1. Stay Informed and Analyze Trends

Knowledge is power, especially in times of uncertainty. Stay abreast of market trends, economic indicators, and expert predictions. Keep a close eye on housing demand, interest rates, and employment figures. Understanding these factors will help you anticipate potential shifts in demand for your services and allow you to make informed decisions.

2. Diversify Your Client Base

Relying heavily on a few clients or a single market segment can leave you vulnerable when the market takes a downturn. Work on diversifying your client base by reaching out to different real estate professionals, expanding your network, and targeting new niches. By having a broader range of clients, you’ll be better equipped to manage fluctuations in demand.

3. Review and Optimize Expenses

While navigating market downturns, it’s crucial to maintain a lean budget. Review your expenses meticulously and identify areas where you can cut costs without compromising on quality. This could involve renegotiating contracts, optimizing software subscriptions, and streamlining operations. By managing your expenses effectively, you’ll be able to sustain your business through challenging times.

4. Enhance Marketing and Branding

While it might seem counterintuitive, a market downturn can be an opportunity to ramp up your marketing efforts. During these times, competition may ease, giving you a chance to strengthen your brand and expand your reach. Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy that includes online and offline channels to highlight your expertise, reliability, and commitment to clients.

5. Focus on Customer Relationships

Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients is paramount during market downturns. Communicate openly and honestly with your clients, offering them insights into the current situation and potential impacts on their transactions. By providing exceptional customer service and being a trusted source of information, you’ll foster loyalty and increase the likelihood of repeat business.

6. Invest in Professional Development

A market downturn can provide you with some breathing space to invest in your own professional development. Consider taking courses or attending workshops that can enhance your skills or broaden your expertise. By adding new services to your repertoire, you’ll be better positioned to serve your clients’ evolving needs.

7. Prepare for the Rebound

Market downturns are cyclical, and eventually, the market will rebound. Use this time to prepare for the eventual upturn. Evaluate your business strategies, identify areas for improvement, and plan for growth. When the market starts to recover, you’ll be ready to capitalize on new opportunities.

8. Embrace Technology

Technology can be a valuable ally in navigating market downturns. Embrace digital tools that can streamline your operations, enhance customer experiences, and provide real-time updates to clients. Utilizing technology effectively can give you a competitive edge even in challenging times.

To sum up, while market downturns can be unsettling, they also present opportunities for growth and improvement. By staying informed, diversifying your client base, managing expenses, focusing on customer relationships, and investing in your own development, you can position yourself as a resilient and adaptive independent title agent. Remember, these downturns are temporary, and by taking the right steps, you can ensure your long-term success in the real estate industry.

The post Navigating market downturns: essential steps for independent title agents to take now first appeared on titlecapture.com.

Defining AI: The Intelligent Realm

Artificial Intelligence, often abbreviated as AI, is the broader concept that encompasses machines’ ability to simulate human intelligence. The fundamental aim of AI is to create systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding natural language, recognizing patterns, solving problems, and making decisions.

AI spans a spectrum of capabilities, from the basic to the advanced. At one end, we have narrow or weak AI, which is designed to perform a specific task or a set of closely related tasks. Think of the AI that powers voice assistants like Siri or Alexa – it can understand and respond to specific commands but lacks the broader cognitive abilities of a human.

On the other end of the spectrum lies general or strong AI, which refers to AI that possesses human-like cognitive abilities and can perform any intellectual task that a human being can. However, despite the remarkable advancements in AI, we are still a considerable distance away from achieving the level of general AI portrayed in science fiction.

Decoding Machine Learning: The Learning Process

Machine Learning, often abbreviated as ML, is a subset of AI that focuses on the development of algorithms and models that enable computers to learn from data. In essence, ML systems learn from experience and improve their performance on a given task over time. Instead of being explicitly programmed to perform a specific task, ML algorithms use data to train themselves and make predictions or decisions based on that training.

The hallmark of ML is its capacity to improve without being explicitly programmed. This is achieved through the utilization of various techniques, such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. In supervised learning, algorithms learn from labeled data – data that has been tagged with the correct answer. In unsupervised learning, algorithms explore data that doesn’t have labeled responses, identifying patterns and relationships on their own. Reinforcement learning involves training algorithms to make a series of decisions, learning from the consequences of those decisions to optimize outcomes over time.

