Okay so reading this blog is like getting the news 6 weeks early. Granted, I thought it would make the news at the end of September, and here it is in today's Times:

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act was passed by the U.S. Congress in 2008 to govern certain aspects of closing most residential transactions in the United States. RESPA had a giant impact on how business is conducted in certain segments of the real estate industry, especially in title/escrow companies and mortgage lending companies.

The first time you receive a copy of a title company commitment, you might find it difficult to understand.  Actually, the commitment is an easy document to read.  Once familiar with the commitment, it becomes a road map to follow to ensure that the property being transferred is in insurable condition.

Explanation: