hFor all of you that are/should be interested, Here is a link to the ExpressMap Site:
wow, so what happens when the record documents do not match field conditions for the boundaries? if the record plan busts by 3', how will they fix it?
how about when they don't have the ground control to match these brand new aerials?
how do they bypass the PLS necessity?
GIS is creeping in more and more. Time to push back.
> hFor all of you that are/should be interested, Here is a link to the ExpressMap Site:
>
>> http://www.firstam.com/title/products/title-and-settlement-services/expressmap.html?goback=%2Egde_142000_member_214254223br >
They make it sound good, but where do they get the geo-referenced information for the parcel lines (for the Boundary), easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, etc?:-S
all i can say is phew, not the responsibility of a PLS... so perhaps this program will sink when the claims come rolling in...
its interesting how they have changed their website to try and avoid further problems with the legal system. They used to have a sample map etc. but they are simply a title company trying to cut surveyors out of the process. If every surveyor would refuse to accept any work from them, including refusing to accept their title reports. WE might see them change their ways. To me this discussion goes right along with the folks selling coordinates of property corners above. It's an attempt to bypass the surveying profession and provide pseudo-service...
"Current aerial photograph flown at the time of order."
Probably a sling-shot, parachute and 12MP camera.
This can't really be legal can it?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
ExpressMap®
ExpressMap® is an innovative and cost-effective alternative to an ALTA/ACSM land title survey. Developed by First American, the ExpressMap allows for provision of title insurance coverage and removes the survey exceptions to satisfy lender requirements. ExpressMap is created through a proprietary process that combines a current aerial photograph of the property as described within the title report, along with the exception items shown in Schedule B (easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, etc.). Once the information is layered, it is printed in color, supplied to the client, and used by our internal underwriting staff to make key underwriting decisions."
well this is what we get . . .
when a President is actually right, when he says it depends on what the "meaning of is . . . is".
Millions of dollars are often made on the true and legal meaning of the word, "is".
No doubt some wild gyrating meaning has been construed out of some law, somewhere to make this outfit believe they can actually do it.
I do not believe they feel(after talking to legal counsel), they cannot do this.
There's hardly ever, a law that isn't written in an unbelievably ambiguous manner that it can't be mis-used and abused.
Using the product for their own "internal underwriting staff to make key underwriting decisions." is probably legal.
But once it is "supplied to the client" that involves the public and would be the practice of Land Surveying. In my opinion that would be illegal, at least in the States that I'm licensed in.
By the way guys and gals, I understand that NSPS is looking into this. We do need to stay on our toes.
well for what it is worth, they have been offering this service going back several years and they are still offering it, the best thing individuals can do I think is report it to the board.
> This can't really be legal can it?
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
> ExpressMap®
>
> ExpressMap® is an innovative and cost-effective alternative to an ALTA/ACSM land title survey. Developed by First American, the ExpressMap allows for provision of title insurance coverage and removes the survey exceptions to satisfy lender requirements. ExpressMap is created through a proprietary process that combines a current aerial photograph of the property as described within the title report, along with the exception items shown in Schedule B (easements, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, etc.). Once the information is layered, it is printed in color, supplied to the client, and used by our internal underwriting staff to make key underwriting decisions."
Title insurance companies have lawyers and will work the laws to their advantage. The really scary part is go to The Ohio Board of Registration license look up enter First American in the company name. I believe they have an active certificate of authorization (CA) to offer surveying services in Ohio under the name "First American Professional Real Estate Services" Home office Moore, OK and an expired/inactive CA for "First American Professional Land Services, LP" Norman, OK.
Checking the the ExpressMap site for contact information provides:
> First American Title Insurance Company
> Express Map® Services
> First American Professional Land Services
> 1700 South Broadway, Building E.
> Moore, OK 73160
> Contact Todd D'Amico
If your state maintains online individual/firm licensing or CA information check the records. You may be more that a little upset by what you find.
Oklahoma has such a site and it shows the following:
First Name: Todd
Last Name: DAmico
City: Norman
State: OK
License Number: 1741
Type of License: LS
Expiration Date: 30-NOV-13
Status: Active
When I ask the local Title Companies to check anything on Google Maps or other as we are talking about a property, they insist that they do not use those services as they are not reliable in deciding about the property and the title.
:-S
I believe they have licenses in several states, I doubt they have a majority of states, unless they have hired a bunch of surveyors.
