Community Title Network - McLean

10/26/2026

Great to be featured in the eighth issue of the Growth & Scale Report by our friends at CertifID!

A big thank you to the CertifID team for bringing together valuable insights and conversations that help move our industry forward.

Check out the latest issue: https://www.certifid.com/whitepaper/growth-and-scale-report-issue-8



https://www.certifid.com/whitepaper/growth-and-scale-report-issue-8

10/26/2026

One email can turn closing day into a nightmare.

Before wiring a dime, always verify the instructions directly with your title company using a phone number you already know is legitimate, whether from their website or previous correspondence. Never rely on the contact information provided in a new or unexpected email.

And if the message says, “Don’t call, just follow the instructions”? That’s one of the biggest red flags there is.

In Real Estate with the Resnicks, we break down how wire fraud actually happens, the warning signs to watch for, and the simple verification steps that can help stop a scam before money changes hands.

🎥 Watch the episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz5p4uRKITHLeEQwwTHyka2DercU7q6uD

📍 Closing in Baltimore? https://communitytn.com/locations/baltimore/
📍 Closing in Towson? https://communitytn.com/locations/towson/

Maryland-specific. Practices vary by state.

10/23/2026

A $6.8 million refinance on a Wi******er dealership property, closed.

This is the second dealership financing our commercial desk has handled this cycle, and the pattern holds: the title work is almost never just about the building.

It’s the parcels around it. The overflow lot. The shared entrance. The strip purchased from a neighbor years ago that was never quite cleaned up in the record.

Those details matter.

Sort them out early, and closing is a formality. Sort them out late, and they become a delay.
Congratulations to the ownership group on a smooth closing.

📍 Community Title Network | Manassas, VA
🌐 https://communitytn.com/locations/manassas/

10/23/2026

Real estate agents and brokers: Is your affiliated business arrangement RESPA compliant?
Referring clients to a title company in which you have an ownership or financial interest comes with important legal responsibilities.

In this video, Mike Ridgway, CEO of Community Title Network and real estate attorney with nearly 40 years of experience, breaks down three key requirements:

1. Written Disclosure: Clearly disclose your financial interest, provide estimated settlement costs, and inform clients of their right to choose.

2. Consumer Choice: Buyers and sellers cannot be required or pressured to use an affiliated title company.

3. Fair Market Value: Compensation must be for legitimate services performed, not referrals or kickbacks.

With regulators increasing their focus on RESPA compliance, understanding these requirements is essential to protecting your business and your clients.

Watch the video and follow along as we continue our RESPA compliance series, helping real estate professionals navigate affiliated business arrangements with confidence.

https://youtu.be/qVUkr7iwSBY



For educational purposes only. This content does not constitute legal advice.

Are your title company referrals RESPA compliant?Real estate agen...

10/22/2026

How can homebuyers protect themselves from wire fraud during a real estate closing?

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and one of the biggest financial risks in a home purchase happens right before settlement: sending your closing funds.

According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, real estate fraud resulted in $275.1 million in reported losses across 12,368 complaints.

At Community Title Network, protecting your transaction starts long before closing day.
Our wiring instructions will never change. If you receive an email claiming that your closing instructions or banking details have changed, do not send money. Contact your settlement team using a trusted phone number you already have, never one provided in the suspicious message.

Here are three additional steps every Maryland homebuyer should take before closing:
Confirm your bank's wire transfer policies. Ask about daily limits, same-day transfers, and whether you can initiate a wire remotely.

Prepare your closing funds early. Confirm the amount and transfer timeline with your settlement team, ideally 48–72 hours before settlement.

Verify before you wire. Independently confirm all wiring instructions with your title company using a previously verified phone number.

As we celebrate 10 years of Community Title Network, our commitment to secure real estate settlements remains a priority.

Real estate agents, share these wire fraud prevention tips with your buyers before closing day. A few extra minutes of verification can help protect one of their largest financial transactions.

Experience. Close to Home.

10/21/2026

Ten years ago we verified documents. Now we verify people.

We can confirm with the Virginia State Corporation Commission that an entity is active and in good standing, but the operating agreement that says who can sign isn't filed anywhere.

Anyone can write one. Entities sit inside entities like nesting dolls, so we keep going until we reach a real person with real authority, then we get on the phone with them.

10/16/2026

True crime meets title insurance? Just in time for spooky season!

From suspicious sellers to sophisticated fraud schemes, some of the scariest stories in real estate aren't fiction.

At Community Title Network, we're committed to helping real estate professionals and their clients recognize red flags, prevent fraud, and protect every transaction.

Watch the full presentation to uncover what could be hiding behind your next closing.

Because it's "Spooky Season", I decided to do my latest keynote pre...

10/16/2026

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so the witch hats came out for a slightly scary topic: how safe your money and personal information really are with a title company. 🎃

Data breaches show up in inboxes all the time. Yet almost no title companies talk about how they verify wire instructions or protect client funds. Some will accept wiring instructions from a single email without ever making a verification call.

At Community Title Network, an independent third-party firm routinely audits security practices for both information and funds transfers. Because if your money isn’t safe, nothing else about the closing matters.

Watch the full episode of Move the Needle 👉 https://youtu.be/vqeO9ClfyrA

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so Bri and Sahsha put on ...

10/16/2026

How does a title company verify that the person selling a home is actually the legal owner?

