Summit’s customer-centric focus to aid strategic planning...

The settlement services industry has seen a lot of changes over the past few months. With a softening market, earnings are teetering on the plus and minus mark, and companies are exploring ways to increase share or diversify to create new revenue streams. Technology has become one major focus as companies look at ways to offer new services that capture more of the market as the real estate engine slows down. If the times aren’t unsettling enough, recent announcements by mortgage giants Ameriquest and WaMu about major changes in their operating structure have left title companies scrambling to figure out exactly how to align their own efforts to meet the challenges of these new realities. And then there is the new wave of Internet based realty, mortgage and settlement services and the term ‘unique bundles.’ Add to that the current regulatory environment that is blending increased enforcement, rate scrutiny and RESPA reform in a modern day Molotov cocktail and 2006 is shaping up to be a rugged year at best. Planning correctly for the future has never been a more critical priority than now for the nation’s title insurance firms. With all the issues the settlement services business has been served up, October Seminars plans to offer insights and analysis to address these challenges during the second National Settlement Services Summit, slated for June 13-14 at the Marriott, Downtown at Key Center, in Cleveland. The two-day conference, presented by The Title Report and RamQuest Software, has a line up of speakers, sessions and services geared toward helping the planning process for settlement services professionals. Understanding customer trends is a key to successful long term planning and the Summit will allow title companies to

Special Edition • June 13-14, 2006

Inside this issue ... Note from the Editor Page 2 Advertorial: TSS Software Corporation Page 3 Detailed Schedule of Events Pages 6-9 Transportation Information Page 7

Weather Report Page 9 Sponsor List 0 Event and Dining Guide Page 11

Top 10 reasons to attend the

Summit :

10: Although meteorologists may say “Here Comes the Rain Again,” even Cleveland has sunny weather in June! 9: We’re betting “Hotel California” didn’t offer the many amenities of the Marriott at Key Center. 8: “The Heart of Rock ‘n’ Roll” is still beating in Cleveland! Check out the songs that shaped the genre during the Opening Night Reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 7: “One Way or Another” you’re gonna want to take advantage of the networking opportunities available at NS3. 6: Get your AfBA “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.” Jeff Arouh and Dwayne Waite offer tools you’ll need to stock your AfBA tool kit. 5: Still doing the “Same Old Song and Dance”? Learn why the traditional box of donuts is a stale marketing strategy. 4: “Hold Everything”! Before you depart, you’ll want to enjoy a FREE live performance by Robert Lockwood Jr. at 8 p.m. June 14 at Fat Fish Blue. 3: Having lunch with our top financial pros, Ted Jones, Guy Cecala or Joe Petrelli, is simply “The Best.” 2: You won’t hear any “Jive Talkin'” from our fantastic line-up of speakers, just solid, senior-level industry guidance from Henry L. Meyer III, RESPA expert Phil Schulman, and Patrick Stone. 1. Elvis will be in the building!

Summit’s customer-centric focus to aid strategic planning efforts

EDITOR’S NOTE

Copyright © 1999-2006 October Research Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Any copying or republication without the express written or verbal consent of the publisher is a violation of federal copyright laws and the publisher will enforce its rights in Federal court. The publisher offers a $500 reward for information proving a federal copyright violation with regard to this

publication. To obtain permission to redistribute material or to report a violation of federal copyright laws, please call 330-659-6101, or e-mail: [email protected]. To obtain reprints, e-mail: [email protected].

Dear Summit participant, It is our pleasure to welcome you to Cleveland and to the second National Settlement Services Summit (NS3). Thank you for participating! Our approach to NS3 continues to be an edgy and innovative effort to producing the most informative and entertaining settlement services trade show you’ve attended. How? By bringing you face to face with your customer markets. Our objective is to provide you insight into their world, their perspectives, their goals and how you, as a provider, fit into that world. We also have on hand thought leaders from the settlement services space who will speak to the sales and marketing pressures that companies are facing as they grow and expand into new and uncharted waters. I know that over the next few days, you will receive relevant and useable information that you can take back and make a part of your competitive strategy. Our staff and our sponsors have worked hard to create a wonderful environment for learning, networking and overall professional development. We trust that you will enjoy the hospitality of the Marriott at Key Center, that you will value the insight of our speakers and delight in the myriad offerings of our vibrant and diverse city. If, during the course of your stay, you find that you need anything, please let me or any one of our staff members know. Thank you very much for your business and welcome to the home of rock ‘n’ roll! Good Reading,

Joe Casa Founder and Publisher October Research Corporation

The Title Report is a production of the October Research Corporation, specializing

in market intelligence for the land title industry and is published 24 times a year.