Collaboration and Interplay

AI and ML are intertwined in a symbiotic relationship. While AI is the overarching concept that seeks to create intelligent machines, ML is one of the most powerful tools used to achieve that goal. In essence, machine learning is a practical application of AI.

Consider a scenario where you want a computer to recognize images of cats. You could use traditional programming to explicitly define the features that constitute a cat’s image – its ears, eyes, whiskers, and so on. However, this approach is painstaking and often not robust enough to account for the diversity of cat images.

Here’s where ML comes to the rescue. By training an ML model on a large dataset of cat images, the algorithm can learn the inherent patterns and features that distinguish cats from other objects. The more data the model is exposed to, the better it becomes at making accurate predictions.

Real-World Applications: AI and ML in Action

The practical applications of AI and ML are myriad and span various industries. In healthcare, AI is employed to analyze medical images and identify potential abnormalities. ML algorithms are used to predict disease outbreaks by analyzing patterns in data. In finance, AI-driven chatbots provide customer support, while ML algorithms help predict market trends. The automotive industry uses AI for self-driving cars, while ML models enhance energy efficiency in smart homes.

In the realm of language, AI-driven natural language processing (NLP) systems comprehend and generate human language. Chatbots, language translation tools, and sentiment analysis engines all rely on AI and ML to understand and respond to human communication.

AI Ethics and the Future

As AI and ML continue to evolve, discussions about their ethical implications become increasingly important. Questions about bias in algorithms, the potential displacement of jobs, and the ethical use of AI in decision-making processes underscore the need for responsible development and deployment.

The future holds exciting possibilities, including advancements towards general AI, where machines possess human-like reasoning abilities. This would mark a monumental shift in the capabilities of AI, but it also raises complex ethical and philosophical questions.

In conclusion, AI and ML are not synonymous but rather complementary concepts. AI encompasses the broader ambition of creating intelligent machines, while ML is a powerful tool within the AI toolkit that enables machines to learn from data and improve their performance over time. Together, they are driving innovations across industries and reshaping the way we interact with technology. As we continue to explore the potential of AI vs machine learning, it’s imperative to approach their development and deployment with a thoughtful consideration of ethical implications and responsible practices.

The post AI vs machine learning: unraveling the differences first appeared on titlecapture.com.

The Rising Challenge of Real Estate Fraud

Real estate fraud is not a new phenomenon, but the digital age has brought forth new dimensions of complexity and sophistication. From forged documents and identity theft to fraudulent wire transfers, the tactics employed by fraudsters have become increasingly cunning. These activities not only jeopardize financial investments but also cast a shadow on the entire real estate ecosystem.

The Role of Title Insurance

Title insurance plays a pivotal role in ensuring that property titles are clear and unencumbered by any undisclosed liens, disputes, or claims. It offers protection to property buyers and lenders, safeguarding them from potential legal and financial liabilities that may arise due to undiscovered issues related to the property’s title.

Title insurance companies meticulously research property records, conducting thorough due diligence to uncover any potential title defects. However, the rise of digital tools and the increased reliance on electronic records have created new vulnerabilities that fraudsters exploit.

Leveraging Technology for Prevention

While technology can be an avenue for fraud, it also offers robust solutions for prevention and detection. Real-time data analysis and advanced algorithms can help identify suspicious patterns or anomalies in transactions. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) can process vast amounts of data quickly, identifying discrepancies and flagging potentially fraudulent activities for further investigation.

Identity Verification and Biometrics

One of the critical elements of fraud prevention is robust identity verification. Biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, can add an extra layer of security. These technologies ensure that the individuals involved in the transaction are who they claim to be, minimizing the risk of identity theft.

Blockchain and Immutable Records

Blockchain technology, renowned for its transparency and immutability, has made its mark in real estate. By creating a tamper-proof digital ledger of property transactions, blockchain technology can significantly reduce the risk of fraudulent alterations to property records. Any changes made to the blockchain are visible to all participants, eliminating the possibility of unauthorized modifications.

