Continue reading »]]> Right now both existing and new Landtech customers can choose to have their Landtech program hosted online at very reasonable prices. This saves you from having to maintain a server and all of the IT headaches that come with it. You can now work on your Landtech files from anywhere in the world! You own the software and control your own data in a secure environment. You can access and update it as easily as if it was on a computer in your office and the program runs as quickly as it does from your own in-office server or workstations. Landtech has the technology to make a virtual office fast, smooth and easy! For more information about this exciting new Landtech feature, please click here.

Continue reading »]]> For several years now, Landtech has included the ability to make images of all Landtech documents and post them to a file location of your choice. If you want, Landtech will even create the destination folder for you automatically. You can also open your scanning software from within Landtech to scan any received documents and add them to the scanned folder for any closing file.

The features of Landtech are practically endless. Every brand of closing software uses particular terms to describe their features. We recently replaced very expensive software and were asked about “Scan to file” capabilities. Whatever you name it, this feature is very attractive to users and, of course, it’s part of Landtech at no extra charge. With Landtech the installation is complete and there are no features that have to be purchased in addition to the software. If you are using software other than Landtech, please inquire about the Landtech version of features that you like in your present software, and see how we are better by utilizing true one-time entry. Please Contact us here for more information.

Continue reading »]]> The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has added a new reporting requirement for Title Agents, requiring that the Property Type (either residential or non-residential) must be provided for each reported title policy. Landtech XML version 2011.01.0030 added this feature to the existing Landtech program as a drop-down menu in the Title Insurance dialog box. Different title underwriters have different ideas about whether the Property Type has to be reported on the forms as well. We are waiting to hear from several of them. Westcor Land Title Insurance is the only underwriter to request a change on the title policy forms themselves. Any title forms that are updated with this feature will be available on the Landtech Forms web site. To update your Landtech program to add the Property Type feature, from within Landtech program, click on Online, Check for Updates and download and install the latest version of Landtech, and then download the updated forms.

Continue reading »]]> Landtech, always in front with great technology, has now created a free IPhone App that allows you to digitally sign PDF documents on your IPhone or IPad and connect directly to the Landtech software in your office. A Droid version for the Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) operating system will follow. You can use a stylus or your finger to sign the document and then position the signature block where you like on the document. You can even take a photo of a document that you want signed and Landtech eSign will convert it to  a PDF. Then, after signing the PDF document, there is a built-in emailer to send the document where you need it to go.

You can check out the app with this link: Landtech eSign – App Store

Continue reading »]]> Well, the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been busy and they are now wrapping up what might the final versions of the new Good Faith Estimate and HUD Settlement Statement, last projected to be released mid-summer 2012. The upcoming changes can be previewed on the government web site Know Before you Owe. That phrase is the theme for the new changes, and this time they have allowed Consumers and Businesses to assist the CFPB in designing the new forms. Hopefully these revisions will make more sense than the the ones we experienced in 2009. The sample closing statements now on the Know Before you Owe site combine the GFE, TIL and the HUD Statement in one lengthy document with the idea that it will be simpler for the borrowers. As you know, the GFE, TIL and final HUD usually come from different places specializing in their fields, the lender and the settlement agent, so we don’t know how that will pan out. Justin Ailes from ALTA wrote a letter to Benjamin Olson at the CFPB stating that two software vendors ALTA questioned said that implementation would take them 12-14 months and 1.5 to 2 million dollars to develop the software for the new Closing Statement. While we don’t disagree on the amount, I think it will take less time than that for Landtech to comply. We have asked Mr. Ailes for the names of the software developers he questioned to help us understand why ALTA’s chosen software developers are going to take so long, but no answer has been received from Mr. Ailes. A lot of Settlement software is owned by a few underwriters these days, and the purpose of that seems to be to simply to capture the premium. They do little development on their software, so when a major programming update is required, they try to stifle the idea to avoid spending money. Landtech is 100% owned by Wyatt Bell, the person who originally wrote the program, and Landtech has no interest in who you pay your title premiums to.

Landtech will be ready (as always) before the new forms are required and the update will be automatically provided to our 4,000+ current customers for no additional charge. if you are a Landtech customer or former Landtech customer whose annual update, telephone support and maintenance fees have expired, do yourself a favor and renew your Landtech Annual Update Subscription here. By renewing through Landtech Florida, you will receive updated documents and new Landtech calculation files at no additional charge, as well as our assistance with the update. Renew today and be ready for the future!

Continue reading »]]> That’s right! Landtech software is the lowest cost full real estate closing system in the country. There are no modules to purchase, no documents to buy, no extra features that you have to opt-in or opt-out of - one complete and seamless suite of software geared to your closing needs, whatever they may be. We are independent software developers and completely responsive to our large base of customers. From the first commitment to the final policy, disbursing the funds, reconciling the trust accounts, generatin business reports and electronic 1099S reporting directly to the I.R.S., Landtech’s true one-time entry will be your best friend.

People who have spent hundreds or thousands of dollars more for inferior closing software than  they would have spent to acquire Landtech sometimes think that a dynamic, thorough software program such as Landtech would have cost more money than the software that they are stuck with. Don’t make that mistake. If you already did, we can work with you on a trade-in credit when you make the decision to move up to Landtech. The solution to choosing good software is simple.