The Title Report

PO Box 370, Richfield, OH 44286 Tel: (330) 659-6101 Fax: (330) 659-6102

E-mail: [email protected]

Founder & Publisher

Joe Casa

Editorial & Publishing Vice President & Associate Publisher

Tatiana Parker Editorial Director

Syndie Eardly Editors

David Hutton, Matthew Smith, Robin Wardzala Associate Editors

Amy Swinderman, Amy Sullivan Contributing Writers

Lori Lesko, John Upton, John Delcaza, T.J. Sullivan, Jeff Schurman

e commerce Rick Harris, Francie Hutter, Chuck Kent,

Tony Tramontano, Jennifer Merda Graphic Design

Saran Kirchhofer, Eric Kittelberger, Marian Stofsick, Tamera Schick

Business Offices

Vice President & Secretary Barbara Casa

Finance & Accounting Mary Ellen Leidy

Customer Service & Circulation Valerie Jimenez, Kathy Hurley, Blanche Bieda, Michelle Guyot

Vice President Sales & Marketing

Steve Massien Sales & Advertising

Chris Casa, Joe Jackson, Robert Gadson, Matthew Hydrew

Seminars & Research Lee Kaplan, Deborah Nells-Porter

Marketing Communications Kelly Lehmenkuler, Alicia Tartabini

Public Relations NorthPointe Communications Inc.

Brian Rieger, Kristen Easton Legal Services

Hahn, Loeser, Parks

June 13, 2006 The Title Report 2

ADVERTISEMENT

The foundation of the title industry is customer service. Any successful title professional will tell you that his or her good fortune can be traced to industry knowledge, attentiveness to customer needs, and a good, old-fashioned work ethic. So why should your expectations of your title technology developer be any different than your customers’ expectations of you? TSS Software Corporation is best known for its independence from underwriter influence and ownership—in fact, it’s the largest independent software provider in the settlement services industry. TSS and Title Express, its flagship production system, were cited favorably in The Title Report’s most recent Independent Title Agent Survey. There, the company was lauded as the highest-rated national technology developer in the categories of “Ease of Use,” “Value for the Money,” “Delivery of Products in an Increasingly Electronic Environment,” and “Overall Customer Satisfaction.” While the industry’s satisfaction with the performance of TSS products is undeniable, there is more to the company’s formula for success. For the same reason that many customers come back to the same title company over and over again, many TSS customers say it is the service that sets this Annapolis-based firm apart from its competitors. The TSS success story begins one person at a time, or, more accurately, one service call at a time. For 13 years, the company has made it a point of pride to make available trained professionals to answer customer service calls. “We frown on callbacks, and we don’t use an automated voice service system,” said TSS President and COO Barbara Miller. “The customer’s need is our first priority, and we’ll drop what we’re doing to make sure he or she is not made to wait on us.” TSS is staffed by people who understand and

3 The Title Report June 13, 2006

have practical experience in the title industry. “It’s one thing to understand how the product works, and we’re fairly confident that any title technology provider can offer this level of experience,” said Miller. “It’s entirely another matter to understand how the customer’s business works, and, even more important, how the customer’s competitors’ and vendors’ businesses function. It makes us more than a vendor. It makes us a partner.” TSS service associates don’t just understand the industry. They also understand that quality customer service isn’t always confined to the 9-to-5 workday, within the walls of the TSS offices. The result of TSS’ emphasis on service? A 98% customer retention rate. “We’re very proud of our customer retention rate,” said Bob Miller, CEO of TSS Software Corporation. “Even though it tells us that we’re doing something right, we’re always conscious that this is a changing industry, and customer needs can change overnight. We are always seeking ways to improve our service and products.” This continuous drive for improvement will make itself apparent again this summer. Shortly, TSS will roll out new versions of TitleExpress and iOrderExpress, the company’s transaction management system. Miller notes that the new versions are likely to have the industry talking. “We’re going to be doing some things that no one else has done,” said Miller. The company has also recently installed a state-of-the-art customer relationship management system, which should make customer service even more efficient as the company continues its growth nationwide. In addition to TitleExpress, TSS customers are pleased with its integrated document imaging systems, Web-based order entry and status checking systems, abstract data integration systems and management reporting systems. To learn more about TSS or these products, go to www.iwantTSS.com or call (888) 268-0422.

