| Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2023 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Basis of Presentation | First American Financial Corporation (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the business of providing financial services. The Company consists of the following reportable segments: • The title insurance and services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property in the United States and offers similar or related products and services internationally. This segment also provides closing and/or escrow services; accommodates tax-deferred exchanges of real estate; provides products, services and solutions designed to mitigate risk or otherwise facilitate real estate transactions; maintains, manages and provides access to title plant data and records; provides appraisals and other valuation-related products and services; provides lien release, document custodial and default-related products and services; provides document generation services; provides warehouse lending services; subservices mortgage loans; and provides banking, trust and wealth management services. The Company, through its principal title insurance subsidiary and such subsidiary’s affiliates, transacts its title insurance business through a network of direct operations and agents. Through this network, the Company issues policies in the 49 states that permit the issuance of title insurance policies, the District of Columbia and certain United States territories. The Company also offers title insurance, closing services and similar or related products and services, either directly or through third parties in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and various other established and emerging markets. • During 2023, the Company changed the name of its specialty insurance segment to the home warranty segment. In connection with this change, the Company reclassified all current year and prior year operating results related to the Company’s property and casualty insurance business, which no longer has policies in force, to the corporate segment. The home warranty segment sells products including residential service contracts that cover residential systems, such as heating and air conditioning systems, and certain appliances against failures that occur as the result of normal usage during the coverage period. This business currently operates in 36 states and the District of Columbia. • The corporate segment includes investments in venture-stage companies, operating results of the property and casualty insurance business (as noted above), certain financing facilities and corporate services that support the Company’s business operations. |
| Principles of Consolidation | Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and reflect the consolidated operations of the Company. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of First American Financial Corporation and all controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence, but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Equity investments in which the Company does not exercise significant influence over the investee and without readily determinable fair values, or non-marketable equity securities, are accounted for at cost, less impairment, and are adjusted up or down for any observable price changes. |
| Revisions and Out-of-period Adjustments | Revisions and out-of-period adjustments During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company identified deferred compensation agreements with certain former employees who have been receiving benefit payments from the Company for which it has understated its obligation to make future benefit payments. As this error primarily related to reporting periods prior to 2020, the Company corrected for this error by revising retained earnings at December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the consolidated statements of equity, and by revising pension costs and other retirement plans liability, deferred income tax liabilities and retained earnings in the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2022. The impact of this revision, which has been consistently applied to all periods presented, included decreases to retained earnings and deferred income tax liabilities of $ 7.0 million and $ 2.5 million, respectively, and an increase to pension costs and other retirement plans liability of $ 9.5 million. The Company does not consider this adjustment to be material to any previously issued consolidated financial statements. |
| Use of Estimates | Use of estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the statements. Actual results could differ from the estimates and assumptions used. |
| Cash Equivalents | Cash equivalents The Company considers cash equivalents to include all unrestricted short-term investments that have an initial maturity of 90 days or less. |
| Accounts and Accrued Income Receivable | Accounts and accrued income receivable Accounts receivable are generally due within thirty days and are recorded net of an allowance for credit losses. The Company considers accounts outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms as past due. The Company determines the allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, previous loss history, a specific customer’s ability to pay its obligations to the Company and the current condition, and future expectations, of the general economy and industry as a whole. Amounts are written off in the period in which they are deemed to be uncollectible. The Company’s policy is to present accrued interest receivable on financial assets measured at amortized cost within accounts and accrued income receivable on the balance sheet. Accrued interest receivable at December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $ 24.5 million and $ 17.1 million, respectively. The Company has elected to not measure an allowance for credit losses for accrued interest receivable and maintains a policy that all receivables ninety days past due are written off to credit loss expense. Accounts are placed on non-accrual status, and accrual of interest is discontinued, when management determines that collectibility of contractual amounts is not reasonably assured. Payments of interest for accounts in non-accrual status are applied under the cost recovery method. |