Seller impersonation fraud is a serious concern in Virginia real estate, and a convincing driver's license or notarized signature isn't always enough to establish someone's identity or authority to sell.

Fraudsters may use stolen personal information, forged identification, or fraudulent documents to attempt to transfer property without the rightful owner's knowledge.

That's why protecting a real estate transaction requires more than a routine title search.

At Community Title Network, seller identity verification and fraud prevention are important parts of the settlement process. Our teams examine property ownership records, review signing authority, and investigate discrepancies that could signal a fraudulent transaction.

What should Virginia real estate agents and homeowners watch for?

• Sellers who refuse direct communication or identity verification
• Requests to rush a closing without a clear explanation
• Identification or signatures that don't match existing records
• Unexpected changes to who is authorized to sign or receive sale proceeds

The takeaway? A successful closing isn't just about transferring ownership. It's about making sure the person transferring it has the legal right to do so.

As we recognize Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we're sharing how careful verification and experienced title professionals help protect buyers, sellers, and real estate agents across Northern Virginia.

Read more about seller impersonation fraud in Virginia and how title companies verify property ownership:

https://communitytn.com/seller-impersonation-fraud-in-virginia-how-a-title-company-verifies-who-is-really-selling/

Experience. Close to Home.

10/15/2026

Earnest money just got easier.

With ZOCCAM®, Community Title Network gives agents a faster, more secure way to deliver EMD—right from their phone.

No driving checks.
No delays.
No guesswork.

Just a simple, digital solution that keeps deals moving and clients confident.

It’s one more way we support agents with the tools they actually need—when they need them.

Learn more: https://communitytn.com/emd-delivery/

10/14/2026

How do title companies verify a seller's identity when they can't attend a real estate closing in person?

A decade ago, an out-of-state seller could sign a deed at their local bank, have it notarized, and send it back for settlement. The notary stamp was often considered sufficient verification.
Today, protecting real estate transactions requires additional safeguards.

With seller impersonation fraud and fraudulent notarizations posing risks to property owners, verifying the person behind the signature is more important than ever.

At Community Title Network, our remote signing procedures include approved notaries and additional identity verification measures designed to confirm that the person signing has the legal authority to transfer the property.

That can include time-sensitive, knowledge-based authentication questions and other verification steps. When an identity cannot be verified, the signing cannot proceed until the issue is resolved.

The takeaway? A notarized signature alone doesn't guarantee a legitimate real estate transaction. Verifying identity and ownership helps protect buyers, sellers, and real estate agents from costly fraud.

As we celebrate 10 years of Community Title Network, we're highlighting how title insurance, remote notarization, and real estate fraud prevention have evolved, and why protecting your property remains our priority.

Have questions about remote closings, out-of-state sellers, or seller identity verification in Northern Virginia? Connect with our McLean team.

📍 6257-A Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22101
📞 (703) 584-0450

Experience. Close to Home.

10/13/2026

What happens when someone tries to sell a home without the property owner's knowledge?

It started with a driver's license that didn't match the seller. That was the first red flag.
What followed was one of the more unusual real estate settlement fraud cases our McLean team has encountered.

A daughter arrived to sign documents on behalf of the property owner. But as our team investigated the identity discrepancy, we uncovered something much bigger: a coordinated attempt by family members to sell the property without the father's knowledge.

Seller impersonation fraud isn't always a stranger posing as a homeowner. Sometimes, the warning signs are much closer to home.

That's why verifying seller identities, confirming legal ownership, and reviewing signing authority are critical steps in protecting real estate transactions.

During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we're sharing real settlement stories that highlight why fraud prevention and due diligence matter.

The takeaway for Virginia real estate agents, buyers, and sellers? If something doesn't add up, ask questions before anyone signs. A little extra verification can help prevent a costly fraudulent property transfer.

Have questions about seller impersonation fraud, title protection, or a real estate closing in Northern Virginia? Connect with our McLean settlement team.

📍 6257-A Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22101
📞 (703) 584-0450

Experience. Close to Home.

10/08/2026

What if someone tried to sell a property they do not own? It happens more often than most people think, and it has a name: seller impersonation fraud.

In this video, we explain how the scheme works, why vacant land and non-owner-occupied properties are common targets, and the red flags agents and settlement teams should watch for.

A seller who cannot meet in person, pushes to close quickly, or wants everything handled remotely deserves a second look.

Verifying that the seller is the seller takes a little extra time. A fraudulent transfer can take years to undo.

Nyd de videoer og den musik, du holder af, upload originalt indhold, og del det hele med venner, familie og verden på YouTube.

09/24/2026

Save the date for an evening with the CTN NOVA DC Metro team at The Tower Club Tysons.

We look forward to bringing together clients, partners, and friends from across the real estate community for an evening of connection, conversation, and appreciation.

Wednesday, October 28
5:00–8:00 PM
The Tower Club Tysons

Formal invitation and additional details to follow. We hope you’ll join us.

09/21/2026

A great Friday out on the course at the VAREP Stars & Stripes Golf Tournament at Medal of Honor Golf Course! ⛳🇺🇸

I always appreciate opportunities like this to get out of the office and spend time with others in the real estate and lending community.

It was great catching up with familiar faces, making some new connections, and supporting an organization doing important work for our veteran community.

Thank you to VAREP and everyone who made it such a great day!