One thing that has not changed in the business is where our searches come from originally. The searches are sent to us by abstractors. Abstractors may get there records from multiple locations. It may be required for an abstractor to physically go down to the county themselves and pull documentation relating to our borrowers or their homes. However many; dependent upon the county and technology; can do their entire search from their most comfortable seat in their own home.

Like anything else; human error can always make its way into play in abstracting. A title that has an extra mortgage(s) or lien(s) causes what is called “Clouded Title” or “Unmarketable Title”. With many of our former associates, co-workers, and friends out of the industry; who records all of these important documents for abstractors to search? That’s the problem: since so many people and companies have left; documents such as releases, satisfactions, and even new mortgages go UNRECORDED!

If you haven’t come across a title that is “Dirty”; I congratulate you but don’t celebrate too quickly. It is going to continue to happen on a more and more frequent basis. I am both seeing and hearing about it on a weekly basis and sometimes have to get my own hands a “little dirty” to clear things up as quickly as possible.  There is no way of ensuring that this will not or never happen on any one transaction. The only advice I can give is to make sure you are working with a title company that is well qualified, educated, and has a “never say die” attitude.

My suggestion: Choose to work with OIG! We’ll guarantee not to give up until we have exhausted every single explanation of how or why something is there that should not be.