| Investments | Deposits with banks Deposits with banks are short-term investments with initial maturities of generally more than 90 days. |
| Debt and Equity Securities | Debt securities Debt securities are carried at fair value and consist primarily of investments in obligations of the United States Treasury, foreign governments, various U.S. and foreign corporations, certain state and political subdivisions and mortgage-backed securities. The Company classifies its debt securities as available-for-sale with unrealized gains or losses recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss. Interest income, as well as the related amortization of premium and accretion of discount, on debt securities are recognized under the effective yield method and are included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income in net investment income. Realized gains and losses on sales of debt securities are determined on a first-in, first-out basis. When the fair value of an available-for-sale debt security falls below its amortized cost, entities must determine whether the decline in fair value is due to credit-related factors or noncredit-related factors. Declines in fair value that are credit-related are recorded on the balance sheet through an allowance for credit losses with a corresponding adjustment to earnings and declines that are noncredit-related are recognized through other comprehensive income/loss. If the Company intends to sell a debt security in an unrealized loss position or determines that it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell a debt security before it recovers its amortized cost basis, the debt security is impaired and it is written down to fair value with all losses recognized in earnings. As of December 31, 2023, the Company did not intend to sell any debt securities in an unrealized loss position and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell any debt securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which the Company does not intend to sell the debt security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security, the Company determines whether the loss is due to credit-related factors or noncredit-related factors. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which the losses are primarily due to credit-related factors, the Company’s policy is to recognize the entire loss in earnings. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which the losses are determined to be the result of both credit-related and noncredit-related factors, the credit loss is determined as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The cash flows expected to be collected are discounted using the effective interest rate (i.e., purchase yield) and for variable rate securities the interest rate is fixed at the rate in effect at the credit loss measurement date. Expected future cash flows for debt securities are based on qualitative and quantitative factors specific to each security, including the probability of default and the estimated timing and amount of recovery. The detailed inputs used to project expected future cash flows may be different depending on the nature of the individual debt security. The Company’s policy is to present accrued interest receivable on debt securities within accounts and accrued income receivable on the balance sheet. Accrued interest receivable on debt securities at December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $ 35.1 million and $ 37.9 million, respectively. The Company has elected to not measure an allowance for accrued interest receivable on debt securities and maintains a policy that all receivables ninety days past due are written off to credit loss expense. Debt securities are placed on non-accrual status, and accrual of interest is discontinued, when management determines that collectibility of contractual amounts is not reasonably assured. Interest income is recognized on a cash basis for interest payments received on debt securities in non-accrual status. The Company maintains investments in debt securities in accordance with certain statutory requirements for the funding of statutory premium reserves and state deposits. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair values of such investments totaled $ 107.0 million and $ 86.0 million, respectively. See Note 2 Statutory Restrictions on Investments and Stockholders’ Equity for additional discussion of the Company’s statutory restrictions. Equity securities Marketable equity securities are carried at fair value and consist primarily of investments in exchange traded funds, mutual funds and preferred stocks of corporate entities. Changes in the fair values of the Company’s equity securities are recognized in net investment gains/losses on the consolidated statements of income. Equity investments in which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control, and is not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. These investments are initially measured at cost and are generally adjusted by the Company’s share of equity in the income or losses of the investee. The carrying values of these investments are written down, or impaired, to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. In making the determination as to whether an individual investment is impaired, the Company assesses the current and expected financial condition of each relevant entity, including, but not limited to, the results of valuation work performed with respect to the entity, the entity’s anticipated ability to generate sufficient cash flows and the market conditions in the industry in which the entity is operating. The Company has elected to measure its non-marketable equity securities in which it does not exercise significant influence over the investee and without readily determinable fair values at cost, less impairment, adjusted up or down for any observable price changes from orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. The carrying values of these investments are written down, or impaired, to fair value when a qualitative assessment indicates that the fair value is less than the carrying value. In making the determination as to whether an individual investment is impaired, the Company assesses such qualitative factors as the current and expected financial condition of each relevant entity, the market conditions in the industry in which the entity operates and the entity’s anticipated ability to generate sufficient cash flows. |
