Please Note:

John Bethell Title Company, Inc. will be closed on Monday February 20 for our Annual Employee Training Day. We will resume normal business operations and hours on Tuesday February 21.

Hidden and not so hidden trends, conclusions and questions from the 2011 full year mortgage and deed recording data:

• Lenders with a local presence and local employees continue to dominate our market. Take that dot com lender! Page 4.
• Indiana University Credit Union and German American were the most active residential and business lenders, respectively. Page 3.
• Record low mortgage interest rates resulted in the smallest number of recorded mortgages between $50 and $500 in the last seven years (and probably since the mid-1990’s). Something else must be holding back the market, Mr. & Ms. Regulator. Chart Page 14.
• The number of recorded deeds representing a transaction was almost identical to 2010. Does this indicate a market bottom? Chart Page 14.
• Possibly. But the number of sales disclosures marked as the Buyer’s Primary Residence was down considerably. Again despite record low mortgage interest rates. Chart Page 16.
• Sales NOT marked as the Buyer’s Primary Residence increased last year. Indicative of more investor activity? Chart Page 17.
• Foreclosures continue to decline. Good for our community and for housing price stability. Charts Pages 18 and 19.

And on the national front it seems to me that positive stories about real estate are out numbering the negative stories by as wide a margin as I can remember in the last five years. Let’s hope these are self fulfilling prophecies!

Have a great and successful 2012!

~John Bethell

“All objects lose by too familiar a view.”
~ John Dryden

Sometimes you’re so close to something that you forget that not everything is obvious. Recently I was asked some questions about the data in our report, what it means and where it comes from. So I thought that I’d start the New Year with an explanation.

The Mortgage Market Share Report has been published monthly by John Bethell Title Company, Inc. and its predecessor All American Title, Inc. since 1996. The report is a summary of the total mortgages recorded in Monroe County for the month and for the year to date. Both the number of mortgages and the aggregate stated original loan amounts are tracked by lender.

At the end of each quarter the report also includes data presented to give a more complete understanding of the real estate market in Monroe County. Historical trends, total sale transactions, the breakdown of primary residential sales by price, new foreclosures started and recorded Sheriff’s deeds are included.

The data comes from our proprietary in-house property records data base. This data base is an index to every real estate related document recorded in the Monroe County Recorder’s office and the Clerk of Courts’ office. The data base is updated daily as documents are placed of record in the county offices. The primary use of the data base is to enhance the speed and accuracy of the title work that we perform for our clients. The statistical information is a useful by-product. The sale data is supplemented by Indiana Sales Disclosure information maintained by the State Department of Local Government Finance.

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to improve the timeliness of the report by a week to ten days. Wish me luck!

~John Bethell

“Mommy! Make Them Stop!”

Many things to be keeping an eye on these days . . .

The new Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) is testing forms. We’ve seen a number of versions of a combined Good Faith Estimate and Truth in Lending disclosure. In November, we saw a combined Settlement Statement (f/k/a HUD-1) and Truth in Lending disclosure. In the name of simplification this new form if adopted will have morphed into six pages. Six pages are simpler than two. Seriously? What’s most disturbing is that the CFPB is promulgating the forms before they’ve promulgated the rules that the forms are supposed to implement. And they’re hoping for a July 1 2012 effective date. Oh joy.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is developing a statistical reporting system for title agents. The NAIC hopes that by gathering specifics about the transactions title agents insure, they can develop a better understanding of the title industry and how best to regulate it. It’s unclear at this stage what increased administrative burden will be created by this initiative.

Beginning January 1, 2012, the RREAL Licensing Data base that closing agents report to will be expanded to include all residential transactions. Not just transactions involving a first mortgage. Based upon our own book of business this requirement will result in our having to report about twenty five percent more transactions.

On a more positive note, Fannie and Freddie have revised their standards for the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). Estimates are that between one and two million additional borrowers may qualify under this revamped program. I’m hoping that it’s all of that and more. The new standards ease appraisal rules for borrowers with negative loan to value ratios. This change makes it easier for responsible homeowners to qualify for a refinance as long as they are current with the payments on their existing loan. In my opinion, this reform is a long overdue.

