The American Land Title Association (ALTA), AARP and the Idaho Land Title Association (ILTA) applaud Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador for his efforts to combat unfair and deceptive practices in the Idaho real estate market. Labrador secured a settlement from Florida-based real estate brokerage MV Realty and certain affiliates that voids unfair real estate fee agreements in property records, known as Non-Title Recorded Agreements for Personal Services (NTRAPS). This practice preys upon homeowners, offering small cash gifts in exchange for decades-long contracts for the exclusive rights to sell the property.

“American homeowners deserve unwavering protection of their property rights,” said ALTA Director of State Government Affairs Caroline Cone. “We commend Attorney General Labrador for taking decisive action to eliminate these harmful practices, securing a settlement and safeguarding Idaho families.”

Attorney General Labrador was one of 13 attorneys general to sue MV Realty over its “Homeowner Benefit Program.” Eleven other attorneys general filed lawsuits, including California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"The ILTA commends Attorney General Labrador for his recent action to void existing predatory agreements recorded in Idaho, known as NTRAPS,” said ILTA President Michelle Jirava. “The ILTA along with the Idaho REALTORS worked with state legislators in 2023 to support passage of HB 238 which outlawed such agreements in Idaho. I am thrilled that our association is at the forefront of protecting our clients and Idaho's most vulnerable citizens.”

Since 2023, 33 states passed legislation protecting homeowners from the predatory practice of filing unfair real estate fee agreements in property records, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

About ALTA

The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is a national trade association representing more than 6,000 title insurance companies, title and settlement agents, independent abstracters, title searchers and real estate attorneys.