title chaos? We call it Tuesday. Here’s what to do next.🐐 Explore All Things Wicked | 🔔 Upgrade Now | 📢 Be a Sponsor🐐 This Week in the Title UndergroundFIRPTA’s froze
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Title Educational Feed (Click for More)

Five Strategies Title & Escrow Companies Must Execute to Succeed in 2026
12/22/2025
In 2025, the pace of change in title & escrow stopped simmering and started to boil.Industry technology leapt forward with the introduction of agentic AI—and title & escrow professionals squared up to face new digital age challenges. As artificial intelligence advanced rapidly, title & escrow firms
The 5 Documents Homebuyers Always Misunderstand
12/22/2025
Get your free guide: How to Have a Smooth Closing and Turn Past Clients Into Referral Sourceshttps://thomasandwebber.com/free-resource/ Buying a property in North Carolina? Schedule your closing at Thomas & Webber here:https://thomasandwebber.com/schedule-a-closing-with-thomas-and-webber/ Need hel
Family Office Fireside: Partner’s Path
12/22/2025
Full access to this 60-minute conversation is hosted on CapitalStack–Thesis Driven’s investor database & private community for real estate GPs. Get AccessThis past week, we sat down with Billy Haddad at Partner’s Path to discuss how a family office that acts as both GP and anchor LP is actually depl
Thesis Driven Education: What We Built in 2025 and the Q1 2026 Schedule
12/21/2025
In 2025, we meaningfully expanded both the scale and scope of our education offerings. Across courses, workshops, and events, thousands of operators, investors, founders, and professionals engaged with Thesis Driven to sharpen their understanding of how real estate actually works — from capital rais
AB 723 and Altered Images: New Legal Risks for Real Estate Marketing
12/21/2025
In this episode of Real News Extra®, Jennifer Felten, Founder and Principal of RELAW, APC, joins Fred Felten, Operations Manager, to talk about “AB 723 Altered Images” a new California law that addresses the use of altered images in real estate marketing. Visual marketing is powerful, but under Cal

Business Growth & Operations (Click for More)

12/18/2025
The Hidden Paycheck Part 1
The Hidden Paycheck Part 1: What You’re Really Earning Beyond Your Salary When you look at your paycheck, the first thing you notice is the amount you take home. But what if we told you that number is just part of the story? Your total compensation is often much more than the dollars deposited […]
12/16/2025
Positive Affirmations to Get The Most Out of Your Hour of Power
Positive Affirmations to Power Up Your Mindset When used consistently, positive affirmations help you focus your energy, cut through distractions, and perform under pressure. Whether you are starting your morning routine or gearing up for a key...The post Positive Affirmations to Get The Most Out of
12/16/2025
What’s Trending: December Edition
With the NFL playoffs approaching, football is still on the top of people’s minds and social media feeds. From the shocking Chiefs' elimination to the 44-year-old Philip Rivers leading the Colts back into contention and the rise of upstarts like the Bears and Jaguars making headlines, this year prov
12/14/2025
Personal Branding Doesn’t Take a Holiday
The air is cooler, the shopping sales have begun, and our to-do list is growing by the minute. But there is definitely something different in the air … something that you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s not tangible, but it’s a feeling. It’s that holiday happiness, that extra bit of kindness th
12/12/2025
10 Tips for an Effective Referral Program
Referrals are one of the most valuable sources of business for service-based industries, especially for title companies, law firms, real estate professionals, and other trust-driven businesses. When someone chooses a closing partner or an attorney, they’re making a decision with major financial and

LTAs News & Updates (Click for More)

12/11/2025
Webinar – 1031 Exchange Basics – January 15
Join us on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, for a live webinar. Sayward Loftus, Business Developement Manager, First American Exchange Company, will be…
12/09/2025
Served with a Subpoena: What Real Estate Professionals Need to Know
BY American Land Title Association Getting served with a subpoena can be an intimidating experience—especially for professionals in the title or settlement services space who…
11/25/2025
Navigating the New Massachusetts Real Estate Withholding Rules (Video)
PowerPoint
11/20/2025
Signed, Sealed…Misdelivered? Mastering the Maze of Conveyancing Documents (Video)
PowerPoint
11/20/2025
DC Education Session (February 11, 2026)
February 11, 2026DC Education Session9:30 am - 4:30 pmGreat Room at Savage MillOld Weave Building8600 Foundry StreetSavage, MD 20762This session is being hosted by The Maryland Land Title Association and the District of Columbia Land Title Association. If you are a member of either association, atte

Title Industry News (Click for More)

Cortes & Hay Profiles Title Agency and Real Estate Agent Relationship - Asbury Park Press
12/22/2025
Cortes & Hay Profiles Title Agency and Real Estate Agent Relationship Asbury Park Press
The importance of community involvement in title and real estate - HousingWire
12/22/2025
Title insurance is crucial for protecting property ownership; AI has increased the risk of identity fraud in real estate. The first hour after a fraud ...
The importance of community involvement in title and real estate - HousingWire
12/22/2025
The importance of community involvement in title and real estate HousingWire
Toll Brothers Looks Cheap, But Luxury Housing Still Faces A Test - Finimize
12/22/2025
... title insurance referrals, home automation/security, and landscaping. Historically, Toll also ran multifamily and student housing divisions ...
Cortes & Hay Profiles Title Agency and Real Estate Agent Relationship - Worcester Telegram
12/21/2025
Cortes & Hay Profiles Title Agency and Real Estate Agent Relationship Worcester Telegram

WTF Radio

Cheryl.wtf on 06/04/2025🐐🎧🎶 Would You Join Me? – A Title Industry Anthem
An ode to the title agents out there clearing clouds, chasing payoffs, and signing their souls away—one closing at a time.This parody of “Hey You” isn’t just a moody throwback—it’s a call to arms (and hearts).Because you’re not alone out there.Not in the hallway. Not on the road. Not even when you’r
Cheryl.wtf on 05/07/2025🐐🎧🎶 Ink, Lies & Alibis
🎶 Ink, Lies, and AlibisA True (Tragic) Tale of Title Fraud, Sung with a Country DrawlIn this heart-wrenching (yet weirdly toe-tapping) ballad, we follow the story of a title agent who did everything right…Except one thing: they didn’t use Positive Pay. 😬And that’s how Clyde—somewhere in Georgia—rode
Cheryl.wtf on 12/12/20245 Days of Closing
🎸 Rock Out with "5 Days of Closing"! 🎤The holiday classic just got a title industry twist—and a serious dose of rock! We've transformed "12 Days of Christmas" into a bold, head-banging anthem about the chaos, quirks, and triumphs of title closings.🎶 Perfect for title agents, escrow officers, and any