The mere mention of the title industry in the caption of this post dooms it to inevitable ambiguity obscurity. The topic, perceived as draconian, clearly lacks sex-appeal. As a title company owner, I was often dismayed by the audacious remarks of real estate agents who thought they knew my job better than I did. Trust me, they didn't. Only those who have worked in the notoriously "behind the scenes" industry could begin to comprehend the risk and transactional complexities faced daily by title professionals in 2007.
It was one year ago today that I first commented on Diane Cipa's edgy and sometimes irreverent blog, Radical Title Talk. Diane had written a post accusing Affiliated Business Arrangements (AfBAs) of polluting the integrity of all who participated in them. I concurred with a lengthy, toxic response of my own. The AfBA, from the perspective of the independent title agent, is analogous to a noose at a lynching. Radical Title Talk has distinguished itself as the origin of title industry blogging such as it is. Thanks to Diane's relentless devotion to real world issues, I realized that blogging could be much more than a vehicle of self-promotion; it could be employed as a legitimate communication platform. That single comment blossomed into a realization that a hungry audience existed nationally and that I indeed had a voice.
After several failed attempts, my own blog, Title-opoly, was born.
To my way of thinking, bloggers have a responsibility to explore fresh avenues. We have an obligation to provocatively incite change. There’s a faint rumble in the distance thats audible to all who choose to relinquish thoughts to matters of conscience. Listen closely to hear the repressed voice of the consumer metaphorically flowing over the brim. For too long, an arcane system that shrouds consumers in darkness during the one authentic purchase of a lifetime has evaded scrutiny.
Blogging provides the desperately needed transparency that in turn describes the business model of the new millennium.
Regrettably, cyber-chatter hasn't been well received by title folks who tend to be somewhat reserved and withdrawn by nature. I say regrettably, because the industry sorely needs the cohesion that shared dialog could provide as it transitions from something that it was in the past to something that it's expected to be in the present. The interactive effect of blogging, if harnessed effectively, could be the awaited messiah of a beleaguered profession that's complacently following the evolutionary path of the horse drawn carriage.
I've decided to share the active title industry blogs, outside of Active Rain, of which I'm aware. Sadly the headcount is startling low.
All are well written and highly informative.
I encourage you to take the time to support the efforts of these brave pioneers and encourage your title professional of choice to join in the adventure.
Title Industry Blogs:
- Radical Title Talk
- Title Insurance Talk
- Source of Title Blog
- Landrecs.com
- Tim Kane on Rain City Guide
- WWW.TITLEREP.INFO
- Clearing Title
- MYCLOSINGSPACE.COM
- Ethical Practices in Real Estate
- The Title Tycoon
- Title Success
- Title Boy's Thoughts
- Title-opoly
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