| Notes Receivable | Notes Receivable Notes receivable are carried at cost, less allowance for credit losses. An allowance for credit losses is established on an individual note based on the Company’s estimate of the net amount expected to be collected. The allowance for credit losses is based upon the Company’s assessment of the borrower’s overall financial condition, resources and payment record; and, if appropriate, the realizable value of any collateral. These estimates consider all available evidence including the expected future cash flows, estimated fair value of collateral on secured notes, general economic conditions and trends, and other relevant factors, as appropriate. Notes are placed on non-accrual status when management determines that the collectibility of contractual amounts is not reasonably assured. Notes receivable at December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $ 22.4 million and $ 10.7 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company recorded $ 27.7 million in credit losses on notes receivable related to its venture investment portfolio. Notes receivable are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. |
| Secured financings receivable and payable | Secured financings receivable and payable Secured financings receivable, which are generated through the Company’s warehouse lending operations, are collateralized by mortgage loans on residential real estate. The receivable balance at December 31, 2023, included two notes receivable from an investment company, further discussed below, and included amounts due to the Company from various mortgage loan originators. Collections of amounts due from mortgage loan originators occur upon sale of the underlying mortgage loans to investors in the secondary market, generally within 30 days and more typically in less than 10 days. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded on these receivables due to, among other factors, the Company typically identifying investors in the underlying mortgage loans prior to making advances, the short-term nature of these receivables and the lack of significant historical credit losses experienced by the Company. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis during the period the principal balance remains outstanding. As noted above, secured financings receivable includes is a promissory note receivable with an original principal balance of $ 202.6 million, dated September 30, 2022, and a promissory note receivable with an original principal balance of $ 153.1 million, dated February 28, 2023, both of which notes were received in exchange for the sale or transfer of mortgage loans to an investment company. The notes, which are collateralized by the underlying mortgage loans, have maturity dates of March 29, 2024 and August 31, 2024 , respectively, and have extended maturity dates, at the option of the borrower, of September 30, 2024 and February 28, 2025 , respectively. Interest accrues on the notes at the one month SOFR rate plus 1.90 % per annum or, plus 2.10 % per annum, during the extension period. At December 31, 2023, the net carrying amounts of each note totaled $ 170.3 million and $ 148.8 million, respectively, and, at December 31, 2022, totaled $ 186.9 million. Principal repayments on the notes are due as payments or prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans are collected by the borrower, upon meeting certain other terms as specified in the agreements, or upon maturity. No allowance for credit losses has been recorded on these notes as management does not expect to incur future credit losses. Secured financings payable reflect borrowings under secured warehouse lending facilities with several banking institutions. Repayment of the warehouse borrowing occurs upon sale of the mortgage loan to investors as noted above. Interest expense is recorded during the period the borrowing remains outstanding. |
| Property and Equipment | Property and equipment Buildings and furniture and equipment are initially recorded at cost and are generally depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 40 years and from 3 to 15 years, respectively. Leasehold improvements are initially recorded at cost and are amortized over the lesser of the remaining term of the respective lease or the estimated useful life, using the straight-line method. Computer software developed for internal use and for use with the Company’s products is amortized over estimated useful lives ranging from 2 to 15 years using the straight-line method. Software development and implementation costs, which include certain payroll-related costs of employees directly associated with developing or implementing software and payments to third parties directly associated with developing or implementing software are capitalized during the application development or implementation stage until the software is ready for its intended use. Management uses estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and excluding interest) to measure the recoverability of property and equipment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be fully recoverable. If the undiscounted cash flow analysis indicates that the carrying amount is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded for the excess of the carrying amount over its fair value. Impairment losses on property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 were $ 1.1 million, $ 0.6 million and $ 4.8 million, respectively. |
