​The CLTA is pleased to announce the release of a new Titlecast episode, now available on CLTA’s Members-Only Titlecast education portal.  If you have not yet set up your password, please refer to the information provided at the end of this message.

In a recent press release, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that it is postponing the reporting requirements of its Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for the Residential Real Estate Transfers Rule (RRE Rule) by three months to March 1, 2026. 

Governor Newsom has signed AB 238 (Harabedian), entitled the Mortgage Forbearance Act, into law. The legislation went into effect immediately upon signing as an urgency measure.​

Assmbly Bill 1050 (Schultz) added reciprocal easement agreements to the list of recorded documents in existing law that are unenforceable against the owner of an affordable housing development where the restriction in the recoded document limits the size, number or location of the residences that may be built on the property where an approved restrictive covenant affordable housing modification document has been recorded.

Thomas v. Corbyn Restaurant Development Corp. (2025) 111 Cal.App.5th 439

After the settlement of a personal injury lawsuit, an unknown third-party purporting to be plaintiff's counsel sent spoofed e-mails to defense counsel providing fraudulent wire instructions for the settlement proceeds and absconded with the funds. ​

ALTA filed an amicus brief on Sept. 2 supporting Fidelity National Financial’s motion for summary judgment in its challenge to the FinCEN's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rule for residential real estate transactions. 

​Tara Smith has been named Executive Vice President of Enterprise Growth and Multi-brand Strategy at First American Title Insurance. Smith will have enterprise-wide responsibilities for driving growth and multi-brand strategies, as well as serving as executive sponsor of the company’s Leadership Forum, a program that develops successors for senior leadership roles. 

Housing Bill Amended to Include Notice of Foreclosure to State Agencies (AB 1529); Unsolicited Offer Bill Amended to Include Ventura County (AB 851); Recorder Notification Bill Amended to Require Board of Supervisors Authorization (SB 255); Reparations Bill Amended Removing Property Reclamation (SB 518); AI Regulation Bill Scuttled in Session’s Closing Days (AB 1018)

The California Secretary of State announced that a new state ballot initiative intended to overturn certain real property-related taxes was cleared to begin collecting petition signatures on August 29, 2025.

Last Thursday Freddie Mac released the results of its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.35%. The Survey is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20% down and have excellent credit.