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To amend the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to prohibit certain financial benefits for referrals of business and to improve the judicial relief for certain violations, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-517| House 
| Updated: 1/13/2017
Keith Ellison

Keith Ellison

Democratic Representative

Minnesota

Cosponsors (1)
Michael E. Capuano (Democratic)

Financial Services Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Ensure Fair Prices in Title Insurance Act of 2017 This bill amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to exempt affiliated business arrangements from the prohibitions against kickbacks and unearned fees so long as no fee, kickback, or thing of value (including any return on ownership based on referrals paid for or received from an affiliated business arrangement) is paid or received pursuant to any agreement or understanding for referrals of business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan. Persons who violate such Act shall be jointly and severally liable, upon a finding from a court of competent jurisdiction that such a violation occurred, to any party providing services substantially similar to settlement services in the same state where the violation occurred, and in an amount equal to attorneys' fees and court costs incurred in initiating an action. A court may grant, in addition to the principal remedies, either injunctive relief, restitution, or other appropriate equitable relief. The statute of limitations is extended from one year to three years for violation of the prohibitions against: (1) kickbacks and unearned fees, and (2) any requirement by a property seller involving a purchase assisted by a federally related mortgage loan that the buyer also purchase title insurance from any particular title company.
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Timeline
Jan 13, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 13, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • January 13, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 13, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Finance and Financial Sector

Civil actions and liabilityReal estate business

To amend the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to prohibit certain financial benefits for referrals of business and to improve the judicial relief for certain violations, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressHR-517| House 
| Updated: 1/13/2017
Ensure Fair Prices in Title Insurance Act of 2017 This bill amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to exempt affiliated business arrangements from the prohibitions against kickbacks and unearned fees so long as no fee, kickback, or thing of value (including any return on ownership based on referrals paid for or received from an affiliated business arrangement) is paid or received pursuant to any agreement or understanding for referrals of business incident to or a part of a real estate settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan. Persons who violate such Act shall be jointly and severally liable, upon a finding from a court of competent jurisdiction that such a violation occurred, to any party providing services substantially similar to settlement services in the same state where the violation occurred, and in an amount equal to attorneys' fees and court costs incurred in initiating an action. A court may grant, in addition to the principal remedies, either injunctive relief, restitution, or other appropriate equitable relief. The statute of limitations is extended from one year to three years for violation of the prohibitions against: (1) kickbacks and unearned fees, and (2) any requirement by a property seller involving a purchase assisted by a federally related mortgage loan that the buyer also purchase title insurance from any particular title company.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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Timeline
Jan 13, 2017
Introduced in House
Jan 13, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
  • January 13, 2017
    Introduced in House


  • January 13, 2017
    Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Keith Ellison

Keith Ellison

Democratic Representative

Minnesota

Cosponsors (1)
Michael E. Capuano (Democratic)

Financial Services Committee

Finance and Financial Sector

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civil actions and liabilityReal estate business