Success of TSS Software Corporation is Rooted in Customer Service

NS3 FEATURE REPORT

learn about the latest moves in their customer markets along with an understanding of how recent business changes by the nation’s mortgage lenders will impact their daily operations. Although we are well into the second quarter, first quarter earnings reports from the underwriters gave us a glimpse into the business objectives of larger title companies as the market continues to soften this year. Announcements were made across the board about managing expenses by trimming staff and streamlining processes, and about increasing income through more acquisitions. What does all of this mean for the companies, large and small, that want to insure growth in the coming cycle? In a down market, it becomes even more imperative to hone in on ways in which you can most efficiently and effectively serve your customers needs The Summit’s first customer focus session will tackle these market trends, addressing how companies do their business to accommodate changing market conditions. This presidential roundtable will be moderated by Joe Casa, founder and publisher of The Title Report, and paneled by Willie Kathryn Suggs, broker and owner of Willie Kathryn Suggs of Harlem Licensed Real Estate Brokers; Steve Alonso, CEO of Oak Street Financial Services; Dennis Badagliacco, president of RE/MAX Valley Properties and Guy Cecala, President of Inside Mortgage Finance. “One of our objectives for the Summit in Cleveland is to provide participants something they can’t get anywhere else, access to some of the best wisdom from the most

productive and profitable companies in the title, realty, and mortgage space,” Casa said. “It’s difficult in the current unpredictable environment to make plans and build forecasts without understanding what your customers are thinking about out there. That knowledge is one of the most valuable tools we can give participants during this conference.” The legality of AfBAs Besides fluctuating market trends, this past year also brought increasing concerns with the legalities of affiliated business arrangements (AfBAs). During a recent House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity’s hearing, government officials Erin Toll, of the Colorado Department of Insurance, Gary Cunningham, of the Department of Housing Urban Development, and Orice Williams, of the Government Accountability Office, brought the national kickback problem associated with AfBAs to light. To be considered illegal, an AfBA would not meet the 10-point “sham test” designated by HUD or fail to disclose to its customers that it was steering their business toward a certain settlement service provider in exchange for shared profits. These AfBAs have caused significant competition in the marketplace because customers usually rely on their real estate agent or mortgage lender for advice on the selection of a title company. To make sure your joint venture is doing it legally, listen to moderator Brian Rieger, of NorthPointe Communications, during day one’s first general session.


Strategic planning efforts Continued from Page 1

Back Stage at the 2006 Settlement Summit With the Summit only a few weeks away, we spent some time with Joe Casa, founder and publisher of The Title Report and asked him some questions about the 2006 event. Q - Tell us what is going to be different this year than last year’s Summit. A - First and foremost, we have expanded the Summit by a half day to include two additional customer sessions. One is being hosted by Steve Murray from LORE Magazine, and he has a panel of presidents from three of the top 20 realty firms in the USA and we have added a third key note presentation which will feature Todd Householder, EVP from National City Mortgage. We also are expanding our news coverage and will be doing video interviews with speakers and participants. We’ll post those up on our news sites and will provide two ‘live’

reports each day which will include photo galleries and audio – video downloads. Q - Why did you change the venue from the Ritz-Carlton to The Marriott Downtown at Key Center? A - Primarily to accommodate more participants. The Ritz is a boutique hotel better suited to host large weddings and parties, not industry events like the Summit. Having said that, they did a terrific job for us last year and the participants rated the venue as excellent, but we had to turn away people that wanted to attend. The Marriot will offer us more space for staging, registration and a classroom setting. Q - Why were tickets in such demand in 2005? A - I think it is rooted in holding a meeting where you can go to hear your customers speak about your business. Title

Rieger and his panel, Jeffrey Arouh, partner of Holland & Knight LLP; Dwayne Waite, president of Y Waite Solutions; and Lee Kaplan, of October Research, will provide businesses with the basic tools and information needed when considering an AfBA. The session will touch on state regulatory compliances, technology infrastructure and help participants determine their financial viability. “In an increasingly competitive and even hostile environment, now, more than ever, it could cost you your business to build an affiliated arrangement without considering all of the legal and operational factors,” said Rieger. Hand in hand with concerns about AfBAs is equally pressing concerns over RESPA reform, which also breathed heavy on the settlement industry this year. Although HUD has been loathe to discuss any details of the proposed rule publicly, sources connected with HUD have said that they are in fact focusing on reforming the Good Faith Estimate (GFE), and are working on developing an alternative GFE proposal than the one previously considered. However, they still want to eliminate the itemization of fees and give consumers a single bottom-line price that they can shop. How will all of these proposed changes impact the way title companies do business? Syndie Eardly, editorial director for The Legal Description, will lead a panel of legal and regulatory experts during day one’s second general session. The panel will examine those issues impacting the sales and marketing process for settlement services, affiliated business arrangements, new class action suits, and review RESPA dos and don’ts in the selling process.

