Spokane - MyTicor

All New! Interactive Property Information Search

On August 18, 2017 / Blog, Spokane, WesternWA

We are excited to announce a completely redesigned ticorexpress.com providing a more interactive, visual, and streamlined property search experience!
Look for the new features today!

Log in:
TicorExpress.com

Property Profile Information

TicorExpress.com provides property profile data, owner information, transfer history, recorded documents, plat maps, demographics, and school information.

How to Get an Account

If you already have a TicorExpress.com account, you’re ready to go. If you are a new user, please contact your Ticor Title Sales Executive for exclusive access to this powerful time-saving research tool!

New Search Interface

Searching for property information is now quicker and easier because of predictive search and interactive aerial map features. Finding property information is now a more intuitive and visual experience.

Click Map to Search

The interactive map search makes researching adjacent or nearby properties easy! Click any property within view to access basic information or a complete property profile. Move or zoom the map to to explore and search.

Mobile Optimized

The new TicorExpress.com provides a better property search experience in the office or on the go because is optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop!

Easy Access to Recent Searches

Save time accessing previous searches with the “Recent Searches” feature. Properties that you last searched are available in one click.

Advanced Search

Use the advanced search feature to search by address, owner name, parcel number, or street look-up.

Announcing Michelle Hedquist, Sales Executive

On August 15, 2017 / Spokane

We are pleased to announce that Michelle Hedquist has transitioned from Escrow Assistant to Sales Executive. Michelle’s Escrow background, service ethic, and solution-oriented approach will compliment our sales team well and prove to be a true value to our clients and partners.

Michelle Hedquist

Sales Executive
509-385-4384
michelle.hedquist@ticortitle.com

1330 N Washington St, Suite 3525
Spokane, WA 99201

About Michelle

Born and raised in Spokane WA, Michelle attended Shadle Park High School. She has worked in the Title and Escrow field since 2015. Michelle and her husband (along with their chocolate lab, Remy) enjoy the outdoors and spend time together fishing, camping, hiking and boating. She also loves traveling and exploring new areas. She has an identical-twin sister. Her friends would describe her as genuine, kind and a careful listener who enjoys helping in any way possible. You will always catch her in a good mood with a smile on her face.

Best in Class & Getting Better! We’re Fortune #293!

On July 21, 2017 / Blog, Spokane, WesternWA

Ticor Title is proud to be recognized as a leader in our industry as a member of the FNF Family of companies. We celebrate that in 2017 our rank has improved to the position of #293 from our previous position of #311 on the Fortune 500.

2017 Fortune 500

This year’s Fortune 500 marks the 63rd running of the list. In total, Fortune 500 companies represent two-thirds of the U.S. GDP with $12 trillion in revenues, $890 billion in profits, $19 trillion in market value, and employ 28.2 million people worldwide.

At Ticor Title, we believe that every transaction begins with a great team. Our team of professionals are committed to personalized service, clear communication, consistency, and the highest standards of conduct to ensure that our clients and partners have a best-in-class closing experience with every transaction.

We would like to thank you for your continuous patronage and support. We look forward to many years of innovation, growth, and successful closings together!

Protect Your Property Rights With Owner’s Title Insurance

On July 12, 2017 / Spokane, Title Insurance, WesternWA

Each year, approximately 20% of homebuyers fail to protect themselves by not getting owner’s title insurance. Unfortunately, this leaves them exposed to serious financial risk—causing endless worry and regret.

If you’re thinking of buying a home, here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your property rights, so you can rest assured once you’ve purchased your home.

Protect your property rights with owner's title insurance

Protect your property rights – Download here

Looking For Potential Threats

During the home-closing process, your title professional will help transition the home from the seller to you, the homebuyer, by examining public records. Generally, if a problem is discovered, the title professional works to resolve them before you purchase the home.