| Leases | Leases The Company is, generally, a lessee in leases of commercial real estate, including office buildings and office space, and also certain equipment. Most of the Company’s leases of commercial real estate include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from one to five years, and some leases include options to terminate the lease within the first year. In connection with its lease commitments, the Company recognizes a lease liability equal to the present value of future lease payments discounted using its incremental borrowing rate and recognizes a lease asset equal to the lease liability, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease payments, lease incentives and initial direct costs. As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit discount rate, the Company applies its incremental borrowing rate, which is based on the information available as of the commencement date, in determining the present value of its lease payments. The Company does not separately account for nonlease components (e.g., common-area maintenance costs) from the associated lease components (e.g., fixed payments including rent, real estate taxes and insurance costs) on leases of commercial real estate and instead accounts for both components as a single lease component for purposes of recognizing lease assets and liabilities. Variable lease costs, which include any variable lease and nonlease components and rents that vary based on changes to an index or rate, are expensed as incurred. The Company excludes any leases with an initial term of 12 months or less from recognition on the balance sheet and for which lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Management recognizes an impairment loss when the carrying amount of a lease asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount is considered not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows that are directly associated with, and that are expected to arise as a result of, the use and eventual disposition of the lease asset. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of a lease asset exceeds its fair value. Impairment losses related to the Company’s commercial real estate may occur if the Company ceased use of all, or a portion, of a leased property while a contractual obligation remains. Impairment losses related to commercial real estate leases were immaterial for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2021, and totaled $ 2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. For further information on the Company’s leasing arrangements see Note 7 Leases. |
| Title plants and other indexes | Title plants and other indexes Title plants are carried at cost, with the costs of daily maintenance (updating) charged to expense as incurred. Because properly maintained title plants have indefinite lives and do not diminish in value with the passage of time, no provision has been made for depreciation or amortization. The Company analyzes its title plants at least annually for impairment. This analysis includes, but is not limited to, the effects of obsolescence, duplication, demand and other economic factors. Capitalized real estate data is initially recorded at cost and is amortized using the straight-line method over a 15 year estimated useful life. Management uses estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and excluding interest) to measure the recoverability of title plants whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be fully recoverable. If the undiscounted cash flow analysis indicates that the carrying amount is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded for the excess of the carrying amount over its fair value. |
| Business Combinations | Business Combinations Amounts paid for acquisitions are allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed and are based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of the fair value of purchase consideration over the fair values of the identifiable assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill. Acquisition-related costs are expensed in the periods in which the costs are incurred. The results of operations of acquired businesses are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. |
| Goodwill Impairment | Goodwill Impairment The Company is required to perform an annual goodwill impairment assessment for each reporting unit for which goodwill has been allocated. The reporting units that have been allocated goodwill include title insurance and home warranty. The Company’s trust and other services reporting unit has no allocated goodwill and is, therefore, not assessed for impairment. The Company has elected to perform this annual assessment in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or sooner if circumstances indicate possible impairment. Based on accounting guidance, the Company has the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine if the fair value is more likely than not (i.e., a likelihood of greater than 50 %) less than the carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative impairment test, or may choose to forego a qualitative assessment and perform a quantitative impairment test. The qualitative factors considered in this assessment may include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance as well as other relevant events and circumstances as determined by the Company. The Company evaluates the weight of each factor to determine whether it is more likely than not that impairment may exist. If the results of a qualitative assessment indicate the more likely than not threshold was not met, the Company may choose not to perform a quantitative impairment test. If, however, the more likely than not threshold is met, the Company will perform a quantitative test as required and discussed below. Management’s quantitative impairment testing compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount. The fair value of each reporting unit is determined by using discounted cash flow analysis and, where appropriate, market approach valuations. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, the goodwill is not considered impaired and no additional analysis is required. However, if the carrying amount is greater than the fair value, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, with the loss recognized limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The quantitative impairment test for goodwill utilizes a variety of valuation techniques, all of which require the Company to make estimates and judgments. Fair value is determined by employing an expected present value technique, which utilizes expected cash flows and an appropriate discount rate. The use of comparative market multiples (the “market approach”) compares the reporting unit to other comparable companies (if such comparables are present in the marketplace) based on valuation multiples to arrive at a fair value. In assessing the fair value, the Company utilizes the results of the valuations (including the market approach to the extent comparables are available) and considers the range of fair values determined under all methods and the extent to which the fair value exceeds the carrying amount of the reporting unit. The valuation of each reporting unit includes the use of assumptions and estimates of many critical factors, including