From the Desk of Janel Van Ruler, President

It is so good to be here.  This statement can mean many things, for example, it could mean that it is good to be where you live; it is good to be going home; maybe it is good to see family and friends.  Another view on this is that it is so good to be at Dakota Homestead.  I am delighted to be a part of a company that is dedicated to South Dakota.  Yes, that is right, we are dedicated. 

UNDERWRITER CORNER: South Dakota Supreme Court DSS Liens Case

UNDERWRITER CORNER 

NEW SUPREME COURT CASE ON DSS LIENS

Just last week the South Dakota Supreme Court came out with a new opinion, Hollman v. South Dakota Department of Social Services, 2015 S.D. 21, addressing the issue of when Department of Social Services' (DSS) liens attach and encumber real property interests. 

UNDERWRITER CORNER: REQUIRED SIGNATURES WHEN HUSBAND AND WIFE BOTH OWN PROPERTY

UNDERWRITER CORNER 

REQUIRED SIGNATURES WHEN HUSBAND AND WIFE BOTH OWN PROPERTY

Recently, Chris and I have been dealing with the same issues on several claims from Missouri and Minnesota regarding married couples.  Both fact patterns illustrate the type of common issues that can pop-up because of a disconnect between all of the parties leading-up to closing.

The first fact pattern deals with a husband and wife buying property.  Only one spouse is listed on the purchase agreement and the mortgage, but for some reason, the deed ends up with both spouses listed as the new owners.  What needs to happen:

New Title Insurance Policy Endorsements.

Dakota Homestead Title Insurance Company has issued all new Title Insurance Policy Endorsements. 

The new Endorsements are based on the most current endorsements published by The American Land Title Association (ALTA).   Additionally there are several Dakota Homestead Endorsements that are specific only to Dakota Homestead.

Homestead Escrow and Exchange has new web site.

A new web site for HOMESTEAD ESCROW AND EXCHANGE has been published.

What's moving in South Dakota

Freddie Mac Multi-Indicator Market index through January 2015.

In the graph South Dakota is the black line and the National results are the gray line.  By looking at these lines you can see that South Dakota passed the national MiMi in 2008 and has stayed in the ahead since then.

Dakota Homestead Newsletter Is Back.

Title Talk Newsletter from the archives.

The Dakota Homestead Newsletter "Title Talk" is Back.