Note: ALTA's numbers below appear to be slightly off, due to a discrepancy in the title revenue figure for Fidelity National Financial in Q2 2009.  ALTA reported $1.18 billion for Fidelity National in that quarter; the company reported only $1.04 billion in its SEC filings.

Also, for those interested in only title insurance premiums in the United States, it should be noted that ALTA's figures do not exclude some of the large underwriters' comparatively small but growing revenues from title policies sold in Canada, Mexico, and overseas. 

When adjustments for both of these factors are considered, 2010 U.S. title revenues would come in somewhere near $2.25 billion in Q2 as opposed to approximately $2.35 billion in Q2 2009, or a decline of only about 4.3%.

Spreadsheets showing ALTA's data can be found here.

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The American Land Title Association (ALTA) reported title insurance premiums written during the second quarter of 2010 decreased 8.5 percent when compared to the same period a year ago.

According to ALTA’s preliminary Market Share Analysis, the title insurance industry generated $2.3 billion in title insurance premiums during the second quarter of 2010, down from $2.5 billion during the same period last year. For the first half of 2010, the industry reported $4.4 billion in title insurance premiums, down 2.9 percent when compared to the first half of 2009.

“The latest market share analysis reflects an on-going recession in the housing market, with further downward pressure on home prices,” said Kurt Pfotenhauer, chief executive officer of ALTA. “With mortgage rates at record lows, we noticed a shift in more refinance transactions toward the latter part of the quarter. While an abundance of affordable homes and low interest rates make the market attractive, people need jobs to obtain credit and purchase homes.”

The states generating the most title insurance premiums during the second quarter of 2010 were California ($350.7 million, down 13.6 percent compared to second-quarter 2009), Texas ($266.1 million, up 0.1 percent), Florida ($169.9 million, down 2.2 percent), New York ($150.8 million, up 2.4 percent) and Pennsylvania ($97.1 million, down 19.2 percent). Only five states and the District of Columbia reported increases in title insurance premiums written when compared to second-quarter 2009.

“The varying results demonstrate real estate is a local business and each market performs differently depending on local economic conditions,” Pfotenhauer said. “Title companies in each market will continue to produce policies that provide assurance to homeowner they have clear ownership to their property and that they will be insured against any mistake, fraud, risk or defect, whether it is known or unknown.”

ALTA expects to release its third-quarter Market Share Analysis around Dec. 1.