Title Agents & Attorneys  Home Buyers & Sellers Lenders, Builders, Real Estate Agents & Commercial

Southern Title Insurance Corporation is a regional underwriter doing business in 20 states and the District of Columbia. We insure the interests of lenders and homeowners involved in real estate transactions.  In protecting these interests, Southern Title, with its network of agents evaluates the title risk involved with a particular parcel of real estate.  A loan may or may not be granted depending on the results of a title search. Title may not be transferred due to a finding in the chain of title.  The risks are many, yet Southern Title is there to help with the transaction.   We distribute title insurance primarily through our agencies.  We are an agency-driven company, therefore, we spend our resources making the independent agent successful. Our motto is not to compete with our business partners. We try to use the dollars paid to us by our agencies in ways that will support our agents. Our agents agree that they would rather have an underwriter that works for them than one who competes against them.   Southern Title has the expertise to be your business partner of choice.  From 1031 Tax Deferred Exchanges to residential and commercial transactions, Southern Title will provide the personal service that you and your company deserve.

Current Events March 2010  During the 2009 legislative session, the Virginia General Assembly made changes to the Consumer Real Estate Settlement Protection Act’s (“CRESPA”) registration requirements with the passage of Senate Bill 938 http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?091+ful+SB938.  Under current law, title insurance agents and title companies are required to register with the Virginia State Bar before acting as settlement agents in Virginia.  However, beginning on July 1, 2009, title insurance agents and companies will no longer register or renew with the Bar, but will instead be required to register and renew with the Bureau of Insurance.    As part of this legislative change, the Bureau is implement a biennial renewal process that will require all title insurance agents to and companies to renew with the Bureau on or before June 30th of each even year beginning in 2010.  The biennial renewal registration requirement applies regardless of when the initial registration occurs during the June 30th biennial registration dates.  Beginning in 2010, renewal notices will be mailed by April 1st, and the renewal registration must be filed with the Bureau on or before June 30th.  The fee for agency registration and renewal is $100 and the fee for agency registration and renewal is $35.  Failure to renew will result in the termination of the title settlement registration.    Additionally, Senate Bill 938 amended 6.1-2.27 of the Code of Virginia to allow the appropriate licensing authority to administratively terminate the registration of any title settlement agent or company for failing to hold a license, failing to renew its registration, or failing to comply with the financial responsibility requirements set forth in 6.1-2.21.    Questions relating this to the information should be directed to:    CRESPA Investigations Section Virginia Bureau of Insurance PO Box 1157 Richmond, VA 23218 (804) 371-9465