Senior Commercial Title Assistant

Company Summary

Join our team! First American’s National Commercial Services division provides single-point service for simple to multi-property/multi-state national commercial real estate transactions. As a global leader in providing title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for real estate transactions, First American (NYSE: FAF) is an ideal place to build your career. We have been entrusted with helping our customers achieve and protect their dream of homeownership since 1889. We believe that our people are the key to the company’s continued success, and we invest in diverse talents and backgrounds and empower our teams to achieve more than they could anywhere else. First American has created an award-winning culture and has been named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the sixth consecutive year and to more than 50 regional Best Places to Work lists. For more information, please visit www.careers.firstam.com

Job Summary

Performs administrative tasks to support timely escrow closings and title recordings for transactions ranging from single site to high-liability multi-site commercial real estate transactions.  Conducts title research to compiles chain of title.  Creates title files and prepares endorsements and supplemental documents.  Responsible for all new order entry and fulfillment, paperless file setup, order tracking, invoicing (initial search and all updates), escrow accounting functionality and post-closing functions. Investigates and interprets tax records in order to determine tax liability.   Creates title files, documenting all research.

Essential Functions

• Open and process new orders in FAST, OTS and paperless files, selection of field providers, including necessary supervision and monitoring of field office and NNC division performance, track order status, quality assurance review of product to ensure commitments is set up in accordance with customer’s expectations and all necessary documents are received, delivery (paper/digital) of commitment and supporting documents to parties to the transaction
• Support Closers/Transaction Managers with closing commercial real estate transactions by assisting with administering escrow accounts, making deposits, issuing checks, building and disbursing wires, preparing invoices, routing title comments and underwriting requests, ordering title and tax updates, and assembling and calculating pricing information, recording fees and transfer tax information
• Coordinate and assist with the tracking and resolution of customer title comments, underwriting requests, and survey reviews with local, regional and national counsel and local field offices
• Assist Transaction Managers with and tracking the satisfaction of commitment requirements, including the preparation of requirements spreadsheets for multi-site transactions
• Perform post-closing functions, including supervising the timely recording transaction documents, following up to confirm receipt of same from the local office or clerk, preparation of final policies in accordance with final markups and pro formas, and delivery of same to the parties
• Searches, examines and interprets real estate documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, assignments and re-conveyances, subdivision maps, assessor parcel maps, moderately complex metes and bounds legal descriptions, section and lot and block from direct base working directly with title officer
• Within authority limits, resolves whether general index items are to be included in evidence of title
• May assist in training associates

Knowledge and Skills/Technology Used

• Fluency in company operating systems (i.e.,  FAST proprietary title and escrow platform)
• Familiarity and/or working knowledge of several office software packages which include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, graphics and desktop publishing applications
• Excellent verbal/written communication skills
• Must be able to maintain professionalism and a positive service attitude at all times
• Strong detail orientation

Typical Education  

• High School diploma or equivalent; some college preferred

Typical Range of Experience  

• 3+ years prior real estate experience as paralegal or assistant in law firm or national commercial title and closing operation in the title industry

First American invests in its employees’ development and well-being, empowers them to provide superior customer service and encourages them to serve the communities where they live and work. First American is committed to diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.