My 22nd Anniversary in the RE Biz

May 3, 2008 by 14 Comments

I should stop saying how long I’ve been around the real estate industry!  On May 1, 1986, a very bright-eyed and naive young Rhonda Christopherson, began my first “real job” at Safeco Title Insurance Company as a doc-puller (we were bought a year later by Chicago Title, where I worked in Unit 5).   

After 14 years in the title industry, I made the move to mortgage and I’ve been helping Washington families with their Mortgage Planning needs for the past 8 years…the rest is history!Seahawks_3

Yes…that is Chuck Knox, that was my hair style in the 80s and yes, I’m wearing yellow Reeboks with actual jersey. 

Filed Under: Just for Fun, Title Insurance Tagged With: ,

Recently on Rain City Guide

March 26, 2008 by Leave a Comment

I can’t tell you how honored I am to be a part of Seattle’s Rain City Guide.  Here are a couple of recent posts that I really encourage you to check out…

Jillayne Schlicke just wrote a dead on post regarding our local situation with affiliated business arrangements between real estate, title and escrow and mortgage companies.  This is a topic close to my heart as before I was in lending (8 years ago), I was in the title insurance industry for 14 years.  I’ve seen drastic changes over this time since large real estate companies have entered into arrangements with title companies.   Now the State is stepping in with new regulations.   Read Jillayne’s post: Title Insurance Affiliated Business Arrangements Under Scrutiny.

ARDELL wrote a very timely post: Should You Buy Before You Sell?  Her answer is NO!  And during these times, I’m likely to agree.   Bridge loans may be hard to come by and properties are taking longer to sell.

Don’t forget…I’m on vacation and will return on April 1.

Filed Under: Residential Purchase, Title Insurance, Weblogs Tagged With: ,

Dawn’s Army Marching Forward to The Big Climb

February 16, 2008 by Leave a Comment

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The troops at The Talon Group are preparing for the The Big Climb which takes place a month from today.    This troop, aka Dawn’s Army, is climbing in honor of their co-worker, Dawn, who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia.   

My husband is part of Dawn’s Army and will be climbing flights of stairs in the Columbia Tower on my birthday for this great cause.   I’m doing my part by looking for folks to sponsor my husband who’s going by the alias of Gomer Pile.   Fund raising efforts support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   Will you sponsor my Gomer?  Click here.

Filed Under: Charity, Title Insurance

Bad Santa: Fidelity Title says “No No No” to Employee 401(k) Plans

January 7, 2008 by 2 Comments

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Twas the day after Christmas and all through the title plant, not a creature was stirring because employees have a retirement rant.

According to The Title Report, Fidelity National Financial sent a memo out to their employees the day after Christmas informing them the company will no longer make contributions towards employees 401(k) plans.

"Fidelity did not immediately provide comment about why it ceased making retirement contributions.

The housing downturn has taken a toll on the Fidelity’s earnings as well as its stock value. Since closing at a high of $28.04 per share in May, its stock has lost more than 50 percent of its value, closing at $13.59 on Jan. 4.

Fidelity reported its third-quarter net earnings dipped to $6.5 million, compared to $127.6 million during the same period in 2006. Impacting earnings was an $81.5 million charge the company took as it bolstered its reserve for claim losses."

Other local Fidelity brands include Chicago Title and Ticor Title.  An unnamed source from The Title Report suggested:

"Fidelity could consolidate its Fidelity National Title, Chicago Title and Ticor Title operations if market conditions worse."

Meanwhile, Bill Foley, Chairman of Fidelity National, is enjoying the fruits of his labor as a wine maker.   Wine Spectator’s article dated December 26, 2007 (I kid you not):

"Merus, a Napa Cabernet label founded as a bonded garage in downtown Napa and which became one of Napa Valley’s rising-star Cabernet producers, has been sold to vintner William Foley, who heads the Foley Wine Group. Terms of the sale were not disclosed….

Foley’s heightened involvement in wine comes as he is fazing himself out of other business interests. He is still chairman of two firms, Fidelity National Information Services and Fidelity National Title, banking and home-loan deposit firms, respectively, yet he relinquished the title of CEO in the past year.

"I guess I’m shifting from those businesses to wine," he said, adding, "I’d like to kick [the wine brands] up a notch…."

Read the Wine Spectator article here: Download FoleyWineSpectatorDec262007.pdf

Is Fidelity leading the way for other large title underwriters and banks to cut employee benefits?

Filed Under: Title Insurance

Blood Drive at The Talon Group tomorrow

January 7, 2008 by Leave a Comment

The Talon Group, your title and escrow partners, is having a blood drive on Tuesday, January 8th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.   Erin tells me that they have a couple of spots available for donors around 2:30.   The blood drive bus will be in Talon’s back parking lot in Bellevue along 112th.   For more information, or to donate please contact Erin.

We are experiencing a shortage at our blood banks so roll up your sleeves and do a good deed.

Talon’s Bellevue office is located at 11400 SE 8th Street, Suite 250, Bellevue, WA 98004. 

Filed Under: Title Insurance

Safeco Title Reunion

September 23, 2007 by Leave a Comment

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Last night reunited at the SeaTac Marriott.    My career began on May 1, 1986 as a doc puller at Safeco.   Andrea Budnick was my first “professional” boss in the PIC department and once again when I became a title rep in the SMART (Standard Mortgagees Assurance of Record Title) home equity loan department. 

I was barely 19 years old when I first worked for Andrea.  I thought I knew everything (what teen doesn’t).    I was a doc puller for a whole month and I tried to quit 3 times.   Each time I’d meet with Andrea to let her know that I did not want to be a doc puller and that was quitting, she would send me back to my desk and tell me that I could not quit that day!  Thanks to her, I wound up having a rewarding title career for 14 years.

Mary (Sweeney) Forrey and Adoline Brown were a few of my old friends from Memaryaddy_2 Safeco.   When I was in Property Information -Customer Service, I always looked up to Mary who was a Safeco Title Sales Rep.   I thought she was sooo cool…I wanted to be just like her and eventually, I did become a rep at Chicago Title (CTI bought Safeco).  It’s such a small world–now our kids go to high school together!

Adoline Brown, aka Addy or Ma Brown…I think the world of as well.   I was a Title Technician (prepared recordings, typed supps, wrote title policies…etc.) in Unit 5 for Adoline who was the Title Officer of our group.   She was so patient and taught me everything I needed to know about title insurance.   Safeco was known in the industry as “Safeco U” because we were paid very little (compared to other title companies) and we had excellent training.   People would go to Safeco U to learn and then be hired away by a competitor.

Last night we sat with Doug Pittman, Dan Duffus, Stephanie, Mike and Sam.   It almost felt like a high school reunion!  We did have some people missing.   I would have loved to have seen Bill Massey, Linda Yoo and Phil Jenkins (and others).   It was very nice for the group at Stewart Title to organize this event.   Many thanks to Teresa Dopps, Mark Perez and the rest…and to Sherry Gill (of Pacific NW Title) who told me about the event!   I had a great time. 

Filed Under: Title Insurance Tagged With: ,

More local title companies face proposed fines of $300,000

September 19, 2007 by Leave a Comment

The Insurance Commissioner released a new report yesterday disclosing more title companies involved with using illegal inducements to induce business.   In addition to more details regarding Stewart Title of Snohomish County’s violations, Rainier Title (a licensed agent for Commonwealth Title Insurance Company) was added to the mix. 

Both John L. Scott and Coldwell Banker Bain have ownership interest in Rainier Title which received a $115,000 penalty with $65,000 suspended if they can play nice and follow the rules for 2 years.

The investigation continues….

Filed Under: Title Insurance

More good news from Talon Title

September 10, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Another memo showing how The Talon Group is stepping up to the plate during these historic times in our industry for their previous clients:

"Starting today through February 2008, The Talon Group is lowering its residential refinance escrow fee to $375 for returning borrowers who have previously closed with either The Talon Group or Escrow Partners Inc.  We are also offering a discounted escrow fee of $275 for refinances of stand-alone second mortgages.

The Talon Group is committed to easing the pain for our past borrowers needing to lower their payments or reorganize their finances.

In addition to lowering our refinance escrow fees, The Talon Group is also offering an additional 10% off the refinance title premium for returning clients or new borrowers who provide us with their previous title policy or commitment.

We are keenly aware of your efforts to help your past clients deal with these turbulent times. As a member of your team, we want nothing more than to help you succeed.

The Talon Group’s superior databases and technology allows for greater communication and efficiency throughout the entire escrow process.
All discounts apply to 1-4 family residential properties only. The escrow order must be opened with The Talon Group between 9/10/07 and 2/28/08 to qualify for above discount. "

I just love to share some good news.  Group hug?
Filed Under: Escrow and closing, Title Insurance
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