The panel includes Donald H. Blanchard, deputy general counsel of Countrywide Home Loans; Ron Blitenthal, vice president, governmental affairs counsel of Old Republic Title Insurance Group; Phillip Schulman, partner at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP; and Chuck Cain, vice president, Midwest Alliance Business Partner at the LandAmerica Financial Group. “It has been a frustrating and expensive year for the settlement services industry with class action lawsuits heating up over captive reinsurance, affiliated business arrangements and reissue rates, and the regulators putting every facet of the industry under a microscope,” Eardly said. “At a time when companies want to focus on capturing market share and improving profit margins, they have ended up spending time, effort and money on defending the industry against detractors, regulators and the plaintiff’s bar. “The legal panel will address all of these issues to try to help attendees hone in on the processes within their sales and marketing efforts that need to be monitored most closely for general regulatory and RESPA compliance,” she added. Aside from RESPA, REO and the default markets were another big topic in the industry. With the rising interest rates comes rising foreclosures which means a lucrative market for settlement services. According to RealtyTrac’s March 2006 Foreclosure Market Report, 101,597 properties nationwide entered some state of foreclosure in March, a 13 percent decrease from the previous month but a 63 percent increase from March 2005.

(Continued on page 9)

NS3 FEATURE REPORT


industry meetings typically showcase title speakers, and mortgage and realty shows focus their content to mortgage and real estate professionals. The Summit is the only conference that brings in title customers to speak to title people. Even our more traditional title content in 2006, such as legal and AfBAs panels, will have Countrywide and Real Living participating on them. Q - Will there be as much emphasis on music this year? A - Well, we are in Cleveland, the home of rock and roll and a lot of us in the company have grown up around all the music that has come through the city over the years. We figure where else can you go to a business conference and listen to music all day? Many people commented last year that they enjoyed the music; it also dovetails nicely with our opening night reception at the Rock Hall. Last year we opened the Summit with a very

rare live performance of Bruce Springsteen in Cleveland from 1978. This year we are opening with a similar live performance from David Bowie in 1974. Our staff has a lot of fun picking out the music and they are piecing together a great set of opening visuals that will accompany the music. Dayrnice White will once again join us in singing the National Anthem each morning. Yes, we will have lots of music again. Q – How big of an impact does the Summit have on your business? A - We have always been a news and research company first and foremost, while we dabble in audio seminars secondarily. Last year was our first venture into producing live shows – it was a great experience and we learned a lot. This year, we are doing 10 one-day joint venture workshops across the country for title, realty and mortgage professionals.

SUMMIT SCHEDULE

We are very excited that you’ve decided to join us for our second National Settlement Services Summit June 13–14 in Cleveland, Ohio. Presented by The Title Report and RamQuest Software, the Summit is the only customer-focused event for the title and settlement services industry.

The objective? To concentrate on the development of sales skills and marketing strategies for the post-refi-boom era. The special curriculum will address the needs of independent title agents, sales managers and business development professionals with this heavyweight line-up: Roundtable discussions, hands-on learning sessions, and keynote addresses from some of the most important customers of title and settlement services companies. The show will also feature Realtors, mortgage professionals and home equity lenders leading special education tracks concentrating on business topics including: • Realtors sharing their thoughts on the changing

housing and consumer markets; • Mortgage originators discussing the new operating

strategies that are being adopted to counter a slowing market;

• Joint ventures, AfBAs and revenue sharing agreements;

• RESPA Dos and Don’ts in the selling process; and • Sales strategies for the REO markets. Monday, June 12 6-9 p.m. On-site Registration and Check-in Second floor, west of Main Ballroom Tuesday, June 13 7-11:00 a.m. On-site Registration and Check-in Second floor, Marriott

7:00-8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast East Foyer 8:30-9:00 a.m. Opening Ceremony Main Ballroom 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Morning Sessions — Day 1 Main Ballroom Master of Ceremonies: Mark McElroy, RamQuest Software Inc. Keynote Address: Henry L. Meyer III, chairman of the board and CEO, KeyCorp Henry Meyer leads one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, a Fortune 250 company, KeyCorp. He has been a member of KeyCorp’s board of directors since 1996, and has been chairman of the board since 2001. He will share his thoughts on the state of the banking and mortgage lending industries as well as his vision for the future of an industry facing tremendous change. 9:45-10 a.m. Refreshment Break