However, even after a title search is performed and you purchase your home, problems could arise that threaten your ownership rights. Examples include:

Undiscovered tax liens
Forged signatures in the chain of title
Recording errors
Undisclosed easements
Title claims by missing heirs* or ex-spouses

Getting owner’s title insurance protects your property rights from threats like these. Here’s a real-life example of how it works.

True Story

A family in Missouri unknowingly purchased their home from a seller who had taken out a separate $419,000 loan on the property. But this fact was not discovered during the closing process, and the family’s lender paid the seller directly instead of paying off the existing loan.

Soon, the family faced foreclosure because someone else had claim against their title. Fortunately, the family had owner’s title insurance. So the title company paid the debt and the family kept their home—and peace of mind.

This story has a positive ending, but without owner’s title insurance, the family could have faced serious costs, and even eviction.

Protect Yourself

There are two types of title insurance: lender’s title insurance and owner’s title insurance.

Lender’s title insurance is required by most lenders and banks because it protects their loan investments. Usually, you purchase this policy as the homebuyer. If you only have a lender’s policy, where the outstanding loan is covered, your equity is not protected. Therefore, you could have your property rights taken away if someone else has claim to your home.

Owner’s title insurance is the policy that protects your property rights from legal and financial threats like those mentioned in the story you just read. That’s why millions of homebuyers each year make the smart decision to get owner’s title insurance. It’s a low, one-time fee that provides the peace of mind that every homebuyer deserves, for as long as you or your family* own your home. In many areas, the seller purchases the policy for you. Ask your title professional how it’s handled in your area.

Support and Free Information

To buy your home with confidence, you need to work with a trusted title professional. They’re the experts who will help you throughout the home closing process. They will also advise you on how to protect your property rights and avoid costly problems by getting owner’s title insurance.

For more information, please contact us.

*This article offers a brief description of insurance coverages, products and services and is meant for informational purposes only. Actual coverages may vary by state, company or locality. You may not be eligible for all of the insurance products, coverages or services described in this article. For exact terms, conditions, exclusions, and limitations, please contact a Ticor Title representative.

Protect Yourself and Your Clients From Wire Fraud

On June 8, 2017 / Blog, Spokane, WesternWA

Wire fraud has become a daily occurrence in our industry. Realtors®, Real Estate Brokers, Buyers and Sellers are targets for wire fraud and many have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because they wired funds based on wire instructions received via email.

Common Wire Fraud Schemes

A hacker can break into a licensee’s email account to obtain information about upcoming real estate transactions. After monitoring the account to determine the likely timing of a close, the hacker sends an email to the buyer, posing either as the escrow agent or as the licensee. The fraudulent email may contain new wiring instructions or routing information, and request that the Buyer send funds accordingly. They could just as easily send an e-mail to the escrow agent posing as a Seller or a Real Estate Broker instructing the escrow agent to wire seller funds to different account rather than to the account provided at the signing.

Be Alert

Below are the procedures we have implemented at Ticor Title to keep our clients’ information and money safe and secure. We have also provided some tips on what a client should look for.

We encourage you to pass them along to your client so they are aware of the wire fraud scams plaguing our industry.

Ticor Title will not accept disbursement instructions or changes to disbursement instructions via e-mail. Should a circumstance arise that requires disbursement instructions be sent via e-mail we will always contact the client to confirm the information received using a pre-verified phone number.
If we are instructed to e-mail wire instructions to a Broker or a Buyer or Seller they are always sent using encrypted e-mail.
If your client receives wire instructions via e-mail instruct them to ALWAYS follow up with a phone call to their escrow closer before they wire funds.
Pay attention to the wording of an email requesting funds. Many fraudsters are “offshore” offenders and their sentence structure may be broken and may contain misspelled words or improper grammar.
Beware of e-mail spoofing. E-mail spoofing is the forgery of an e-mail address so that the message appears to have originated from someone other than the actual source. For instance, you could receive an e-mail that you believe originated from your Escrow Closer or Broker because the e-mail address is the same as theirs. However, if you click on the e-mail address it will disclose the true e-mail address of the originator. E-mail Spoofing is a common tactic used in wire fraud campaigns and if you are not familiar with the tactic you are very likely to follow the instructions contained in the e-mail, believing they came from the proper party.
Be wary of a sudden or urgent request for funds that were not anticipated or required as part of the transaction. Examples include a request for an additional earnest money deposit or extension fee that was not part of the purchase agreement.

