Transform your digital marketing with Ticor’s Virtual Homebook!
We are proud to announce our latest innovative solution, the Ticor Virtual Homebook! This Virtual Homebook not only looks great but is a breeze to use and send on to your clients. This environmentally friendly solution still has all of the great information and resources you have come to expect from our traditional Homebooks!
Ticor Title’s team of property information specialists provide unmatched service, support, and information to our clients in Washington State. From basic property information to special projects large and small, our team is dedicated to listening carefully to our client needs and providing insights and solutions.
Earnest Money Delivery… Now Hassle-Free & Contact-Free!
startSafe Mobile Deposit allows buyers to enjoy the safety and simplicity of depositing their earnest money from the convenience of their smartphone. With just a few clicks, startSafe Mobile Deposit makes delivering earnest money as easy as taking a picture of the front and back of a check. It’s that simple. Deposits can be made as part of a buyer’s initial startSafe intuitive question-based flow or as a separate initial step. Either way, startSafe Mobile Deposit is safe and contact-free.
How does it work?
startSafe™ uses advanced security protocols and multi-factor identification to initiate a secure digital opening experience with buyers and sellers. An intuitive, question-based information collection process guides consumers through providing and confirming necessary information. Information on wire safety and specific wiring instructions are also delivered securely for consumers to review and then Visit MyTicor.com to watch a video about how startSafe™ can protect against Wire Fraud.
Since founding her own escrow company in 1996, Debbie has been a successful Title and Escrow professional and thought-leader in the Puget Sound real estate and lending industries.
She is most passionate about being in the field, connecting and deepening her relationships. She works tirelessly to make her clients look good and their transactions close smoothly. Debbie is a fountain of lead-gen and marketing ideas and is widely considered one of the industry’s best problem-solvers; a powerful advocate for Agents, Loan Officers, Buyers, and Sellers.
With over 35 years of experience in Title and Escrow, Debbie Stevens is a known and trusted resource for connections and solutions that move clients forward in the business of real estate. She is excited to now be a part of Ticor Title!
Those who know her best describe Debbie as kind, loyal, thoughtful, driven, always having a smile to share and really fun. She loves to travel and her family and close friends mean everything to her. An avid lover of champagne, Debbie looks for any reason to toast life’s meaningful moments – like the successful closing of your next transaction!
ID Thieves Are Now Targeting Unemployment Benefits
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow across the country, so do the number of COVID-19 scams that have been appearing trying to get access to personal and financial information. With this in mind we are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips.
Fraudsters will always try to take advantage of new opportunities in a time of crisis like evictions, foreclosures assistance, stimulus payments, and unemployment benefits.
The Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic is a dream come true for con artists across the globe.
“There is something for every scammer,” said Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the non-profit Identity Theft Resource Center, who has been fighting fraud for more than 30 years now. “The scope and the scale of all the different types of scams stemming from the pandemic is something I’ve actually never seen before.”
“So we are getting calls from many people who are trying to apply for unemployment and they finally get through, which is an arduous task in itself, and they find that they’re not eligible, that they’ve already applied for it – when in fact, they know they haven’t,” Velasquez told me. “They’re crime victims and they are out that money at a time when they need it to live.”
“It can be difficult to decipher which emails, phone calls, social media posts or text messages are scams versus legitimate ones. People are scared, people are out of work, and government relief programs are distributing money in unprecedented amounts. Identity thieves are now targeting people who are out of work, trying to steal their unemployment benefits,” she said.
Unsure if something is legitimate? Go to the source of the potential assistance. That means if the offer of unemployment benefits seems to be uncharacteristic, go directly to the employment development department and check their website. If it has to do with housing – whether that’s eviction or foreclosure assistance – head to that source (local housing commission, banking institution, etc.). Don’t trust an inbound message that isn’t verifiable.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam or want to check on something before you click a link or provide personal information, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center (or call 888-400-5530) and talk or chat with one of their expert advisors.
Reid has been a valued teammate and asset to our clients for 25 years. We are so privileged to have his knowledge, generosity, and leadership. Please reach out to our Chief Title Officer Reid Vance as we celebrate his 25th anniversary with Ticor Title!