10:00-11:15 a.m. Customer Segment 1: President’s Roundtable Main Ballroom Joe Casa, founder and publisher, The Title Report (moderator); Willie Kathryn Suggs, broker-owner, Willie Kathryn Suggs of Harlem Licensed Real Estate Brokers; Steve Alonso, CEO, Oak Street Financial Services; Dennis Badagliacco, president, RE/MAX Valley Properties; and Guy Cecala, president of Inside Mortgage Finance Publications How do your customers look at their markets? What trends do they see that might impact the way they do business and the way you might have to change your business? The way these leaders view market trends inevitably influences the way you operate. Get ahead of the curve

CUSTOMER-CENTRIC TOPICS SCHEDULED FOR THE NATIONAL SETTLEMENT SERVICES SUMMIT

EXPERT PANELS LEAD A MYRIAD OF SALES AND MARKETING DISCUSSIONS


SUMMIT SCHEDULE and join us for the opportunity to hear how your executive-level customers think about their current markets and future trends. 11:15 a.m. -12:30 p.m. General Session 1: AfBA Tool Kit Main Ballroom Brian Rieger, manager, NorthPointe Communications (moderator); Jeffrey Arouh, partner, Holland & Knight LLP; Dwayne Waite, president, Y-Waite Solutions; Lee Kaplan, October Research Corporation Direct from the successful Financial Workshop for Joint Ventures road show, the panel will offer practical guidance and real-world tools for professionals seeking to build a new JV or looking to compare already functional affiliated business arrangements. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Featured Lunch Speakers — Pick your Topic Various locations Ted Jones, chief economist, Stewart Title Guaranty Company; Joe Petrelli, president, Demotech Inc.; Guy Cecala, president, Inside Mortgage Finance Publications 1. Do you know which near-term market and economic forces will shape your

business? Ted Jones does and he will tell you all about them. 2. How much is your title agency worth? Learn from Joe Petrelli about today’s

valuation dynamics and merger and acquisition markets. You might be surprised at the new generation of buyers and what they are willing to pay.

3. For more than 20 years, Guy Cecala has provided the industry with detailed mortgage origination data and analysis. Get an inside look at the trends that affect the largest originators and their impact on the mortgage and housing markets.

1:30-5:00 p.m. Afternoon Sessions — Day 1 Main Ballroom Master of Ceremonies: Kenneth Jannen, First American Title Insurance Company Ray Forliti, Old Republic Title Insurance Group, Previews A Night of Legends at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 1:45-3:15 p.m. General Session 2: All Things Legal That Impact Selling Main Ballroom Syndie Eardly, editorial director of The Legal Description (moderator); Donald H. Blanchard, deputy general counsel, Countrywide Home Loans; Ron Blitenthal, vice president, governmental affairs counsel, Old Republic Title Insurance Group; Phillip Schulman, partner, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP; Chuck Cain, vice president, Midwest Alliance Business Partner, LandAmerica Financial Group. Eardly will lead a panel of legal and regulatory experts and examine those issues impacting the sales and marketing process for settlement services, AfBAs, new class action suits, and RESPA dos and don’ts in the selling process.


CONFERENCE HOTEL The Marriott at Key Center 127 Public Square (440) 542-2313 NS3 rate: $170 per night June 12, 13 and 14 AVIS CAR RENTAL To book an Avis car rental, drivers must be licensed and 25 years or older. To get the discount below, call Continental Meeting/Works at 800-468-7022 and ask Continental to transfer you to AVIS car rental. AVIS will then know to give you the discount. You can also accrue AVIS miles through this Continental offer. You cannot use any special offers or discounts with this Continental deal. Picking up and dropping off at Cleveland Hopkins Airport: • Compact $29.28 + tax • Mid-size $29.71 + tax • Luxury $55.05 + tax Picking up and dropping off at Akron-Canton Airport: • Compact $44.09 + tax • Midsize $48.59 + tax • Luxury $73.99 + tax Unlimited miles for all cars. ACE EXECUTIVE SERVICE (216) 361-8700 $38 from Cleveland Hopkins $102 from Akron-Canton ACE TAXI (216) 361-8700 or (216) 361-4700 (24-hr.) One way fees: $26 from Cleveland Hopkins $79 from Akron/Canton Pre-Arranged Service Rates: $23 from Cleveland Hopkins $72 from Akron/Canton REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (216) 621-9500 RTA’s airport station is located on the lower level of the terminal complex.

