Organization Benefits Maryland Homeowners

By Alan King
AFRO Staff Writer
October 24, 2008

With regulators openly criticizing the anti-consumer nature of the real estate closing process -- the high cost of title insurance and the title insurance industry overall -- Entitle Direct Group is improving the consumer experience by empowering homebuyers to monitor their home closings and save on their title insurance.

The current process involves title companies working directly with realtors, attorneys or lenders, who order the title search and title insurance on behalf of the consumer, and often without their knowledge. This leaves consumers at a disadvantage by not providing an understanding of how the closing process works.

“Numerous federal and state regulatory authorities and consumer advocates are vocally critical of the high cost consumers pay for title insurance and a real estate process that keeps consumers in the dark,” stated Timothy Dwyer, president and CEO of Entitle Direct Group, an organization that has been underwriting title insurance for 30 years.

With Entitle Direct, consumers are educated and empowered to monitor their home closings. The organization helps consumers save on their title insurance by offering them premium rates 35 percent lower than what other title insurance companies in the state offer.

Last year, title insurance premiums totaled $308 million, while Entitle Direct saved consumers more than $107 million.

Dwyer stated, “Whether people are purchasing a home for the first time or financing a home, they can work with Entitle Direct to organize the entire closing process and know what to expect at closing.”

For more information, call 1-877-9-ENTITLE or visit them on the web at entitledirect.com