Use these tips to stay on track and find your balance…
CONTINUE YOUR ROUTINE – Wake up at your usual time, get dressed, wash your face and get ready for the day. You’ll feel better and be ready for those impromptu video calls.
DESIGNATE A WORKSPACE FOR YOUR HOME OFFICE – Create an “office area” within your home. Having a spot that you treat as your “workplace” will help ease you into the same work mindset you have when you’re at the office.
COMMUNICATE OFTEN AND SET GOALS – Establish an accountability group with your co-workers or team. Check in with each other about what you’re working on, and hold each other accountable.
KEEP CLEARLY DEFINED WORKING HOURS – Honor your office hours. If you typically work 8-5 when you have to go to the office, try to keep those hours the same while working from home. Don’t forget to take time to enjoy some lunch!
REMEMBER YOU’RE AT WORK – Avoid the distraction of multi-tasking. Do what you can to minimize distractions. If you don’t have a television playing in your office at work, don’t have one playing at home.
DON’T GET CONSUMED BY THE NEWS – While it’s good to stay informed, it’s also easy to scroll your way into an anxious mess. Try setting timers for any breaks you take. You don’t want to get too immersed and forget you’re at work altogether.
Many of us will be getting a stimulus payment from the federal government, and phone fraudsters are using this to attempt to get our bank information.
Fraudsters are now using the the pending stimulus payments to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. If you receive any phone calls, texts or emails saying they are with the federal government to assist with the stimulus payment, hang up or ignore them. If engaged they will go on to ask for additional information to process your stimulus payment, and in some cases will send you an email that contains a phishing link to steal your banking information.
What to look out for?
The government is not contacting anyone via email, text or phone call about this.
Many payments will be automatically processed without the need to do anything.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) E-Mail Scams Can Be Difficult to Spot
Fraudsters hope to exploit your fears with phishing e-mails designed to steal money, snag personal information and infect computers. With this in mind we are proud to say we have partnered with long time local area consumer protection advocate Herb Weisbaum of KOMO to bring you Technology and Title Tips. With this current phishing attack, the fraudsters are designing their e-mails to look like they’re coming from the CDC or the WHO. They typically have an attention-grabbing subject line, such as “Coronavirus outbreak in your city (Emergency)” and often include the agency’s logo — cut and pasted from the real website — to add credibility.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Emails Scams can be difficult to spot – What to look out for?
We at Ticor Title want you to know our biggest priority is the health and well-being of our clients and employees. As the severity of COVID-19 continues to develop, we are working diligently to make sure your transactions remain uninterrupted. Please be assured Ticor has the systems and resources in place to continue to support you and your clients during the closing process.
A third-party
service offered free of charge. This method requires buyer/borrowers lender
approval and may not be a fit for all transactions.
You will connect with the notary using a tablet or computer which must have a webcam and microphone.
The online notary will verify your identity (signor must have a social security number and valid identification card)
Your notary will review your documents with you and all will be signed electronically.
Your final closing documents will be sent to you electronically.
Sign documents in the comfort of your home (or in driveway if preferred) eliminating the need to come into our office.
Your final signed copies will be emailed.
Been sick or exposed? Please call us.
All offices are open and conducting business by appointment only.
When possible, we ask that everyone remain in compliance with social distancing during the signing appointment.
Before and after each appointment, the chair(s), table(s), and door handle(s) will be wiped down with disinfecting wipes or alternate disinfecting solution(s).
New pens will be distributed to each closing participant and will not be reused.
Please ensure that only those deemed “essential” to the signing appointments are attending. Please leave children at home.
Been sick or exposed? Please call us.
Available for sellers, cash buyers and buyers/borrowers with lender approval.
Sign majority of your closing documents via Docusign, an electronic platform, from the security of your home.
All documents requiring notarization will be signed with a mobile notary limiting the amount of time for the in-person signing to approx 5-10 minutes.
Your final signed copies will be emailed.
Been sick or exposed? Please call us
Please contact your Sales Executive for any questions or specific requests so we can help accommodate.
