Mortgage lending is a very dynamic and competitive industry. To increase profits and gain a competitive advantage, many high-volume lenders establish their own agency to market title insurance to their borrowers. Title & Closing, Inc., through its Title Ventures divsion, offers an opportunity for average size companies to have ownership in your own title agency!

Why Joint-Venture with Us?

• Legal Compliance - Our Company has undergone a strict evaluation in cooperation with HUD, and therefore has the unique advantage of being able to create title agencies with a HUD-approved business structure. We operate according to written guidelines approved by HUD, and are periodically reviewed to ensure ongoing compliance. We can review with you the guidelines that HUD has approved for our operations.
• Profitability - You will have ownership in a large title agency which can sell millions of dollars of title insurance per year. By combining several partners to create a large-volume agency, efficiencies are gained which ensures a favorable profit margin for all members. As your agency's volume increases, so do profits.
• Cost of Capital - The initial cost of starting a title agency is $6,000.00. As one of several owner/members, your initial capital contribution should be between $500-2,000, depending on your ownership percentage.
• We Preserve Your Choice of Closing Attorneys/Agents - You, the partner, or your client (the consumer) may choose to send closing orders to Lender's Title & Escrow LLC, our affiliated closing company, or to your normal attorneys (if the lender or borrower decides to choose Lender’s Title in North Carolina, Lender's Title will forward your legal work to the attorney of your choice). As closing attorneys ourselves, we are able to communicate and discuss key issues related to title insurance, legal compliance, operations, etc., with your closing attorney

How a Title Agency Operates

You, your partners and Title Ventures will oversee all operations of your title agency. Your agency will have its own employee(s) licensed within your state(s) to issue title policies. Your employee will handle all core title agent services (including issuing title commitments and policies, clearing underwriting objections, etc).

Your closing attorney/agent searches the title on your client's property. The attorney completes a preliminary title opinion and electronically submits it to your agency either by fax or email.

Your agency's licensed employee prepares the title commitment and sends this back to the closing attorney/agent along with the appropriate affidavits and disclosures.

Your closing attorney/agent closes the loan and disburses a check for the title premium to your agency. The check is deposited into the agency's corporate account.

Your closing attorney/agent sends a final title opinion to your agency indicating that the Warranty Deed and/or Deed of Trust are recorded. Your agency then sends the final title insurance policy to the closing attorney, lender, and borrower if applicable.

Each month, your agency's account is reconciled, and profit/loss statements are distributed along with the proportional amount of profit due each member, based upon ownership percentage. Statements are received by each member no later the 20th day of each month.

Is a Title Agency Right For You?

With rising interest rates, many mortgage companies and banks struggle to maintain revenues. Profits from ownership in a title agency represent ancillary income that can help you maintain market share and retain dedicated employees. However, efforts are required by all members in order to operate a profitable title agency. Some responsibilities include:

• Promote and market your title agency.
• Ensure proper disclosure to your customers that you have ownership in a title agency.
• Train your staff on use of the agency.
• Accompany agency employee(s) on marketing visits to existing and new attorneys.
• Attend quarterly member meetings.
• Invest additional capital if operating losses should occur. Investments are made by each member in proportion to their ownership percentage.

Click here to request more information on creating a Title Agency