8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                              ____________________

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                               ___________________

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) September 4, 2003
                                                 ------------------------------


                         THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION
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             (Exact Name of the Registrant as Specified in Charter)

California                         0-3658                            95-1068610
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(State or Other Jurisdiction     (Commission                       (IRS Employer
of Incorporation)               File Number)                 Identification No.)

1 First American Way,  Santa Ana,  California                        92707-5913
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                             (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (714) 800-3000
                                                   ----------------------------

                                 Not Applicable.
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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)



Item 5.  Other Events.

     On September 4, 2003, The First American Corporation issued a press release
announcing its intent to acquire Transamerica Finance Corporation's tax and
flood companies. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
and incorporated herein.

Item 7.  Exhibits.

99.1     Press Release



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                     THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION



Date: September 4, 2003              By:         /s/ Thomas A. Klemens
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Name:    Thomas A. Klemens
                                        Title:   Executive Vice President and
                                                 Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


               THE FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION ANNOUNCES ITS INTENT
                TO ACQUIRE TRANSAMERICA'S TAX AND FLOOD COMPANIES
        - Acquisition Will Enhance First American's Service Offerings to
          the Mortgage Community with Expanded Tax and Flood Services -


SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 4, 2003 - The First American Corporation (NYSE:FAF),
the nation's leading diversified provider of business information and related
products and services, and Transamerica Finance Corporation, today announced
their intent for First American to acquire Transamerica's real estate tax
service and flood hazard certification businesses. The Transamerica businesses,
which had combined revenue of $241.7 million in 2002, will be integrated with
First American's existing real estate tax service and flood hazard certification
businesses. The parties have made the necessary regulatory filings and are
negotiating definitive agreements, which are expected to be completed within 20
days. Closing of the acquisition is subject to execution of definitive
agreements and regulatory approval. Terms of the transaction will be disclosed
upon execution of the definitive agreements.

     "The acquisition will enhance First American's ability to provide a
comprehensive and cost-effective offering of information products and services
to better serve the mortgage lending community," said Parker S. Kennedy,
president of The First American Corporation. "Because Transamerica's business
model and corporate philosophy in these businesses closely match First
American's, we expect a very smooth and efficient transition, both internally
and for the customers of each company."

     First American will make this acquisition through the 80-percent owned
First American Real Estate Solutions (FARES) joint venture with Experian
Information Solutions, Inc. The transaction will be funded from FARES' existing
cash and proportional cash contributions from First American and Experian.

     Transamerica Real Estate Tax Service Inc. provides services to a number of
the nation's top mortgage lenders. These services include reporting on tax
delinquencies and ensure the timely and accurate payment of property taxes.
Transamerica Flood Hazard Certification Inc., which pioneered the flood
determination business, certifies the location of properties in flood zones to
many of the nation's top mortgage lenders and insurance companies.

     The First American Corporation, a Fortune 500 company and the nation's
leading diversified provider of business information, supplies businesses and
consumers with information resources in connection with the major economic
events of people's lives, such as getting a job; renting an apartment; buying a
car, house, boat or airplane; securing a mortgage; opening or buying a business;
and planning for retirement. The First American Family of Companies, many of
which command leading market share positions in their respective industries,
operate within seven primary business segments including: Title Insurance and
Services, Specialty Insurance, Trust and Other Services, Mortgage Information,
Property Information, Credit Information and Screening Information. With
revenues of $4.70 billion in 2002, First American has nearly 25,000 employees in
approximately 1,400 offices throughout



the United States and abroad. More information about the company and an archive
of its press releases can be found at www.firstam.com.

     Certain statements made in this press release, including those relating to
     the execution of definitive agreements, the transition following the
     acquisition and the funding of the acquisition are forward-looking. Risks
     and uncertainties exist that may cause results to differ materially from
     those set forth in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could
     cause the anticipated results to differ from those described in the
     forward-looking statements include: interest rate fluctuations; changes in
     the performance of the real estate markets; access to public records and
     other data; general volatility in the capital markets; changes in
     applicable government regulations; consolidation among the company's
     significant customers and competitors; the company's continued ability to
     identify businesses to be acquired; changes in the company's ability to
     integrate businesses which it acquires; and other factors described in the
     company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, as
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking
     statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not
     undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or
     events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.