How to Become a Title Abstractor

Finding a clear title to property is an essential part of buying real estate.

When buying real estate or getting a mortgage, it's important to make sure you and the bank are getting clear title to the property. To do this, the public records are searched. A title abstractor is the person that goes into the records room and pulls the documents that relate to a particular piece of property.



Many abstractors have apprenticed with someone else to learn the intricacies of the profession. The job requires the ability to retrieve related documents, understand what is missing and know how to find the missing pieces. At the very least, an abstractor is a very good investigator and researcher.

Things You'll Need

• Patience
• Knowledge of real estate
• Knowledge of state law

Instructions

1. If you want to be a title abstractor, you first need to get educated about real estate. You want to understand deeds, mortgages, deeds of trust, surveys, easements, rights-of-way, and liens -- and this is just the beginning. Real estate classes are offered in every city through state licensing agencies. Appraisers and real estate agents are required to have basic real estate knowledge so attending licensing classes for those fields would be a good start.

2. Legal training can be accomplished by taking a paralegal program. If you can find a paralegal program that focuses on real estate, this will give you the basics you need for understanding real estate and the matters of law that affect property ownership.

3. Most good abstractors were taught as an apprentice with a law firm or title company. Most still learn hands-on with a company for a few years before going out on their own. If you happen to find a class or a book to teach you the mechanics of going into the records room and abstracting a title, you will need someone to work with you when the title gets complicated, and nine times out of 10, it will.

4. You cannot learn this business from a book. Every state is different, every county is different and every locale is different. A book will not prepare you for every situation you will encounter, and a book will not tell you which liens apply in your area and which do not. The statute of limitations vary in different areas, too.

Tips & Warnings

• Every piece of property is different.

• A few states require licensing.

• There are no comprehensive training programs specifically for title abstractors, yet.

• National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors has developed testing for a Certified and Master Abstractor designation.

• Successful title abstractors participate in ongoing educational opportunities and have a thorough understanding of the real estate industry.

• Searching titles for real estate can be highly stressful.

• Liability for errors and omissions is higher than many other businesses.

• You cannot learn to be a title abstractor from a book.

Resources

• National Association of Land Title Examiners and Abstractors
• Land Title Education