revenue growth rates and operating margins, discount rates and future market conditions, determination of market multiples and the establishment of a control premium, among others. Forecasts of future operations are based, in part, on operating results and the Company’s expectations as to future market conditions. These types of analyses contain uncertainties because they require the Company to make assumptions and to apply judgments to estimate industry economic factors and the profitability of future business strategies. However, if actual results are not consistent with the Company’s estimates and assumptions, the Company may be exposed to future impairment losses that could be material. In 2023, the Company chose to perform a quantitative impairment test for its title insurance reporting unit and a qualitative assessment for its home warranty reporting unit. The Company performed qualitative assessments for both reporting units in 2022 and 2021. Based on the results of the quantitative test in 2023, the Company determined that the fair value for the title insurance reporting unit exceeded its carrying amount and no additional analysis was required. The results of the Company’s qualitative assessment in 2023 for the home warranty reporting unit and the results of the qualitative assessments in 2022 and 2021 for both reporting units supported the conclusion that the reporting unit fair values were not more likely than not less than their carrying amounts and, therefore, a quantitative impairment test was not considered necessary. As a result of the Company’s annual goodwill impairment assessments, the Company did no t record any goodwill impairment losses for 2023, 2022 or 2021. |
| Other Intangible Assets | Other intangible assets The Company’s finite-lived intangible assets consist of customer relationships, noncompete agreements, trademarks, internal-use software licenses and patents. These assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives ranging from 1 to 20 years and are subject to impairment assessments when there is an indication of a triggering event or abandonment. The Company’s indefinite-lived other intangible assets consist of licenses which are not amortized but rather assessed for impairment by comparing the fair values to carrying amounts at least annually, and when an indicator of potential impairment has occurred. Management uses estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and excluding interest) to measure the recoverability of intangible assets with finite lives, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be fully recoverable. If the undiscounted cash flow analysis indicates that the carrying amount is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recorded for the excess of the carrying amount over its fair value. Management’s impairment assessment for indefinite-lived other intangible assets include a valuation using a discounted cash flow analysis or through a market approach. If the fair value exceeds its carrying amount, the asset is not considered impaired and no additional analysis is required. However, if the carrying amount is greater than the fair value, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the excess. |
| Reserve for Known and Incurred but Not Reported Claims | Reserve for known and incurred but not reported claims The Company provides for title insurance losses through a charge to expense when the related premium revenue is recognized. The amount charged to expense is generally determined by applying a rate (the loss provision rate) to total title insurance premiums and escrow fees. The Company’s management estimates the loss provision rate at the beginning of each year and reassesses the rate quarterly to ensure that the resulting incurred but not reported (“IBNR”) loss reserve and known claims reserve included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets together reflect management’s best estimate of the total costs required to settle all IBNR and known claims. If the ending IBNR reserve is not considered adequate, an adjustment is recorded. The process of assessing the loss provision rate and the resulting IBNR reserve involves an evaluation of the results of an in-house actuarial review. The Company’s in-house actuary performs a reserve analysis utilizing generally accepted actuarial methods that incorporate cumulative historical claims experience and information provided by in-house claims and operations personnel. Current economic and business trends are also contemplated as part of the reserve analysis. These include conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets, changes in residential and commercial real estate values, and changes in the levels of defaults and foreclosures that may affect claims levels and patterns of emergence, as well as any company-specific factors that may be relevant to past and future claims experience. Results from the analysis include, but are not limited to, a range of IBNR reserve estimates and a single point estimate for IBNR as of the balance sheet date. For recent policy years at early stages of development (generally the last three years), IBNR is generally estimated using a combination of expected loss rate and multiplicative loss development factor calculations. For more mature policy years, IBNR generally is estimated using multiplicative loss development factor calculations. The expected loss rate method estimates IBNR by applying an expected loss rate to total title insurance premiums and escrow fees and by adjusting for policy year maturity using estimated loss development patterns. Multiplicative loss development factor calculations estimate IBNR by applying factors derived from loss development patterns to losses realized to date. The expected loss rate and loss development patterns are based on historical experience and the relationship of the history to the applicable policy years. The Company’s management uses the IBNR point estimate from the in-house actuary’s analysis and other relevant information concerning claims to determine what it considers to be the best estimate of the total amount required for the IBNR reserve. The volume and timing of title insurance claims are subject to cyclical influences from both the real estate and mortgage markets. Title policies issued to lenders constitute a large portion of the Company’s title insurance volume. These policies insure lenders