Secure Communication Platforms

Fraud often capitalizes on vulnerabilities in communication channels. Secure communication platforms, utilizing encryption and multi-factor authentication, provide a safe environment for sharing sensitive information. By ensuring that only authorized parties have access to critical transaction details, these platforms fortify defenses against fraud.

Smart Contracts for Transparency

Smart contracts, powered by blockchain technology, automate and verify the terms of a contract. They execute actions based on predefined conditions being met. In real estate transactions, smart contracts can streamline processes and eliminate the potential for manual manipulation of terms, enhancing transparency and reducing the risk of fraud.

Real-Time Monitoring

Technology allows for real-time monitoring of transactions, enabling timely intervention in case of suspicious activities. Monitoring tools can detect anomalies such as unexpected changes in property ownership or unauthorized access to records, triggering alerts for immediate action.

Collaboration between Technology and Expertise

While technology is a powerful ally in the fight against fraud, it works most effectively when combined with human expertise. Experienced professionals in the title insurance industry bring years of nuanced understanding to the table. They can identify subtle irregularities that automated systems might overlook and exercise informed judgment when investigating potential fraud.

A Constant Evolution

As technology evolves, so do the tactics of fraudsters. This calls for a continuous cycle of innovation in fraud prevention strategies. Collaboration between title insurance companies, technology experts, law enforcement agencies, and regulators is crucial to staying ahead of fraudulent activities.

In conclusion, the marriage of technology and real estate data holds immense potential for enhancing fraud prevention efforts in the title insurance realm. From biometric authentication to blockchain technology, each innovation contributes to a more secure and transparent real estate ecosystem. However, it’s essential to recognize that no solution is foolproof. Fraud prevention requires a multi-faceted approach that combines cutting-edge technology with the expertise of seasoned professionals. By leveraging the power of technology while upholding the values of trust and diligence, the title insurance industry can continue its mission of safeguarding real estate transactions for all parties involved.

The post Fighting fraud with technology and real estate data: a title insurance perspective first appeared on titlecapture.com.

Streamlined Workflows with Robust Title Insurance Technology Management Systems

Title agencies often face friction and challenges in managing touchpoints across lenders and title agents. However, title insurance technology and innovation present an opportunity to streamline workflows and enhance the overall experience. By adopting a robust title insurance technology management system, agencies can build comprehensive workflows that provide a seamless experience for lenders, loan officers, title agents, and borrowers. These systems improve efficiency, scalability, and innovation, ensuring a more streamlined and integrated title process.

Managing Multiple Vendor Partners

The title business involves managing relationships with multiple vendor partners, which can be a complex task. To overcome this challenge, title companies should invest in a title insurance technology management system that offers open integration frameworks. This enables easy integration with multiple partners, allowing for seamless communication and collaboration. By leveraging title insurance technology, title agencies can scale their operations and enhance their vendor network relationships.

Catering to Gen Z Borrowers

The market is increasingly being dominated by Gen Z borrowers, who have distinct expectations and preferences. Gen Z borrowers expect digitized experiences and demand hyper-personalization and swift closing times. Title agencies must adapt to these requirements and leverage title insurance technology to deliver a seamless and efficient closing process. Investing in title insurance technology management systems that enable optimal performance across all touchpoints and offer personalized experiences will be crucial for success in 2023 and beyond.

Dealing with Expansive Workflows

Title agencies are responsible for managing expansive workflows that cover various aspects of the loan origination process. These workflows include title production, funding and disbursement, scheduling, closing, and post-closing tasks. To effectively manage these workflows, title companies need to invest in a digital ecosystem that covers all facets of the title workflow. Automation and digitization allow for improved turn-time, accuracy, and customer service, meeting the expectations of modern borrowers.

Embracing Title Insurance Technology to Overcome Chokepoints

Many title businesses still rely on outdated technology, believing that chokepoints in the title process are inevitable. However, in 2023, the industry will face increased challenges due to market conditions, including long closing times, regulatory compliance, lack of transparency, and facilitation in real estate transactions. By leveraging a robust title insurance technology management system and conducting a thorough evaluation of workflow inefficiencies, title agencies can address these challenges head-on and deliver a more efficient and seamless title process.

