About Title Examiners

A title examiner is an individual who researches property titles and public records to establish the owner of a property and any restrictions associated with the properly. He may be employed or contracted by a number of entities, including banks, government offices, law firms, real estate companies and individual home owners. Title examiners' work is used by their employers to finalize property deeds, transfer titles and create land development contracts.

Responsibilities

When a title examiner receives the name of a property, she is responsible for reviewing all documented information related to the property to ascertain who currently holds the legal right to it and what, if any, restrictions are associated with it, such as zoning regulations, environmental stays and condemned sanctions. This typically requires the examiner to visit the court offices of the county the property is located in to gain access to information regarding mortgages, liens, trust deeds and tax reports filed on the property. The title examiner compiles all the available information into a summarized document and may include photocopied reproductions of pertinent documents. The final report is generally formatted to employer-specific requirements.

Required Skills

Title examiners use a variety of professional skills to perform their jobs. Strong research and organization skills are essential for the accumulation of information, and articulate and clear writing skills are also necessary to compile the information into a concise document. Since they spend a portion of their time interfacing with clerks at local offices, title examiners should have excellent communication skills. An awareness of legal terms and laws regarding property is also essential.

Required Education

To be a title examiner, an individual only needs a high school diploma, but an associate's degree or bachelor's degree is becoming increasingly desirable among employers. These higher education degrees do not need to be in a field related to title examining, but individuals thinking of going into title examining may want to take courses that focus on math, banking, law, business or finance to prepare them for the daily requirements of the job.

Experience

While education is not an essential qualification for title examination, experience is, and it generally counts more in an applicant's favor when applying for jobs. To gain job experience, many title examiners will shadow or apprentice established title examiners for 1 to 2 years.

Approximate Income

Title examiners who are employed full time by an office may earn a salary, but most examiners choose to earn on a per-title basis. In these payment arrangements, the title examiner and their employer set a sliding rate per assignment based on the complexity of the exam. Depending on the employer's needs, a title examiner can earn anywhere from $35,000 to $100,000 per year.