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As the title insurance industry moves into 2026, executives say it faces a complex mix of market pressures, regulatory shifts and escalating fraud risks.
Leading executives who sat down with HousingWire are focusing on technology, operational efficiency and agent support – aiming to keep operations resilient while preparing for market recovery.
Ryan Swed, group president of direct operations at Stewart Title, described the industry’s recent challenges.
“With the prolonged downturn in the market, a lot of our focus, whether that’s internally for our own operations or for title agents across the country, has been, ‘How do we create leverage, whether that’s broad AI tools, support and title production, and so on?'” he said. “Obviously, a prolonged downturn has everybody taking a look at their businesses – and how do you not overstaff when the recovery comes? It always comes at some point.”
Iain Bryant, group president of agency operations, emphasized the economic pressures agents currently face.
“This has just been a super tough environment, only slightly better than last year, which was one of the worst markets we’ve seen in 35 years,” he said. “I think because of that, and sort of the persisting economic challenges, title agents are evaluating their underwriter partnerships more critically than they ever have before.
“They’re looking at what value their partners are bringing. I take it as a good thing, both as a challenge for us at Stewart to raise our game with our current agents, as well as to get after new partnerships.”
Sally Tyler – president of First American Title and a 2024 HousingWire Vanguard – highlighted positive factors that supported 2025 performance.
“Easing mortgage rates, recovering inventory levels in some markets, and a modest betterment in affordability translated into steady improvement in the real estate market this year – lifting the title industry’s performance,” she said. “Increased residential sales, more refinance transactions and more commercial real estate transactions this year compared to last, all contributed to more transactional activity this year.
“A bigger and again growing market are beneficial for the title industry, which has significantly increased the total amount to title insurance premium written in 2025 compared to 2024.”
Industry performance solid amid headwinds
Falling mortgage rates boosted Q3 2025 performance for the nation’s four largest title insurers.
First American saw revenue rise 41% to $2.0 billion,with title revenue up 42% to $1.836 billion – while stewart Title’s overall revenue hit $796.9 million,with title revenue up 19% to $659.9 million.
Fidelity reported $4.03 billion in total revenue, with title revenue up 8% to $2.3 billion.
Old Republic posted $2.086 billion in total revenue and $767 million in title premiums.
Smaller players such as Investors Title Co. reported $73 million in Q3 revenue,a 6% increase.
The American Land Title Association reported industry-wide first- and second-quarter 2025 premium volumes of $3.9 billion and $4.5 billion, respectively.
Technology, fraud prevention lead priorities
Bryant stressed that technology consolidation is reshaping title operations.
“A number of players have announced their exit from the business via acquisition,” he said. “so, the number of title production systems available to an agent have gone precipitously down over the last couple of
Title Industry Braces for Regulatory Changes, Invests in Technology for 2026
The title and settlement industry is preparing for a period of significant change, driven by evolving regulations and a focus on leveraging technology to improve efficiency and agent support. Industry leaders from Stewart and First American recently discussed key challenges and strategic priorities for 2026.
Regulatory Shifts on the Horizon
A major area of focus is the expanding scope of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) regulations. Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs) are now nationwide, and new reporting rule requirements are forthcoming. These changes are expected to significantly impact compliance obligations for companies of all sizes, potentially starting with even single-dollar transactions. Stewart is proactively adapting to these changes,aiming to alleviate the burden on in-office staff. According to Stewart representatives, this represents one of the largest anti-money laundering law changes in the industry’s history, with full impact expected by 2026.
beyond FinCEN, potential reforms to government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) – fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – are also under scrutiny. The title industry, primarily regulated at the state level, is actively engaging with state legislatures and insurance departments to protect property rights and improve the homebuying process. Changes to GSE seller and servicing guidelines,which effectively function as regulations,are particularly concerning. Specifically, any shifts regarding the acceptance of attorney opinion letters in lieu of title insurance could increase risk for property owners without necessarily providing cost savings.
Strategic Priorities for 2026
Both Stewart and First American are prioritizing support for their agents through technology and education.
Stewart is enhancing its virtual underwriter platform with AI-driven automation to handle routine underwriting questions. They’ve also introduced an insurance audit capability to identify gaps in agent compliance and a financial advisement service to help agents benchmark performance against industry standards.
First American is implementing a “simplify and amplify” strategy. This aims to provide a seamless, end-to-end experience for agents, reducing friction and streamlining processes. A key component of this strategy is amplifying agent expertise through the integration of new technologies, including AI, with the company’s extensive data assets and industry insights.
First American’s AI-powered AgentNet Assist tool provides agents with instant access to trusted research,improving outcomes and saving significant time. The company is also piloting AI internally to enhance the quality of its search product while maintaining efficient turnaround times.
Looking Ahead
Industry recovery is closely tied to broader economic trends, regulatory clarity, and operational efficiency. By equipping agents with smarter tools and streamlined processes, industry leaders are cautiously optimistic about achieving measurable growth in 2026.