Hotel & Travel


SUMMIT SCHEDULE 3:15-3:30 p.m. Refreshment Break 3:30-4:00 p.m. Q&A break out period: All Things Legal Salons A, B and C 3:30-5:00 p.m. Sales Training Session 1: Tapping into the REO and Default Services Market Main Ballroom Bob Skalstad, executive vice president and principal, Corporate Management Advisor (moderator) and former SVP of Washington Mutual; H. Marc Helm, managing director, Mortgage Consultants of America; Joel Davidson, VP national sales executive, Fiserv Lending Solutions; and Ronald Rice, director of operations, Stewart Default Solutions. A normalizing market means settlement services companies nationwide are seeking new revenue opportunities. The REO and default services markets are heating up again and providing title companies with some of the highest margins available in the industry. The panel will outline and explain successful market strategies and explore the sales practices that are winning in the market right now. 6:30-10:30 p.m. An Evening of Legends at the Rock and Roll Hall Opening reception and private tour of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum brought to you by Old Republic Title National Insurance Company. *Complimentary transportation is available to and from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from 6:15 p.m. until 11 p.m. by Lolly the Trolley. Registrants may board the trolley at the front entrance in valet parking. Host: Ray Forliti, Old Republic Title Insurance Group Wednesday, June 14 7:30-9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast East Foyer 9:00-11:45 a.m. Morning Sessions — Day 1 Main Ballroom Master of Ceremonies: Ginny Abiassi, Stewart Title Guaranty Company

Keynote Speaker: Pat Stone, vice chairman, Metrocities Mortgage Named one of the “Ten People to Watch” in 2004 by Inman News, Patrick Stone is vice chairman of Metrocities Mortgage Inc. Prior to Metrocities, Patrick enjoyed a lengthy career as president and COO of Fidelity National Financial, during which time the company grew to become one of the top title companies in the world. Stone will discuss trends in the mortgage lending industry and their impact upon settlement services sales. He will also deliver a candid and insightful, no-holds-barred look at the dynamic of the independent title agent in the mortgage process. As one of the highest-rated speakers at the 2005 Summit, we asked him back for an encore. 9:30-10:00 a.m. Featured Speaker: Todd Householder, EVP of wholesale lending, National City Mortgage Main Ballroom Todd Householder will offer a new look at the future of the mortgage brokers in the lending cycle. 10:00-10:15 a.m. Refreshment Break 10:15-11:45 a.m. Customer Focus Session 2: How to Win and Keep Realty Business Grand Ballroom Steve Murray, founder and publisher of REAL Trends and LORE magazine (moderator); Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV, president, Hanna Holdings, Ohio; Terry Hankner, president, Comey & Shepherd Realtors; Merle Whitehead, president and CEO, Realty USA Steve Murray moderates an all-star panel of leading real estate agents to uncover emerging trends and market pressures that will likely impact the way they do business. Learn how to position your title company for the future and what you need to do today to win and keep realty business. Go beyond the doughnut route and build long lasting partnerships with your realty prospects. 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Lunch: Speed Networking – Your Time to Meet Summit Sponsors, Speakers and Your Favorite Editors

Make an invaluable business contact in just one hour of


SUMMIT SCHEDULE

speed networking!

It’s well known that the primary way businesses gain new customers, clients and contacts is via business networking. Over a casual lunch, get face to face time with one of the Summit’s speakers, sponsors and editors. You will have the opportunity to interact with individuals that you may have never otherwise had the chance to network with.

12:45-2:00 p.m. Afternoon Sessions — Day 2 Main Ballroom General Session 3: Building and Operating JVs and AfBAs: New Competitive Realities Main Ballroom Joe Casa, founder and publisher, The Title Report and October Research Corp. (moderator); Jeffrey Arouh, partner, Holland & Knight LLP; Daniel Riley, president, Real Living Title Agency; Richard Bramhall, senior vice president and chief title officer, Bank of America; Frank Camperlengo, president, Security First Title Affiliates This is must-have information for any mortgage company or settlement services firm seeking to

establish a joint venture or affiliated business arrangement. Increased HUD vigilance makes a well-thought-out strategy more critical than ever before. Hear from executives with extensive experience in building successful affiliated arrangements. Discuss structural concepts, how to pick the right partners, presenting to potential partners and managing successful capture rates. 2:00-2:15 p.m. Refreshment Break 2:15-3:30 p.m. Customer Focus Session 3: Mortgage Markets: Keeping Up with the Wave of Change Main Ballroom Julie Joseforsky, president, Key Mortgage Services (moderator); Ken Bloss, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Fiserv Lending Solutions; Terry J. McChrystal, vice president, retail sales manager, National City Home Equity. Now more than ever, mortgage lenders are changing their criteria for awarding title and settlement business. 3:30 p.m. Summit adjourns *All information is subject to change.