The year 2023 marks a turning point for the title insurance technology industry, where technology and innovation will shape the future of title agencies. By embracing tech trends such as streamlined workflows, robust title insurance technology management systems, and catering to the needs of Gen Z borrowers, title agencies can overcome complexities and thrive in the digital era. It is crucial for title companies to adapt, invest in title insurance technology, and leverage the power of automation to stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

The post 2023 title insurance technology: your ultimate guide first appeared on titlecapture.com.

Remote work has profoundly impacted the title insurance industry, which traditionally relied on physical office spaces to carry out transactions. The industry has had to develop new ways to facilitate essential processes such as notarizing and witnessing documents. For example, many title agencies have adopted remote online notarization (RON) to complete transactions, where a notary public verifies the signer’s identity over video conferencing and then electronically signs the document. This change has enabled title companies to offer seamless service to their clients, regardless of location.

Benefits and Challenges

Adopting remote work policies has brought many benefits for both employees and employers, providing more flexibility and improved work-life balance for all. Employers have benefited from reduced overhead costs, such as rent and utilities, as large physical office spaces are no longer necessary. Remote work has expanded the talent pool for title insurance companies too, with the ability to hire new employees from any location.

However, the shift to remote work has not been without its challenges. One main issue concerns communication between employees, clients, and third parties involved in real estate transactions. The time-sensitive nature of real estate transactions has compounded this difficulty, with any delays or miscommunications having significant consequences.

Most title insurance companies addressed this challenge by leveraging digital communication channels such as email, phone, and video conferencing to facilitate timely and efficient communication. Virtual meetings and tours have also been used in place of physical meetings and to improve client engagement. Collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack have been implemented for better, more effective communication and collaboration among remote employees as well.

Ensuring Security and Efficiency

Maintaining cybersecurity and data privacy is another significant issue when working remotely. The practices increase the potential for cyber-attacks, leading to data breaches and other security issues. Robust cybersecurity measures are now essential to safeguard companies against these threats. For example, most companies have adopted multi-factor authentication, virtual private networks (VPNs), and data encryption to protect sensitive client information.

Looking forward, adopting remote work policies is sure to be a permanent feature of the title insurance industry. Companies that adapt to these changes and embrace new technologies and strategies will continue to thrive and grow.

The post The changing landscape of title insurance: how remote work is reshaping the industry first appeared on titlecapture.com.

1. Website Design and Hosting – Wix

Given the free website setup and paid premium domain options offered by Wix, there’s absolutely no reason that an agent can’t have a high-quality website. Wix does more than provide a business overview or highlight past successes. It helps an agent promote available properties and outline potential future plans. Wix makes website building incredibly easy via an intuitive, organic interface.

2. Home Staging and Virtual Tours – iStaging & HomeRover

The days of agents physically showing homes are in the past with iStaging and HomeRover. An agent merely needs to record a home’s interior to create a complete picture and then upload it to display a tour on a business website, social media and elsewhere. A live tour option also exists. These amazing realtor tools even provide VR aficionados realistic walkthroughs of homes.

3. Marketing and Listings – Zillow

Zillow isn’t merely one of the most well-known platforms where realtors display listings to attract potential buyers. It’s also a lead-generation tool that helps agents connect to potential customers through multiple, effortless communication options. It’s has cutting-edge marketing tools as well. 

4. Fast Communications – EZ Texting

Instant messaging is a necessity in real estate. An agent needs to be able to communicate quickly links to listings and changes to a prospective buyer. They need to be able to handle scheduling and negotiations even while they’re sitting in traffic or long meetings. EZ texting offers them an fast, easy solution.

5. Community Connections – Parkbench

Realtors must connect with businesses and individuals in their communities to acquire new leads, build long-term relationships that generate repeat business and referrals. Parkbench allows an agent to promote their local neighborhood in a single space where they can highlight local news and events and area business partners. This type of hub is often appealing to consumers, and it makes the agent seem like an experienced local guide who cares about the community.