Call Before You Wire

Wire Fraud Prevention Tips

Wire Fraud in the News

Click on the links below to view stories recently aired by KOMO 4 news on the subject of wire fraud. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you have or if you would like some additional information on the subject.

http://komonews.com/news/consumer/email-scam-targeting-real-estate-industry-gets-worse

http://komonews.com/news/consumer/real-estate-title-scams-steal-homebuyers-money-and-dash-ownership-dreams

What is an ID Affidavit and Why is it Needed?

On May 16, 2017 / Blog, Spokane, Title Insurance, WesternWA

Understanding an ID Affidavit

What’s in a name? When a title company seeks to uncover matters affecting title to real property, the answer is, “Quite a bit.”

An ID Affidavit provides title companies with the information they need to distinguish the buyers and sellers of real property from others with similar names. After identifying the true buyers and sellers, title companies may disregard the judgments, liens or other matters on the public records under similar names.

To help you better understand this sensitive subject, below are answers to common questions relating to ID Affidavits.

View & Save PDF

What is an ID Affidavit?

A Statement of Information is a form routinely requested from the buyer, seller and borrower in a transaction where title insurance is sought. The completed form provides the title company with information needed to adequately examine documents so as to disregard matters which do not affect the property to be insured, matters which actually apply to some other person.

What Does an ID Affidavit Do?

Every day documents affecting real property – liens, court decrees, bankruptcies – are recorded. Whenever a title company uncovers a recorded document in which the name is the same or similar to that of the buyer, seller or borrower in a title transaction, the title company must ask, “Does this document affect the parties we are insuring?” Because if it does, it affects title to the property and would, therefore, be listed as an exception from coverage under the title policy.

A properly completed ID Affidavit will allow the title company to differentiate between parties with the same or similar names when searching documents recorded by name. This protects all parties involved and allows the title company to competently carry out its duties without unnecessary delay.

Keys to a Successful Escrow Closing

On April 17, 2017 / Blog, Escrow, Spokane, WesternWA

Closing on a home can be an exciting and stressful process all at the same time. With so many potential speed bumps it’s important we make your closing flow as smooth as possible. At Ticor we believe one of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by educating buyers and sellers as they prepare for the big day. In particular we’d like to highlight some of the simple steps a buyer/seller can take to expedite the process. We call these steps the “Keys to a Successful Closing”.

BUYERS AND SELLERS

Provide your escrow officer with your phone number & email.
Confirm with your agent that all contingencies have been satisfied.
Keep your agent informed of any vacation or travel plans or times you will be unavailable.
If you plan to have your documents reviewed by an attorney, please notify your escrow officer at least 48 hours prior to signing.

SELLERS

Gather the following and deliver to your Escrow Officer:

Your forwarding address.
Any existing payoff information.
Identify leased equipment.
Homeowner Association information.
Utilities (if they are to be paid out of escrow.)
Judgment/Liens
Any name changes since vesting

BUYERS

Notify your escrow officer the names of your lender and homeowner insurance companies.
Verify with your loan officer that all conditions have been met.

BEFORE YOUR SIGNING APPOINTMENT

Plan to sign at the escrow company one or two business days before the closing date.
Expect the signing to last approximately one hour if you are the buyer and 30 minutes if you are the seller
Have two pieces of valid ID (one being photo ID) available at your signing appointment: Driver’s License, State ID, Passport, or Green Card.
If funds are required to close, be prepared to bring the monies in the form of a cashier’s check or wire transfer. These funds need to be received by the Escrow office 24 hours in advance of the recording/closing date indicated on your Purchase and Sale Agreement.