Closing software is an important part of your future in the land title business. Verify statements by software salespeople, some don’t have much of an idea of what you actually do to make a closing happen; contact as many software vendors as you can find and view their product. Ask to create a closing file or ask the sales person to show you how to process a closing file based on how you like to proceed. Stay away from time-limited “trial” software. The fewer keystrokes and mouse clicks the better; settle for nothing less than true one time entry. With good software you don’t have to hand-calculate your recording fees or title calculations anywhere in America, you don’t have to input the GFE items twice, you should be able to see your closing statement develop right in front of you; no pop-up HUD viewer necessary. “Like a HUD” isn’t the same as the fillable dynamic HUD form in landtech. Check for limits on the number of closing files, settlement agents, databases for Escrow accounts, Lenders, Mortgage Brokers, Realtors, Sales Reps, Closers, etc. Look to see if you can easily convert from a Non-GFE HUD to a GFE HUD and vice versa. Make sure you can easily access the software remotely. Test its feel, its “user-friendliness”; “user-friendly” is very subjective but it should be part of your decision about which product you like best. Ask for references and use them to ask questions about the technical and closing support. Check the company’s length of time in software development, check their ownership and see if an insurance company is involved in its ownership or management, often a sign of very little forward development. To Landtech, it’s all about the customer; to others, it’s all about the premium.

Continue reading »]]> Landtech Forms, the go-to web site for the most up-to-date Landtech merge documents and program enhancements has closed the shopping cart section of the site to concentrate on serving the increasing number of customers who prefer an annual Subscription. Subscribers can easily maintain their Landtech program with the latest documents, recording files, endorsement calculators and all manner of Landtech products in the best way possible. Subscribers also receive special treatment, including  some free training and telephone support from Landtech Florida. Browse on over to www.landtechforms.com, and have a look and then join the many subscribed Landtech customers. Because Landtech is a “tool of your trade”, it should be kept as finely tuned as possible. A Landtech Forms Subscription is a fast and easy way to do that.

Continue reading »]]> Spring Semester classes are over for schools using Landtech to teach real estate closings to paralegals.  The next Semester is in August, 2012, and of course we’ll be there for those classes, too. In Florida, Landtech is used as a teaching aid for paralegal candidates to learn the ins and outs of real estate closings. These students will graduate with knowledge of various real estate closing transactions and also what good closing software  can and should do easily with one time entry. In Florida, Nova University of Law, Broward Community College and Palm Beach State College use Landtech to show students the procedures used in multi-faceted real estate title transactions. Peter Rennick from Landtech Florida along with a senior paralegal from a prominent county law firm assist a Florida real estate attorney at Palm Beach State College campuses. Landtech Florida works with BCC and Nova at their request to make sure that they have the most up-to-date Landtech system for the students. Many of these students go on to become attorneys and paralegals, and some go into other careers in the land title field. These classes can be a valuable stepping-stone for them.

At Palm Beach State College the classes are conducted by giving students hands-on experience in today’s real estate closings. We utilize the ease and capabilities of Landtech to calculate all charges and prorations, disburse the funds and create all closing documents. At Landtech we feel that donating the use of our software and assisting however we can is one way to give back to our community. Landtech is the most widely used, privately held closing software company in the country and the students will be better positioned to find a job with a real estate law firm or title company anywhere in America when they graduate. The students will also understand how good settlement software can help them achieve the accuracy they need and the best presentation at the closing. If you know an educational institution that would like to use Landtech in their classes, please let us know. Students of PBSC, we’ll see you in late August, 2012.

Continue reading »]]> New multi-state layouts/templates have been added to the document Subscription site along with additional title documents in Landtech Document Editor format for fast and easy merge printing on the fly. The templates contain the language and signature lines printed at the bottom of documents printed or emailed from the Print-Documents menu in Landtech.This includes the HUD forms and other closing documents. Fix up the bottom of your HUD closing documents by downloading new templates from www.landtechforms.com today! If you download the initials-only templates you will find a couple of HUD Signature Page forms either in Word or in Landtech Document Editor format. We have also just uploaded Old Republic National Title’s commitment, policy and endorsement forms for Florida Old Republic agents done in the Landtech Document Editor (LDE). Imagine – you can import your title work electronically from any underwriter and produce a title commitment in mere seconds – without ever leaving Landtech! If you are not a Subscriber, you can go to the Landtech document site and preview these templates and other Landtech documents and enhancements.

Continue reading »]]>

Landtech XML version 2011.01.0021 introduced “Quick-View” and version 2011.01.0025 improved on the first release, and now Landtech XML version 2011.01.0027 improves it even more! This file  look-up feature displays information contained in every closing file. In or out of the office, you can use Quick-View using  a computer or your smart phone (Blackberry, IPhone, Droid, etc.) and view the file information, legal description, exceptions, requirements  and notes on the file. You can also view the names of parties to the closing and check a box next to their name(s) to email any closing documents you like –  Amazing! Now, with this latest improvement, you can actually edit Notes, Legal descriptions, Exceptions and Requirements for an existing closing file – remotely!  There are many more improvements to Quick-View. If you click on Help, What’s New from within Landtech you will see all of the recent changes. Landtech customers can download the latest version any time. If you’re not using Landtech yet, please contact us about leasing or purchasing your very own Landtech software for accurate, impressive closings and true one-time entry with no limitations on anything! We can arrange leasing terms for a low, comfortable monthly payment with ownership at the end of the lease.