Title Insurance and Your Transaction
For family offices and high-net-worth individuals with longstanding real estate holdings in Michigan, recent developments under the Michigan Marketable Record Title Act (MRTA) merit close attention. Originally designed to...more
When considering whether to enter into a contract to buy or sell property, you may come across various types of deeds by which title may be transferred. In Washington State, there are three common types of deeds that may be...more
On February 16, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, which would require certain real estate professionals to report certain transaction information to FinCEN in...more
When it comes to risk mitigation for property investors, title insurance may be the best kept secret in the industry. While the concept of title insurance is well known and most investors understand the basic coverage offered...more
Dubai's luxury real estate market has witnessed a remarkable boom, attracting investors and high-net-worth individuals from all corners of the world. This escalation in demand for high-end properties is emphasized by a...more
In an economy where land prices are rising, it is not unusual for a buyer who has a property under contract to consider flipping all or part of the property to another purchaser for a profit. If a contract gives the buyer a...more
On April 21, FinCEN updated its Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs). The GTOs require U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind shell companies that pay “all cash” (i.e., the transaction does not...more
As expected, on May 8, 2020, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) reissued its Geographic Targeting Orders (“GTOs”) requiring U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind legal entities...more
In its 2020 National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing (“2020 Strategy”), the U.S. Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) has laid out its AML and money laundering enforcement priorities. Last week, we...more
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) has, once again, extended its Geographic Targeting Order (“GTO”) requiring U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons behind legal entities used in...more
On November 15, 2018, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced the issuance of a “Revised” Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) that requires U.S. title insurance companies (Covered Business) to identify the...more
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FINCEN”) announced on November 15 that it has renewed and revised its Geographic Targeting Orders (“GTOs”) that require U.S. title insurance companies to identify the natural persons...more
A GTO is a Geographic Targeting Order issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the Bank secrecy Act (BSA) for a specific geographic area. ...more
FinCEN has announced the expansion of its Geographical Targeting Orders (GTOs) for high-end cash buyers of real estate. The expansion is two-fold. First, FinCEN has expanded the scope of Form 8300 reportable transactions to...more
Gov. Brown Opposes Measure S - In a statement published less than two weeks before Los Angeles' Consolidated Municipal and Special Elections to be held on March 7, 2017, California Gov. Jerry Brown came out in opposition...more
FinCEN is extending its campaign to press title insurance companies to reveal the real buyers behind shell companies that pay cash for high-end real estate deals in select cities around the country....more
FinCEN announced today that it is renewing the existing Geographical Targeting Orders (GTOs) issued in July 2016 that require all title insurance companies to identify and report on the natural persons behind shell companies...more
FinCEN has announced a major expansion and extension of its geographic targeting orders (GTOs) aimed at high-end cash buyers of real estate. This action reflects FinCEN’s continued efforts to prevent money laundering through...more
Choice real estate markets such as New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and San Antonio may offer enticing amenities like buzzing nightlife or sunny beaches, but thanks to the Financial Crimes Enforcement...more
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Jan. 13, 2016, issued a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO or the Order) requiring title insurance companies, subsidiaries and agents (each a...more
Reporting Leases on the Balance Sheet - The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) announced on Jan. 13, 2016, a new – and materially different – manner of accounting for leases. The new standard, IFRS 16...more
REAL PROPERTY UPDATE - - Quiet Title: investor who pooled money with two other entities to purchase property could not quiet title after the two entities recorded second version of deed that omitted investor’s name...more