against losses on mortgage loans due to title defects in the collateral property. Even if an underlying title defect exists that could result in a claim, often the lender must realize an actual loss, or at least be likely to realize an actual loss, for a title insurance liability to exist. As a result, title insurance claims exposure is sensitive to lenders’ losses on mortgage loans and is affected in turn by external factors that affect mortgage loan losses, particularly macroeconomic factors. A general decline in real estate prices can expose lenders to greater risk of losses on mortgage loans, as loan-to-value ratios increase and defaults and foreclosures increase. Title insurance claims exposure for a given policy year is also affected by the quality of mortgage loan underwriting during the corresponding origination year. The Company believes that the sensitivity of claims to external conditions in the real estate and mortgage markets is an inherent feature of title insurance’s business economics that applies broadly to the title insurance industry. Title insurance policies are long-duration contracts with the majority of the claims reported to the Company within the first few years following the issuance of the policy. Generally, 65 % to 75 % of claim amounts become known in the first six years of the policy life, and the majority of IBNR reserves relate to the six most recent policy years. Changes in expected ultimate losses and corresponding loss rates for recent policy years are considered likely and could result in a material adjustment to the IBNR reserves. A material change in expected ultimate losses and corresponding loss rates for older policy years is also possible, particularly for policy years with loss rates exceeding historical norms. The estimates made by management in determining the appropriate level of IBNR reserves could ultimately prove to be materially different from actual claims experience. The Company provides for claims losses relating to its home warranty business based on the average cost per claim and historical loss experience as applied to the total of new claims incurred. The average cost per home warranty claim is calculated using the average of the most recent 12 months of claims experience adjusted for estimated future increases in costs. |
| Contingent Litigation and Regulatory Liabilities | Contingent litigation and regulatory liabilities Amounts related to contingent litigation and regulatory liabilities are accrued if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount is reasonably estimable. The Company records legal fees in other operating expenses in the period incurred. |
| Revenues | Revenues Premiums on title policies issued directly by the Company are recognized on the effective date of the title policy and escrow fees are recorded upon close of the escrow. Revenues from title policies issued by agents are recorded when notice of issuance is received from the agent, which is generally when cash payment is received by the Company. Premiums on home warranty contracts are generally recognized ratably in proportion to expected claims experience over the duration of the policy or contract, which is typically 12 months. Information and other revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to the customer and in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for these goods or services. For those products and services where the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied at a point in time and for which there is no ongoing obligation, revenue is recognized upon delivery. For those products and services where the Company satisfies its performance obligation over time as the product or service is being transferred to the customer, revenue is generally recognized using the output method as the products or services are delivered. The Company applies the optional exemptions allowed under accounting guidance whereby the Company is not required to disclose either the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied as of the end of the period or an explanation as to when the Company expects to recognize the related revenue. Such contracts generally include performance obligations that are contingent upon the closing of a real estate transaction or include variable consideration based on order volumes and have remaining contract terms of generally less than three years. The Company is allowed to apply the optional exemptions to its remaining performance obligations due to (1) the performance obligation is part of a contract that has an original duration of one year or less, (2) the associated revenue is based on the Company’s right to invoice for the value of the product or service delivered, (3) the associated variable consideration is allocated entirely to wholly unsatisfied performance obligations or (4) immateriality. The Company also applies the practical expedient allowed under accounting guidance whereby it can disregard the impact to the transaction price of the effects of a significant financing component for arrangements where the Company expects the period between delivery of the product or service and customer payment to be one year or less. In addition, the Company applies the practical expedient whereby it recognizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period for the asset that the Company otherwise would have recognized is one year or less. The Company records a contract asset, and recognizes revenue, upon delivery of certain products related to the closing of a real estate transaction where the Company’s right to payment is subject to the closing of the transaction. The Company records a contract liability for payments received in advance of revenue recognition for certain products or services. Contract assets and liabilities were not material at December 31, 2023 and 2022. Revenues recognized during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 that were included in contract liabilities at the beginning of the respective period were not material. For information about the Company’s revenues disaggregated by reportable segment see Note 22 Segment Financial Information. |
| Premium Taxes | Premium taxes Title insurance and home warranty companies, like other types of insurers, are generally not subject to state income or franchise taxes. However, in lieu thereof, most states impose a tax based primarily on insurance premiums written. This premium tax is reported as a separate line item in the consolidated statements of income in order to provide a more meaningful disclosure of the taxation of the Company. |
