Title Examiner

Title Examiner

Williston Financial Group (WFG) is the Portland, Oregon-based parent company of several national title insurance and settlement services providers, including WFG Lender Services and WFG National Title Insurance Company. One of only six national underwriters, WFG achieved a national footprint faster than any title insurance provider in history. The WFG family of companies offers full-service title insurance and settlement services for use in residential and commercial mortgage and real estate transactions nationwide.

Job Purpose: The Title Examiner plays a key role in the process of insuring property by searching public records and examining titles to determine legal condition of property titles. It is the role of the Title Examiner to produce a preliminary title report, commitment, foreclosure report or non-policy information report showing all appropriate liens, encumbrances and how title is vested.

Essential Job Functions:

• Search computerized and manual title records on real estate and property records; determine instruments filed in public records affecting land.
• Examine title products such as deeds, deeds of trust, liens, easements, mortgages, restrictions, property taxes and all pertinent documents in chain of title to determine ownership, encumbrances, and to verify legal descriptions of property for accuracy, completeness, and how it affects the title.
• Map legal descriptions to obtain search parameters. Determine and ensure property has been researched properly and information relating to parties involved and taxes are accurate.
• Ensure the title to a property in question has no restrictions that may prevent or hinder its sale or use.
• Examine all documents in the chain of title for validity including multiple and complex court cases utilizing advanced knowledge on legal descriptions, real property laws, and our client's policies.
• Prepare final product utilizing internal programs. Solid examination knowledge and experience by supporting residential title transactions.
• Prepare property reports and title commitments.
• Utilize title examiner knowledge to search public and private records and examine documents relating to complex property titles.
• Uses title insurance knowledge and junior underwriting guidelines to clear unwarranted liens, encumbrances, requirements or exceptions from appearing on delivered title products including title commitments, property reports, deed reports, and legal and vesting reports.
• Conveys title requirements and exceptions to processing and closing departments.

Engage in WFG company culture that emphasizes engagement in our 4 Cs, quality of work and high performance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Previous experience examining title and writing title reports.
• Fundamental knowledge of state real estate laws and title practices concerning probates, bankruptcies, divorces, judgments and other related matters.
• Proficient PC skills such as typing and navigating various software applications such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Adobe Acrobat.
• Experience working with title production software, i.e. RamQuest, ResWare, Data Trace, etc. preferred.
• Possess a high level of knowledge of the various state Department of Insurance Title Rates, Rules and Regulations including policies, endorsements, premiums and fees.
• The ability to work and communicate well with others.
• Ability to run out metes and bounds legal descriptions.
• Integrity and Title Data Plants Exam experience a plus

Basic Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• College degree in Business or related field.
• National title examination experience.
• Five years experience in the Title & Escrow Industry.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment: This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Requirements/ADA:

No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.

Routine deadlines; usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume seasonal and predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; travel or other inconveniences have advance notice; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than immediate supervisor.

Job frequently requires sitting, handling objects with hands.

Job occasionally requires standing, walking, reaching, talking, hearing, and lifting up to 10 lbs.

Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: Days and hours of full –time position are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Part-time positions may be considered.

Travel: No travel is expected for this position.