Newsletter - The Scoop

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March '13

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Employee Spotlight Brett Newsome

What did you do before coming to work at Fidelity National Title?

In 2008 I signed a professional contract to play baseball for the Washington Nationals.

What teams did you end up playing for?

I played for the rookie ball Gulf Coast Nationals. I've played for the Hagerstown Suns in Maryland in single A. And last season I was called up for one big league game with the Washington Naitonals.

As a Sales Executive, what do you feel you do best to enhance your client’s business?

I'm very hands on. There is no time that you can't get a hold of me so that questions can be answered and situations can be attended to promptly. I treat every client as my top priority and am very attentive to their personal needs and business model. I'm also very competitive and am definitely a people pleaser.

What brought you to the title insurance/real estate industry?

After my last season with the Nationals I was introduced to Jim Taylor, Chicago Loop Operations Manager, by my family's attorney. I accepted a position as a remote escrow closer. My family also has a background in real estate with my mother being a real estate agent and my father being a property investor.

Where did you grow up?

I'm from the southwest suburbs. I am from Palos Heights and attended Marist High School.

Do you have a nickname, and how did it originate?

I have 2. My friends call me Newse (because of my last name) My father calls me OX. I was bigger when I was growing up and I reminded him of Duey Oxberger from movie Stripes.

Share a little known secret about yourself with us?

I'm a closet artist. I've actually drawn several pieces that friends and family have gotten tattooed on their body.

Spring Flowers! Best Bet ... Bulbs!

Spring flowering bulbs offer a reliable colorful display and they require very little effort. From which end is up, to when to feed, here are some bulb planting tips.

Here's How:

1. Choose healthy bulbs. Avoid bulbs that are dry and withered, spongy or moldy. In general, the larger the bulb for its type, the more flowers.
2. Plant with the pointed side up. The pointed end is the stem. You may even be able to see some shriveled roots on the flatter side. If you really can't tell, don't worry about it.
3. Plant bulbs to a depth of about 3 times their diameter. Smaller bulbs can be planted to a depth of 3-4 inches and so on.
4. Mix some bone meal or superphosphate into the soil at the bottom of the hole at planting time, to encourage strong root growth.

Debt Relief Act '13 Extension

"Will Congress Extend The Tax Breaks For Debt Relief On Short Sales Beyond December 31st?"

Update from our Regional Counsel, Barry Wolfinsohn:

When I was presenting our Fall Short Sale Seminars, one question was asked repeatedly: “Will Congress Extend The Tax Breaks For Debt Relief On Short Sales Beyond December 31st?"

Obviously this was a major concern for our customers before the end of the year. The answer I gave at the time was that Congress was focused on the so-called fiscal cliff issues. We were all hopeful that debt relief for short sales would be considered in any deal ultimately made.

The new year brought good tidings and some reason for comfort in 2013. Those that enjoy political theatre know that there was ultimately a last minute deal to save us from the dreaded precipice. As part of this package, and surely in response to the voices of many in the industry and the private sector, Congress extended the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act through 2013. This extension will provide much needed relief and will certainly allow the market to continue to recover going forward. Interestingly enough, it also extends the exclusion of capital gains on principal residences.

Here are some links to more information:

Get Connected At Fidelity

The Chicago Loop office now has Free Wi-Fi access for all of our customers.
So Bring your Laptops, iPads and Smart Phones to all your closings and just ask the receptionist for the password.

• Increase your productivity while visiting our offices

• Using Wi-Fi enables PDA’s and Laptops to deliver quick and easy access to information on a secured wireless network

• Available to you and your clients

Coming Soon:

Oak Brook, Oak Lawn, Schaumburg and Northbrook Offices

Automated P-Tax Form

Now available on FidelityDesktop.com using our doc prep application!

Order information will now auto-populate to the P-Tax form including the legal description

Should be used for all IL Counties except Cook Co.(Cook Co. requires you to use the EZ-Dec website for State, County and City of Chicago transfer stamps).

Click Here to Access the EZ-Dec Website

Short Sale HUD for “Dummies”

Features

Answer a few simple questions and our short sale HUD will then auto-populate a Hud-1 document that you can send for preliminary approval.

• Automatically Calculates tax proration’s.
• Autopopulates the correct title and escrow charges based on the sales price entered.
• Prepared in a format so it can be saved, printed or emailed.

Click HERE for Access

"Developers are picking up real estate prices that are probably their lowest in years, so they’re able to do teardowns and new-home construction at affordable prices again" said Adam Miller, president of the Chicago-based Summit Design & Build LLC.

Including apartments, residential construction contracts totaled $1.8 billion through the end of October, a 2 percent year over year gain, according to Kim Kennedy, McGraw-Hill.

Commercial projects, which include office, retail and other private-sector developments, also gained, with contracts rising 2 percent, to 1.4 billion.

In our own back yard:
1. Lenders are starting to lend for construction again they are loosening up the funds
2. We are also seeing more Rehabs in commercial and residential
3. We are seeing more teardowns and new-construction, especially in Lake County

DID YOU KNOW?

Fidelity National Title has a centralized construction department located in our Schaumburg office!

Our Construction Escrow Supervisor Michele Pizur has 23 years’ experience in the title industry. Our Construction department continues to increase its business year after year:

Contractors/Subcontractors can drop off their waivers and pick up checks at any of our 26 Offices – please call prior
General Contractors can drop off draws in any of our locations as well
Always available by phone or email: P# 877.868.0886 F# 847.397.8505 or email: contruction@fnf.com

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