Our company goal at the beginning of this year was just to try and get better at what we do and minimize change. As the year progressed we were able to take advantage of several unexpected opportunities to grow significantly and improve our company. We couldn’t have done this without our client’s support and encouragement. For this we are truly thankful. Have a great holiday season. You deserve it!

~John Bethell

“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.”

~ Gladys Brown

 Instead of using this space for ranting again about misguided efforts to regulate and stimulate the housing market, I want to say “Thanks!”

 September has been a terrific month for us at John Bethell Title Company, Inc. Record low mortgage interest rates (yet again) are producing robust order counts for the third straight month. This portends a successful fourth quarter for us and for all of you. Being busy is always the preferable alternative!

 Our closing team grew in September with the addition of ten year finance industry veteran Liz Bunton as a transaction processor and the return of real estate closer Laura McKinney from maternity leave. We are now fully staffed and well prepared to handle the challenges of the latest refinance mania.

 Two weeks ago we announced our acquisition of Best Title Company, LLC and the addition of Dan Stewart and Julie Vonderschmidt to our team. Dan will be our Senior Vice-President and Title Counsel. He will supervise the title department and join me, Tammy Walker and Kara Oltman on our leadership team. Julie will lend her well rounded experience to our client services team. Dan and Julie will be in our office starting Monday October 3^rd.

 On September 22^nd we were honored to be named Business of Year (small business category) by the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. We always conduct our business in a manner that meets the needs of our clients with the highest degree of professionalism. This recognition by our peers in the Bloomington business community confirms to me that we not only meet that goal, but that our efforts are both noticed and appreciated. 

 The last three years has been one of the most challenging periods in the history of the real estate and mortgage finance business. Thank you to all of our clients, associates, business partners and friends for helping us not only survive these difficult times, but to prosper and grow. We are committed to meeting your changing needs and to providing you with the extraordinary title and closing service that you deserve.

~John Bethell

September 12, 2011 ~ John Bethell, President and Owner of John Bethell Title Company, Inc. announced today that the company has purchased the assets of Bloomington based Best Title Company, LLC from Dan Stewart. The purchase will become effective October 1, 2011. Stewart will then join John Bethell Title in the position of Senior Vice President and Title Counsel. Stewart will be primarily responsible for managing the title services team. Julie Vonderschmidt, Stewart’s Closing Processor has also agreed to join John Bethell Title.

“Dan and I have discussed combining our businesses off and on for several years,” said Bethell. “More recently John Bethell Title has been looking to add a highly experienced title professional to our team. As our leadership team considered what steps to take, it seemed natural to follow up again with Dan, a thirty year veteran of the business. This time, Dan’s goals coincided with ours. Dan and Julie are both great additions to our company.”

Stewart said “John and I share a common vision of treating customers fairly and providing excellent service for good value. It is more challenging today for one person to do everything it takes to close a transaction. I am thankful that my business has grown, but there are only so many hours in the day. Joining his larger organization will allow me to continue to serve my customer base and to assist his management team in serving our growing market.”

Until October 1st, Best Title will continue to service and close its pending transactions. After October 1st any pending transactions will be closed by John Bethell Title. Post closing services for Best Title’s transactions will also be performed by John Bethell Title.

Dan Stewart and Best Title Company, LLC have been a fixture in Bloomington’s real estate market for over thirty years.

Founded in 1973 and purchased by Bethell in 2002, John Bethell Title Company, Inc. is a leading provider of title insurance and settlement services to the greater Bloomington area. The company operates from one location at 329 South Walnut Street in Bloomington.

This morning I read my weekly “Outside the Box”newsletter from financial analyst John Mauldin. He discussed in some detail the history of the mortgage crisis and the benefits to the average citizen that refinancing would bring―especially the additional disposable income that could be spent and thus stimulate the economy. He pointed out that Fannie, Freddie, and the big institutional investors that own the existing mortgage backed paper do not want to see a surge in prepayments that could result from the Federal Reserve’s low interest rate policies. The investment losses from prepaying all those six percent mortgages they hold would be quite extraordinary. And since Fannie and Freddie are owned by us taxpayers, the bailout cost would increase dramatically. Mr. Mauldin quoted colleagues who went so far as to suggest that the tightened credit standards might be a premeditated way to control the rate of prepayments.