6. Leads Management – HubSpot

HubSpot CRM and Sales Hub offers free and paid options for agents to generate, store and cultivate leads via a wide range of tools, including phone, email and scheduling features. These tools also offer data analysis that helps agents customize marketing and sales efforts to make a greater impact on daily, monthly, quarterly and yearly results. A paid Real Geeks subscription directs traffic via ads on Google and Facebook to a realtor’s website and prompts visitors to leave contact details. It provides extensive organization and tracking tools as well.

7. Social Engagement – HootSuite and Lumen5

Agents generate leads and improve their reputations via interactions with their target audience on social media. HootSuite helps them upload, auto-post to popular social platforms and organize and track posts. Lumen5 makes it easier than ever for them to create, upload and post custom videos to these accounts.

8. One-Stop Business Tools – Propertybase

Lastly, PropertyBase is a paid, full-service platform that supplies realtor tools for every part of the business. It offers tools for administration, lead generation, document storage, website design, marketing campaigns and even data tracking and analysis. It’s a game changer that guarantees higher productivity and greater competitiveness, especially for individual agents and small firms seeking to compete against bigger agencies.

The post Top Realtor Tools to Improve Competitiveness in 2023 first appeared on titlecapture.com.

Why Have eClosings Become So Important?

The pandemic revealed that face-to-face interactions can have deadly results. One of the most-important reasons to adopt eClosings (i.e. electronic rather than in-person handling of all documents) is to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. No physical handoff of documents means no physical spread of deadly viruses, bacteria or other germs during the transaction portion of a home sale.

From an entirely transactional perspective, eClosings outperform traditional methods in every way. Lenders may be hesitant to adopt eClosings because they simply don’t recognize that technologies make processes faster and more convenient. 

Everyone involved in a home sale can review and complete required documents within minutes. They don’t have to deal with scheduling and rearranging appointments or error-causing distractions caused by racing to arrive on time while dealing with bad weather, road construction or rush-hour traffic. They merely need a working internet connection. 

Additionally, direct sharing and transmission of documents in near real-time reduces errors and security risks. An error on a document that might have traditionally taken days to discover and update, followed by new documents sent via snail mail, can now be corrected online instantaneously. Documents are also less likely to become lost or stolen because of direct transmission and secure encryption.

Tips to Overcome Lender Objections

Lenders may be hesitant to adopt eClosings because no one has actually talked with them about adopting electronic technologies in ways that reduce their fears about technologies or change. To overcome their objections, it’s important to address pain points related to their most common concerns:

• Outline All Security Measures: Data theft stories are in the news daily. Make certain to work with an eClosings company that has top-notch security, and then provide lenders extensive details upfront about how their data remains secure before, during and after every closing.

• Provide Clear Pricing Details: Given that many eClosing providers offer subscription plans, a lender should never worry about the cost of adopting eClosing technologies. Implementation with the help of a Software as a Service company who meets all regulatory and transactional requirements can also help reduce costs.

• Choose a Training Package: Although some eClosing providers only offer setup and technical support, plenty of providers exist that also offer full training packages that make it possible for every staff member to quickly learn the tech inside and out. 

• Provide Diverse Informative Resources: Lastly, lenders may be hesitant to adopt eClosings because of a lack of resources designed to answer their top questions. Offer them a variety of options that promote these technologies, such as an FAQ business page and an online demonstration.

The post Tips for Dealing with Lenders who may be Hesitant to Adopt eClosings first appeared on titlecapture.com.

The Direct Benefits of New Tech

While a couple of years ago, title insurance technology was seen as a great way to differentiate your title agency from the next, that’s no longer accurate. Most title agencies have adapted to using the widely-available technologies on the market. As a title agency owner, it’s essential to look at the title insurance technology you invest in to enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and provide a better customer experience.

Boosting Efficiency

Title insurance technology tools are changing the landscape for your staff members. They significantly reduce time spent on laborious and repetitive tasks, increasing employee happiness. Your employees will spend less time on the search, underwriting, exam, typing, and closing processes. They’ll have more free time to work on complex tasks.

Reducing Risk

As a business owner, there’s no more extraordinary sound to your ears than hearing that you can drastically reduce your business’s operational risk. Many title agencies have discovered where their weaknesses lie over the recent years of home-buying booms. This new title insurance technology comes integrated with digital methods for fighting wire fraud and cybercrime to help eliminate some of those weaknesses.

