Water: Your Essential Partner for Outstanding Workplace Performance

by Chris Farmer

In our demanding professional lives, we often overlook the importance of one vital element - water. This humble, life-giving liquid does more than just quench our thirst; it plays a critical role in driving our workplace performance, backed by complex biological mechanisms. Regularly drinking water fuels our physical performance, sharpens cognitive function, supports our immunity, and ensures smooth digestion. Click HERE to learn more about the impact of water in our lives. As we navigate our busy professional lives, let's pledge to prioritize our hydration. Start with a glass in the morning, keep a bottle at your desk, and set reminders if needed. Let's use the power of water to unlock new heights of productivity and well-being in our careers.

The Detrimental Effects of Political Partisanship on the Housing Industry and Mortgage Finance

by David H. Stevens, CMB

As everyone is critically aware, in recent years political partisanship has become increasingly dominant, permeating various aspects of our lives, more often in detrimental ways. Unfortunately, the housing industry is not immune to this divisive trend. The persistent gridlock, ideological battles, and lack of cooperation between political parties have had a detrimental impact on the housing industry and all of it’s supporting business lines. Looking at why political partisanship is harmful to the housing sector and how it hampers progress and stability is important for all in our collective industry to recognize and to explore ways to make clear that housing should not be a political tool. Click HERE to read on.

Yun: Latest Inflation News Bodes Well for Housing

by Melissa Dittmann Tracey



Inflation in June saw its smallest gain in more than two years, which translates to smaller increases in consumer prices. That could help build greater confidence among would-be home buyers to enter the housing market. “Low inflation means low mortgage rates,” says Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®. “Therefore, decelerating consumer prices could steadily lift home sales and increase home production in a few months.” Click HERE to read on.

How To Boost Employee Morale & Motivation: Manage the One (8 Steps)

by Paul Yoachum

Employee morale and motivation play an essential role in the success of any organization. Employees are more likely to be productive and committed to their work when they feel valued, engaged, and motivated. The responsibility of a manager is to create an environment that boosts morale among your team members. But how do you boost employee morale and motivation? More importantly, how do you find ways to motivate every individual on your team? Working with people who think differently than you can be challenging, but it will make your team better overall. In this article, we’ll review several ways to boost employee morale and motivation by managing to the one. Click HERE to read on.

6 Strategies to Position Banks for Growth Post-Recession

by Jaime Dominguez, The Financial Brand

All too often, banks scale back in uncertain times, but that can be the wrong response. As our white paper notes, “Executives often make short-term decisions that affect long-term strategy. This includes broad-based reductions in investments in technology, innovation, talent, back-office modernization and customer experiences. With many financial institutions in the midst of major business model changes, cost cutting must be much more strategic — with some savings reinvested in the areas of greatest long-term value.” The whitepaper outlines six strategies financial institutions can employ now so they’re ready for growth once the economy recovers. Click HERE to learn more.

4 Ways to Earn the Respect of a More Powerful Colleague

by Nihar Chhaya

When you are stuck in an unequal power dynamic, it helps to remember that not only is the placement of power temporary, but you can equalize it. In this article, the author outlines four strategies you can use to creatively pivot in the moment and frame the connection differently, so that you are building the respect you deserve and positively shifting the perception of your power. Click HERE to read on.

NEW! Virginia Title Center Keeps You Safe From Wire Fraud with CertifID

Digital banking makes moving money easier for everyone — including cyber criminals, who are getting more cunning every day. Every wire transfer you send or receive is at risk. Yet many ask if wire fraud is really that serious? Wire transfers continue to be the most frequently reported payment method for fraud with a reported aggregate loss of $2.4 Billion and an average loss of $120k per victim. And, did you know that one out of every three real estate transactions are targeted for wire fraud?

At Virginia Title Center, we take the safety of your money and your client's money seriously and now offer wire fraud protection through a partnership with CertifID. This offers end-to-end protection to keep customer information secured and insured at all times through a suite of services. CertifID makes it easy for us to securely send our wire instructions to clients and lenders; allows us to safely collect bank details from home sellers and other partners; verifies the bank details that have been provided are accurate and not tampered with; and, offers PayoffProtect to validate the authenticity of wiring instructions to ensure loan payoff payments aren't sent to fraudsters. All wire transactions are backed by Lloyd's of London and insured up to $1 million. Click HERE for a flyer you can share with your clients, and talk to your settlement processor to learn how using CertifID can protect you and your clients.