Cleveland follows Midwest seasonal patterns. Cool lake breezes ensure that Cleveland’s hot summer days won’t surpass 90 degrees. Northeast Ohio’s average June temperature is a pleasant 77 degrees during the day and a comfortable 58 degrees at night.

Weather Report

The report also mentioned that, in March, the national foreclosure rate was one out of every 1,138 U.S. households. States with the most new foreclosures included Texas with 11,951 and California with 11,073. To cash in on the market, Bob Skalstad, Corporate Management Advisor’s EVP and principal, will lead a panel during the first sales session during day one of the Summit. Skalstad and panelists H. Marc Helm, SVP of loan servicing operations at Washington Mutual Bank, Joel Davidson, VP national sales executive, Fiserv Lending Solutions; and Ronald Rice, director of operations, Stewart Default Solutions, will outline and explain market strategies and explore the successful sales practices that are winning this market. “Default services isn’t as sexy as originations,” Skalstad said. “However, if title agents take the time to understand this part of the business, they can open up a whole new channel for generating additional revenue

(Continued from page 5) and, in some cases, higher profit percentages.” To make sure your business is keeping up with the wave of change, be at the Summit’s day two customer focus session, led by Julie Joseforsky, president of Key Mortgage Services. Joseforsky and her panel, which includes Ken Bloss, SVP at Fiserv Lending Solutions, and Terry J. McChrystal, VP and retail sales manager at National City Home Equity, will zero in on how the demands for products and services differ between A-paper originators, on-line lenders, sub-prime lenders and home equity lenders and uncover what today’s mortgage originators look for from their title providers.

NS3 FEATURE REPORT


NS3 SPONSORS—THANK YOU Beachwood Title Lolly the Trolley sponsor Beachwood Title Inc. is a comprehensive, full title and escrow service, including legal and tax information, comparables, lien searches and outside closings, servicing all counties in Ohio. First American Title Insurance Company General Session sponsor The First American Corporation is the nation’s leading provider of business information. First American delivers efficiency to support your business information needs. First Data Systems Hotel Keycards sponsor First Data Systems Inc. delivers the best in title industry technology from the pioneering new online transaction management program, SureClose, to the award-winning accounting program, FinancialAccess. GATORSystems Tote Bag sponsor General American Corporation (GAC) is a leading provider of B2B real estate settlement services to the mortgage finance industry. Through the GATORSystems division, the company licenses technology solutions and software to a wide variety of real estate settlement service providers. LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. Continental Breakfast sponsor LandAmerica Financial Group Inc. is a provider of real estate transaction services. Through its many subsidiaries, LandAmerica serves residential and commercial customers with more than 800 offices and a network of 10,000 active agents throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. Old Republic National Title Insurance Company Gala Opening Night sponsor The Old Republic Title Insurance Group is one of the nation's largest title insurance groups, operating in 49 states, the District of Columbia and, Puerto Rico, through a network of company-owned offices, subsidiaries, authorized agents and approved attorneys. RamQuest Software, Inc. Presenting sponsor; General Session sponsor RamQuest Software is the premier producer of software tools for the land title industry. In addition to being the leading software provider for title companies across Texas, it has customized its applications to meet the needs of title companies nationwide. The company has installations in 37 states for more than 450 companies.