| Income Taxes | Income taxes The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company evaluates the need to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets based upon the amount of existing temporary differences, the period in which they are expected to be recovered and expected levels of taxable income. A valuation allowance is established when it is considered more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if sustaining those positions is considered more likely than not. Changes in recognition or measurement of uncertain tax positions are reflected in the period in which a change in judgment occurs. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. |
| Share-Based Compensation | Share-based compensation The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. The cost is recognized in the Company’s financial statements over the requisite service period of the award using the straight-line method for awards that contain only a service condition and the graded vesting method for awards that contain a performance or market condition. For awards with retirement eligibility provisions, the cost is recognized through the date the employee becomes eligible to retire and is no longer required to provide service to earn the award. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. The Company utilizes a Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of its market-based equity-settled performance awards. The Company’s primary means of providing share-based compensation is through the granting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”). RSUs granted generally have graded vesting features and include a service condition; and, for certain employees and executives, may also include either a performance or market condition. In 2022, the Company began granting performance restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) to certain employees and executives, which generally contain service and either performance or market conditions. RSUs and PRSUs receive dividend equivalents in the form of RSUs/PRSUs having the same vesting requirements as the initial grant. The Company also offers an employee stock purchase plan that allows eligible employees the option to purchase common stock of the Company at 85 % of the lower of the closing price on either the first or last day of each offering period. The offering periods are three-month periods beginning on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 of each fiscal year. The Company recognizes an expense in the amount equal to the value of the 15 % discount and look-back feature over the three-month offering period. |
| Earnings Per Share | Earnings per share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to the Company’s stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. The computation of diluted earnings per share is similar to the computation of basic earnings per share, except that the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding is increased to include the effect of dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period using the treasury stock method. Potential dilutive common shares include RSUs and PRSUs. |
| Employee Benefit Plans | Employee benefit plans The Company recognizes the underfunded status of its unfunded supplemental benefit plans as a liability on its consolidated balance sheets. Actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits that have not been previously recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/loss. Plan obligations are measured annually as of December 31. The Company informally funds its nonqualified deferred compensation plan through tax-advantaged investments known as variable universal life insurance. The Company’s deferred compensation plan assets are included as a component of other assets and the Company’s deferred compensation plan liability is included as a component of pension costs and other retirement plans on the consolidated balance sheets. The income or loss earned on the Company’s plan assets is included as a component of net investment income and the income or loss earned by the plan participants is included as a component of personnel costs on the consolidated statements of income. |
| Foreign Currency | Foreign currency The Company operates in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The functional currencies of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are generally their respective local currencies. The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries with local currencies that were determined to be the functional currency are translated into U.S. dollars as follows: assets and liabilities at the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date, equity at the historical rates of exchange, and income and expense amounts at average rates prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments resulting from the translation of the subsidiaries’ accounts are included in accumulated other comprehensive income/loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. For those foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar has been determined to be the functional currency, non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated using historical rates, while monetary assets and liabilities are translated at current rates, with remeasurement gains and losses included in other operating expenses. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included within other operating expenses. |
| Reinsurance | Reinsurance The Company’s title insurance business assumes and cedes large title insurance risks through reinsurance. Additionally, the Company has limited reinsurance arrangements related to certain products offered through its international operations. In reinsurance arrangements, the primary insurer retains a certain amount of risk under a policy and cedes the remainder of the risk under the policy to the reinsurer. The primary insurer pays the reinsurer a premium in exchange for accepting this risk of loss. The primary insurer generally remains liable to its insured for the total risk but is reinsured under the terms of the reinsurance agreement. The amount of premiums assumed and ceded is recorded as a component of direct premiums and escrow fees on the Company’s consolidated statements of income. The total amount of premiums assumed and ceded in connection with reinsurance was less than 1.0 % of consolidated premium and escrow fees for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. Payments and recoveries on reinsured losses for the Company’s title insurance business were immaterial during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. |