Better Experience for Customers

Rewind back just five years ago, and virtually no title agencies spoke directly with end buyers. Instead, real estate agents positioned themselves as the middleman that handled all communication between you and the buyers. While this was a long-time way of doing business, new technology has dramatically changed that.

Now you can connect directly to the actual buyer or seller. This makes getting any requested documentation or information you need makes it more streamlined. While real estate agents have been slow to adapt, customers love this new way of staying connected with the closing process. For them, this experience is similar to tracking their online grocery order.

Staying in the Game

Title agencies have indeed undergone a whirlwind in the last couple of years. Many have focused on bringing in as many deals as possible and staying sane in the process. As the tides have shifted and the number of sales coming through your doors has returned to more normal levels, it’s time to consider how you want to stay in the game.

When it comes to growth, constant adaptation is the name of the game. Companies that embrace changes and find more effective strategies for helping to integrate them into their operations will always survive industry changes and expand in the process. It’s all about asking what new technology can do for your business operations and how it can set you apart from your competitors.

The post Adapting to Constantly Changing Title Insurance Technology first appeared on titlecapture.com.

It’s a pattern that began long before the COVID-19 pandemic and has only surged as a result. It’s no wonder as to why. To win more market share, underwriters need to focus on bringing more value to their title agencies.

The Study

The relationship between technology and customer loyalty has always interested us here at TitleCapture, which is why we conducted a survey of over 1000+ of our title agency clients to gain insights on technology and their relationship with their underwriters.

The results were quite surprising, and one startling statistic made us take a step back.

66% of title agencies are more likely to send business to the underwriter that offers them the best technology. 

Let that sink in for a second.

This is an important statistic. It shows that title agencies regard themselves as being in a partnership relationship with their underwriter, rather than a mere broker for title insurance policies. They expect underwriters to provide value…and not just any value—the BEST value.

What does this mean? 

First and foremost, it means title agencies view technology as the #1 brand differentiator. They want to be able to offer an awesome experience to their clients and believe technology can help them do that. 

Second, this statistic shows that agencies’ standards are rising when it comes to technology. Notice the keyword “best.” Title companies don’t just favor underwriters with tech offerings; they want to work with those who bring quality technology to their partnership. This is an inevitable outcome of the incredible user experiences in the consumer software and tech title company employees use daily in their personal livees. Apple, Google, Uber—these companies excel when it comes to ease of use, speed, aesthetics, and utility. This is the level of technology they’ve learned to expect. Now, they demanding the same level of user experience from the technology being offered to them in the professional space.

How underwriters can get ahead

Technology will play an ever-growing role in title, both for streamlining operations and improving customer experiences.

Underwriters have the unique opportunity to lead their agencies by offering value through technology, fulfilling their agencies’ vision for a mutually beneficial growth partnership (and gaining a greater market share along the way).

The post One Statistic For Underwriters: Pay Attention first appeared on titlecapture.com.

1. People trust people, not machines. And even if they trusted machines, they need to understand what they do, in other words they actually need to understand the process. And honestly, to this day, after researching blockchain and how it works – and i’m a tech guy – i still don’t 100% understand it …. so good luck, Bob and Alice.
2. Government is sloooooow to adopt ANY technology, so in order for this to eliminate the title industry, government will have to agree to not only somehow transfer the current chains of title but also, from now on, agree to record all deeds, mortgages, releases and whatnot exclusively in the blockchain. Now, we all know that with this government – it’s pretty impossible. In a sense, government will actually have to completely give up their role as a recorder, as the blockchain’s peer-to-peer network will do that. No government control? I don’t think so … How’s the taxman gonna know how we spend or earn our money?

The post Will Blockchain Kill the Title Industry? first appeared on titlecapture.com.

Many Fortune500 companies actually do customer support over Twitter for example. Also, they keep in touch with their customer base via their LinkedIn or Facebook business page, where they post updates and important messages. First, we had email that replaced in-person interaction. Now, email is slowly being replaced by these social platforms. It is what it is. 