Rekon Technologies Break sponsor Rekon Technologies is a leading software vendor in the mortgage loan servicing industry specializing in lien release software and document or loan tracking software. RESPRO Break sponsor The Real Estate Services Providers Council (RESPRO) is a national non-profit trade association whose members are cutting edge real estate broker-owners, real estate franchisers, mortgage lenders/brokers, title insurers/agents, home builders, home warranty companies, and other settlement service providers. SoftPro Corporation Lunch sponsor; Bottled Water sponsor SoftPro is the leading provider of closing and title automation software in the nation. With more than 9,700 customer sites and more than 45,000 users, this software offers a suite of products designed to increase volume by reducing the time it takes to do closings. Stewart General Session sponsor Stewart is a technology driven, strategically competitive, real estate information and transaction management company. Stewart provides title insurance and related services through more than 8,500 policy-issuing offices and agencies in the U.S. and several international markets. TSS Software Corporation Special edition of The Title Report sponsor; Notepad and Pen sponsor; Name Badge Lanyards sponsor TSS Software Corporation is the leading, independently owned provider of software and services for real estate title, settlement and abstracting professionals. The company, based in Annapolis, M.D., has been developing innovative software since 1993. U.S. Recordings Break sponsor Since U.S. Recordings opened for business in 1967, they’ve been a leading virtual backroom provider of total recording solutions for lenders, vendor managers, the title industry and the legal community. Y-Waite Solutions Refreshment Break sponsor; Continental Breakfast sponsor Y-Waite Solutions delivers custom software solutions and strategies to title and settlement services companies seeking to provide bundled services. Its workflow-based Magellan system enables settlement services companies to automate order processing, monitor service levels and facilitate top vendor performance, ensuring client satisfaction.


AROUND TOWN: Dining and Events Guide

Cleveland’s best restaurants The Title Report staffers offer up their favorites, all within walking distance of the hotel. $$- inexpensive, $$$- moderate, $$$$- expensive Brasa $$$$ 1300 W. 9th St., (216) 575-0699 Brazilian steaks, burgers and continuous tableside service. Blue Point Grille $$$$ 700 W. Saint Clair Ave., (216) 875-7827 American seafood. Cleveland Plain Dealer’s food critic, Joe Crea, exclaims the atmosphere could be a “Saturday night in Georgetown.” Morton’s, The Steakhouse $$$$ 1600 West 2nd Street, (216) 621-6200 One of the nation’s premiere steakhouses. Century at the Ritz-Carlton $$$ 1515 W. 3rd St., (216) 623-1302 The Century is “Puttin on the Ritz” during this American seafood dining experience. Cleveland Chop House and Brewery $$$ 824 W. Saint Clair Ave., (216) 623-0909 Cleveland’s own steakhouse and brewery with a built-in dry ice bar. Fat Fish Blue $$ 21 Prospect Ave. N.E., (216) 875-6000 A taste of the Big Easy in Northeast Ohio including a variety of southern favorites. Hard Rock Café – Cleveland $$ 230 W. Huron Rd., (216) 830-7625 Twice the rock memorabilia you’ll find anywhere else in the United States! House of Blues $$ 308 Euclid Ave., (216) 523-2583 Offers mouth watering soul food and Southern cuisines. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse $$$$ 123 W. Prospect Avenue, (216) 344-2444 The upscale restaurant features steaks, chops and seafood. Johnny’s Downtown $$$$ 1406 W. 6th St., (216) 623-0055 Robust Italian flavors with an elegant and warm ambiance. Mallorca $$$ 1390 W. 9th St., (216) 687-9494 This Spanish dining experience will make you say ‘Ole!’ Morton’s The Steakhouse $$$$ 1600 W 2nd St , (216) 621-6200 With its dark wood details, celebrity photos and tuxedo-clad waiters, this upscale steakhouse chain has the air of a posh men's club and features USDA prime-aged beef, elegant table side service and mammoth martinis. Pickwick & Frolic $$ 2035 E. 4th St., (216) 241-7425 Enjoy three rooms of style — a martini lounge, comedy club and ultimate dining. Sushi Rock $$$$ 1276 W. 6th St., (216) 623-1212 Boasts the finest sushi in Cleveland — with cityscapes and a round red bar.

Happenings in the City— Our picks for the week of NS3. June 10-17 •A Man of No Importance Beck Center for the Arts •Photo Safari Cleveland Metroparks Zoo •Bob Dylan’s American Journey Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum •The Life and Music of Roy Orbison Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum •Discovering Chimpanzees: The Remarkable World of Jane Goodall The Cleveland Museum of Natural History June 10 •National History of Food Series: Mushrooms Cleveland Museum of Natural History June 11 •Rascal Flats at 7:30 p.m. Quicken Loans Arena •Cleveland Orchestra at 3 p.m Severance Hall •Deep Purple with Mountain at 7:00 p.m. House of Blues June 14-17 •CMJ Rock Hall Music Fest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum June 17 •Clifton Arts and Musicfest Clifton Boulevard, Cleveland •Mushroomhead The Plain Dealer Pavillion, Cleveland

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