As borrowers struggle with increased prices for almost everything, it’s no surprise that making monthly mortgage payments has also been an issue. In the last few years, it has been reported that foreclosures have steadily increased.[1] Thus, lenders have sought to exercise their rights granted under either a mortgage, security deed, or deed of trust to force a sale of the collateral due to the non-payment of the debt. In many cases, whether it is a purchase money loan or a refinance, the lender may purchase and obtain a loan policy of title insurance to protect the lender’s interest from a var ..read more

Chad Harmon’s commitment to seeing every day as a new opportunity inspires and elevates. Chad Harmon remembers quite clearly what he thought when he first attended an Oklahoma Land Title Association (OLTA) conference: “This is an industry I want to be a part of.” As someone committed to continually improving himself and the world around him, Harmon recognized kindred spirits amongst the event’s attendees. His experience launched his career and recently led him to joining Alliant National as AVP, Agency Manager serving Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. Many people, when asked, struggle to sum up ..read more

Reduce stress for a happier and healthier workplace. April is “Stress Awareness Month,” making it the perfect moment to explore how stress affects both individuals and organizations. While stress is a normal process, it can take a toll when left unchecked. Alliant National HR Director Stacy Stolen discusses the consequences of runaway stress and shares strategies for creating healthier workplaces. Stress 101 Everyone experiences stress, but have you ever wondered what exactly it is? Stolen says that while stress typically carries negative connotations, on a basic level, it is simply the body’s ..read more

Protect your business by taking a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. Sometimes the cybersecurity landscape can feel a bit hopeless, especially when you look at recent data. News headlines are abuzz about breaches. Major companies across the economy are routinely victimized by hackers. Municipalities are open targets. Despite millions invested in security solutions, attacks seem to continue with unrelenting frequency. It all begs the question: Where do we go next?  The answer is deceptively simple. Agencies seeking to keep their networks secure and data safe must build a cybersecure ..read more

Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are known as the “Sunshine,” “Keystone” and the “Garden” states respectively. They are each aptly named due to Florida’s perpetual rays, Pennsylvania’s colonial history and New Jersey’s lush orchards and farms. Within Alliant National, however, these states are known for something else: Each region offers incredible opportunities to empower the independent agent. Read how the underwriter is investing resources in both areas through two strategic hires, which will enhance its operations overall up and down America’s east coast. Florida – A Rich Past and a St ..read more

There is no off-season for building effective teams. In our working lives, we hear a lot of chatter about team building. Yet, even though it is widely acknowledged that strong teams are the cornerstone of successful businesses, the exact mechanisms for how you build them are less clear-cut.   For Stacy Stolen, HR Director at Alliant National, creating an environment where staff feel connected, safe and collaborative requires a holistic, year-round approach. She shared insights on how to successfully implement team building in your organization for impactful results.Team building: A critic ..read more

In the automotive world, each vehicle is uniquely identified by a vehicle identification number (VIN), a distinct code used by the car industry. This identifier is used in various ways, such as for insurance and department of motor vehicles records, ensuring each vehicle is clearly and accurately tracked. There is a similar concept that applies in the area of real property, and it’s not the parcel identification number shown on a county appraisal district or a property appraiser or assessor’s website. The true identifier for real property is the property’s “legal description.” However, errors ..read more

Breach Detection: Top Signs Your Business Has Been Hacked In 2024, cybersecurity has firmly entrenched itself in the public imagination. It seems like barely a week goes by, for example, without a high-profile data breach. Terms like “hacking,” “malware” and even “multi-factor authentication” have become part of our everyday vernacular. Even extensive security training is now routine at many workplaces. Yet despite this welcome increase in awareness and understanding, it can still be difficult to know exactly when your network has suffered a breach – which can have serious consequences for you ..read more

Unless you’re a spring chicken, most real estate and title insurance professionals know that as the weather begins to heat up a bit, so does the market. But seizing on business opportunities during this time is not something that happens by accident. Instead, it requires thoughtful, well-executed marketing strategies. Here’s how you can ensure you’re ready for action now that spring has sprung. Hope Springs eternal Starting a new marketing campaign is always an exciting and even hopeful time, especially during the spring selling season. Time and time again, the turning of the seasons brings in ..read more

When a data breach occurs, it’s an intense, frightening moment. Who you ‘gonna call? Ghostbusters aren’t the ones for this job, so the best way to make the specter of a breach less scary is to have an incident response plan in place; to know what your legal and regulatory requirements are; and to have the contact information that you need close at hand. While this new series of blogs is not intended to provide legal advice, it is intended to provide you with recommendations for resources that may be useful; to increase awareness regarding notification and reporting requirements; and to provide ..read more