| Escrow deposits and trust assets | Escrow deposits and trust assets The Company administers escrow deposits and trust assets as a service to customers in its direct title operations. Escrow deposits totaled $ 10.6 billion and $ 10.0 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, of which $ 6.3 billion and $ 4.6 billion, respectively, were held at First American Trust, FSB (“FA Trust”). The remaining deposits were held at third-party financial institutions. Trust assets held or managed by FA Trust totaled $ 4.4 billion and $ 4.1 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Escrow deposits held at third-party financial institutions and trust assets are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company could be held contingently liable for the disposition of these assets. In conducting its operations, the Company often holds customers’ assets in escrow, pending completion of real estate transactions and, as a result, the Company has ongoing programs for realizing economic benefits with various financial institutions. The results from these programs are included as income or a reduction in expense, as appropriate, in the consolidated statements of income based on the nature of the arrangement and benefit received. Like-kind exchanges The Company facilitates tax-deferred property exchanges for customers pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code and tax-deferred reverse exchanges pursuant to Revenue Procedure 2000-37. As a facilitator and intermediary, the Company holds the proceeds from sales transactions and takes temporary title to property identified by the customer to be acquired with such proceeds. Upon the completion of each such exchange, the identified property is transferred to the customer or, if the exchange does not take place, an amount equal to the sales proceeds or, in the case of a reverse exchange, title to the property held by the Company is transferred to the customer. Like-kind exchange funds administered by the Company totaled $ 1.8 billion and $ 2.8 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The like-kind exchange deposits are held at third-party financial institutions and, due to the structure utilized to facilitate these transactions, the proceeds and property are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company could be held contingently liable to the customer for the transfers of property, disbursements of proceeds and the returns on such proceeds. |
| Subservicing Deposits | Subservicing deposits In conducting its residential mortgage loan subservicing operations, the Company administers cash deposits on behalf of its clients. Cash deposits totaled $ 0.8 billion and $ 1.1 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, of which $ 0.5 billion and $ 0.7 billion, respectively, were held at FA Trust. The remaining deposits were held at third-party financial institutions. Cash deposits held at third-party financial institutions are not considered assets of the Company and, therefore, are not included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. All such amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The Company could be held contingently liable for the disposition of these assets. In connection with certain accounts, the Company has ongoing programs for realizing economic benefits with various financial institutions whereby it earns economic benefits either as income or as a reduction in expense. Deposit balances held at FA Trust are temporarily invested in cash and cash equivalents and debt securities, with offsetting liabilities included in deposits in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company regularly reviews the financial strength of third-party financial institutions where deposits are held and, based on this review and the fact that all amounts are placed in deposit accounts insured, up to applicable limits, by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, does not expect any credit losses; therefore the Company has not recorded a liability for credit losses. |
| Pending Accounting Pronouncements | Pending Accounting Pronouncements In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued updated guidance intended to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The updated guidance requires disclosure of specific categories and greater disaggregation of information included in the rate reconciliation and related to income taxes paid. The updated guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Except for the disclosure requirements, the Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact its consolidated financial statements. In August 2023, the FASB issued updated guidance that is intended to provide decision-useful information to investors and reduce diversity in practice in accounting for contributions made to a joint venture, upon formation, in a joint venture’s separate financial statements. The updated guidance will require joint ventures to recognize and initially measure their assets and liabilities at fair value, with certain exceptions to fair value measurement consistent with business combination guidance. The updated guidance is effective prospectively for all joint venture formations with a formation date on or after January 1, 2025, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. In September 2022, the FASB issued updated guidance intended to increase the comparability of financial information across reporting entities that have investments in equity securities measured at fair value that are subject to contractual restrictions preventing the sale of those securities. The updated guidance clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, as a result, should not be considered in measuring fair value. In addition, new disclosures are required about the nature of the restrictions and their remaining duration. The updated guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to impact its consolidated financial statements. |