A Great Finish to Another Strong Year for Ticor Title

On March 7, 2017 / Blog, Spokane, Title Insurance, WesternWA

Ticor Title is a member of the FNF family of companies and the nation’s largest group of title companies and title insurance underwriters that collectively issue more title insurance policies than any other title company in the United States.

FNF Core Title Operation Performance

The fourth quarter of 2016 was a great finish to another strong year for our title insurance business, as we generated fourth quarter adjusted pre-tax title earnings of $292 million and a 15.8% adjusted pre-tax title margin. For the full-year 2016, we produced more than $8.2 billion in total revenue and a 14.7% adjusted pre-tax title margin.

View PDF

Residential Real Estate Overview

Fidelity National Title Group purchase opened and closed orders increased by 7% and 12%, respectively on a daily basis in the fourth quarter. In addition, the mix of business during the fourth quarter shifted more towards purchase transactions, with purchase business accounting for 59% of open orders and 55% of closed orders.

Commercial Real Estate Overview

Our commercial operations experienced another strong quarter to end 2016. Total commercial revenue of $285 million was our second highest quarterly in company history. For fullyear 2016 total commercial revenue of approximately $973 million was just 5% behind the record setting 2015 performance.

Looking Forward to the Year Ahead

As we progress through 2017, we continue to strive to maximize earnings from our operations and remain the most profitable title insurance company in the country.

Open House – March 23 – Spokane Valley

On March 2, 2017 / Blog, Spokane

You’re invited to join us for food, refreshments, conversation & good times as we celebrate the recent relocation of our Spokane Valley escrow office!

At Ticor Title Spokane Valley, we believe that every successful real estate transaction begins with a great team. We are proud of our dedicated family of professionals who are committed to the highest levels of service to our clients, the Spokane Valley community, and each other.

So please join us as we celebrate our growing team and new Spokane Valley location!

Download the Invite

Ticor Title Open House Spokane Valley Click here to download the invite

When:

March 23
4PM – 7PM

Where:

Ticor Title – Spokane Valley
16201 E Indiana Ave., Suite 3300
Spokane Valley, WA 99216
Map & Directions

RSVP:

Cathy Wahl
509-220-9952
cathy.wahl@ticortitle.com

Ticor Title Welcomes Chrystal Southwick – LPO, Escrow Closer

On February 20, 2017 / Spokane

We are happy to announce that Chrystal Southwick, Escrow Closer/LPO has made the choice to join the Ticor Title Escrow Team in Spokane. Chrystal will be headquartered in our downtown Spokane location in Rock Pointe III. Chrystal brings twenty-five years of experience and a solid reputation for providing high quality customer service.

Chrystal Southwick

chrystal.southwick@ticortitle.com
Office: (509) 227–7511

1330 N Washington, Suite 3525
Spokane, WA 99201

About Chrystal

My clients would say that I am extremely passionate about my career. I believe the most important thing I can do as an Escrow Officer is listen to the client, understand what they’re trying to accomplish, and help them come to a solution with their clients.

Signing first time home buyers is one of the highlights of my profession. I love taking the time to go over their documents and making sure they understand what they are signing. I take special care in helping clients solve problems and talk through issues that may arise.

Having empathy for our clients is invaluable as an escrow professional. I take the time to put myself in the seller or buyer’s shoes and remember what it is like to have hopes of moving into a new home on a Friday afternoon with the moving truck loaded, 2 kids, 3 dogs and a cat and all you want to do is sleep in your own bed in your new home…I get that. That’s why I do everything possible to exceed timelines and expectations of our clients.

On the weekends I enjoy time with my family or hiking/walking with one of my dogs. I also enjoy red wine and dark chocolate.