Policy makers, especially those up for re-election soon, feel the need to do something. And just as clearly Fannie, Freddie and the investment community want to avoid massive prepayments. I’m not certain how these competing interests will play out, but my vote would be to find a way to increase the availability of refinancing opportunities to more homeowners. The resulting lower payments would enable consumers to increase spending. This spending would stimulate the economy more than any other idea that’s been suggested.

~John Bethell

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~ Albert Einstein

 During the last three years we’ve been introduced to many new concepts. Mortgage modifications, robo-signers, qualified residential mortgages, Appraisal Vendor misManagement firms, mortgage backed security put backs, TARP and HAFA immediately come to mind. We’ve dealt with new RESPA regulations, new TILA regulations (several times), and coming soon new rules from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Somewhere, amid all the change, there must be opportunities, right?

 One opportunity that we’ve pursued involves short sales. That’s when the seller’s mortgage holder agrees to take less than what is owed on the loan but still releases their mortgage. We’ve dealt with short sales for about five years. By and large, they’ve been very disruptive to our closing business. Each one was a fire drill and no one involved was ever happy with the process. Last winter we decided that there must be a better way. 

 That better way we call ISSAC―Improving Short Sale Approvals and Closings. The goal of ISSAC is to help Realtors® and their clients by prequalifying short sale sellers, submitting complete short sale packages to lenders for approval, and closing the transaction in a reasonable time frame. (Reasonable for most short sales is sixty to seventy-five days.) Kara Oltman, our Vice-President, Settlement Services is in charge of the program. Both Kara and I completed extensive training and earned professional designations as Certified Default Resolution Closing Specialists. ®

 So how many potential short sales are there? To get an idea, look at the Mortgages under $50,000 chart in our report. Several years ago thousands of home equity and piggy back mortgages were made in Monroe County. Some banks lent to 125% of assessed valuation. Although locally our values haven’t cratered like some markets, there still are a number of upside down homeowners in our community.

 The ISSAC program includes a two hour training session in our office, currently conducted once a month. Short sales applications are similar to mortgage loan applications. There are a number of details and contingencies that must be accounted for. The training session covers all of that. After the training Realtors® are better equipped to represent their clients on either side of a short sale transaction.

 We feel that ISSAC benefits the entire community. Each approved short sale is one less home lost to foreclosure; Sellers get to move on and start over; Buyers get the home they want; the neighborhood avoids an abandoned house with three feet of weeds and broken windows.

 We’re excited to offer our assistance. Contact Kara, Tammy Walker or me for further details.

~John Bethell

Good news and bad news in the May numbers.

Commercial lending is slowly showing improvement. There were twelve commercial mortgages securing loans in excess of one million dollars recorded in May. More broadly, there were thirty mortgages over $500,000 recorded in April and May of this year. Last year in April and May there were only fourteen such mortgages. This increase confirms anecdotal evidence that I’ve heard. Some banks―but not all banks―are making commercial loans in well qualified situations. A welcome sign of improvement.

The residential side of the market is still very soft. Our mainstay barometer of market activity is recorded mortgages securing between $50,000 and $500,000, as these most often represent residential first mortgage transactions. Only 497 such mortgages were recorded in the last two months. This is the lowest April/May total in the fifteen years that we’ve been providing our report. We seem to be in yet another “interest rates will never be this low again” market. Yet, consumers are not paying attention. Or more likely, they may be unable to qualify under today’s standards.

The oppressive effect of regulatory and underwriting excesses is clearly taking its toll. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, loan application rejections increased to 26.8% of all applications at the nation’s ten largest mortgage lenders in 2010. It would be hard to argue that increased rejection rates are not reflected in our own market. The numbers don’t lie. Hopefully, at some point, government officials and regulators will come to their senses. Without a strong housing sector, there’s little hope of the country enjoying a robust economic recovery.

On a more positive note, our acquisition of Meridian Title’s Bloomington office is transitioning well. I’ve attached a recent update for those who may have missed it. At this point, I can’t imagine how things could be going better. Thank you to all who offered their congratulations and well wishes. All of us here at John Bethell Title truly appreciate that.

~John Bethell