The point is you as a title agency can’t really shy away from these. And I don’t really care about arguments such as “Oh, but my Realtors are not on social media”, or “My Lenders will never use my Facebook page to send me a message”, or “I’m just not that tech savvy”, etc. These arguments don’t matter for the following reasons.

1. The market is the great equalizer

If you can’t sell, you’re finished. If your competition is using technology to market and you’re not, guess who’s out of business pretty soon? Therefore, marketing on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, knowing how to put valuable content your agents can relate to (authentic, original, valuable content, not just sharing industry news and articles), is essential. After that, knowing how to effectively target your intended audience and advertise your content and your services to them is also paramount. 

So, forget about brochures, forget about radio ads, forget about magazines. Forget about all of that. Your target is sitting there, online, and you have a way to DIRECTLY reach it, without the use of a middleman (such as a magazine or radio station, etc.) Get involved.

2. Millennials are constantly becoming more and more important to you as a business.

Whether we’re talking about Realtors, lenders, homebuyers or sellers, the millennials are becoming an increasing percentage of either your agents or your consumers. What that means is this: If you can’t speak their language, if you can’t offer them the tools they’re used to, if you can’t communicate with them in the channels they use… you’re essentially going to be isolated. Talking to yourself. 

For example: Millennials are accustomed to using technology to do just about everything. A millennial Realtor will rather reach out for his mobile or laptop, open up your title agency app and calculate his own estimates, than give you a call and talk to Bobby or Ricky or Cynthia (wink). Your other millennial Realtors will probably find out you have an app from one of your Facebook updates that said something like “Realtors, here’s the best Seller Net Sheet tool you’ve ever used… ever!”.

BTW, an app like that is exactly what TitleCapture is, so if you want to find out more information head over to TitleCapture and schedule a demo to find out more.

3. The mobile has become the “first-screen”, no longer the second.

Take a look at the graph below. It shows how much time people actually spend their mobile devices compared to TV and radio and print. Astounding. And just think about the fact that the trend will just keep going. 

Source: Kleiner Perkins Caulfield Byers

It seems the world is changing FAST. You need to keep up!

The post Why Title Agencies Need Technology To Get More Business first appeared on titlecapture.com.

This is no news really! All title companies have this same problem. Whenever your Realtors are out and about with their buyers and sellers, your title reps are home. Why? Because Realtors usually work when buyers and sellers have TIME to see them, to see properties, and this is usually during week-ends and off-hours.

What to do?

Step 1: Use technology! Have an app!

First of all, let me tell you that there are already other, younger, hungrier, title companies out there that are already using technology to their advantage. Others need to catch up, or it will become about survival, more than growth.

Here’s the basic solution. Have a title company app that works for you 24/7 and gives your Realtors EXACTLY what they need, at their fingertips.

Let’s take an example:

Suppose Realtor Bob is with a buyer, visiting a home. It’s Saturday afternoon and the buyer is super-excited about the home and asks Bob the following question: “Hey man, I want this. How much will this cost me? I want the full breakdown!”.

Now Bob, unable to call your title company up can’t provide his buyer with the settlement costs and recording fees. He may be able to pick up a pen and a calculator and figure out the buyer’s monthly mortgage costs, but … really? How’s Bob going to look like to his customer? Old-school, that’s how.

Imagine you had a title company app and Bob pulled his iPhone tapped on your app and did a full buyer estimate with closing costs and monthly mortgage costs, the works. Then he taps again and sends the buyer an email with the estimate. Pretty neat! It could actually seal the deal right then and there…

Besides, your title company app would also offer Seller Net Sheets, regular Title Quotes (for Lenders) or Preliminary HUD forms. It’s all up to you really to increase your bottom line.

Step 2: Determine your Realtors & Lenders to have YOUR app on their phones / tablets / desktops

It’s not sufficient to just have the title company app. It’s also necessary that your agents use it. Just like in the example above, Bob needs to have the app on his phone’s homescreen.

TitleCapture makes it easy for any app user to save the app on the homescreen, therefore having your title company logo on the device they interact with almost constantly. When they start using your app, they will become addicted to it, we guarantee this. When you have them in that state, chances are you’ve won an agent for life.

The post Your Realtors are Working and You’re NOT in the Office! first appeared on titlecapture.com.