I was recently asked why I started the Source of Title Blog.  I thought that was an interesting question and it made me think. What is the purpose of the blog and what I get out of it?  I have been writing two or three entries each week since January 2007.  It has been something that I have enjoyed doing and I plan to continue blogging.  I enjoy the discussions that my posts sometimes generate and I look forward to comments, whether they agree with me or not.  But, why do I do it? Hmmmm... that is a tough question.

What is a blog? A blog is an abridgment of the term "Web log."  It is a Web site with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material.  The Source of Title Blog is an industry blog that focuses on our shared profession and I generally write it for an audience of title professionals that already has a pretty good understanding of the topics I discuss; i.e. abstracting, title standards, escrow issues, Affiliated Business Arrangements, outsourcing, etc.  Basically, I write about what ever interests me and I draw from current events and the "hot topics" on our forums.

As I recall, I was hesitant to begin writing the Blog because I wasn't sure what I had to contribute... or what I was "qualified" to write about.  But, that is the beauty of a blog: it is mainly commentary, the writer's opinion, and anyone is free to contribute to the blogosphere.  It is the author's perspective that makes a blog unique.  Not everyone shares the same points of view as the author, and the reader's ability to add comments to a blog is one of its most valuable features. The interactivity of a blog exposes the readers to a wider range of opinions that makes a good blog more useful than a static article.

So, what did I hope to accomplish with the Source of Title Blog?  Well, it seemed pretty clear at the time that there was a lot of confusion on the forums. I think I realized that many title professionals (certainly not all), abstractors in particular, didn't really understand the big picture.  I have always believed that to be able to provide a thorough title search, an abstractor must understand what their clients do with the information that is provided.  And on the other hand, their clients really needed to understand what was involved in providing a title search to know whether or not they were getting a thorough search.

Though it may be pretty bold of me to point out... it even appeared that many people didn't even understand some of the basics of their role in the title industry.  Many were walking a tight rope without a net.  And, though there has been a lot of advice shared on the forums, not all of it was good advice.  Sometimes, it was clearly due to the vast differences among the states, other times the person giving the advice simply didn't understand the issue. I believe that the open discussions on the forum is a great thing for all of us.  However, you have to remember that everything that gets posted isn't always 100% accurate.

And... that leads back to my initial concern: what makes me qualified to provide advice on the Blog?  I don't necessarily have more experience, and I'm certainly not an expert on all of the topics I write about. But, I do some research before I write my posts.  I even try to cite to my sources and provide links to more information for those who are interested in delving deeper into the subject matter.  I work very hard to provide accurate information, but still much of what I write is my opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt - as is true with anything you read on the Internet. In the end, I hope that my posts will make my readers think about the issue for themselves and provoke discussion.

I hope that those who read my blog learn something, even if they do not always agree with my point of view.  But, all I can say for certain is that I have learned a great deal of information from writing them.  I'm in Ohio, but I have read the abstractor statutes and title insurance regulations in several other states.  I have read the RESPA statutes - not just the paraphrased version on HUD's Web site.  I have examined the ALTA title policies and compared them to previous versions.  I have even read court decisions from various states on topics such as the liability of title abstractors for negligent searches and the liability of title agents for omissions on title commitments.  These are all things I would not have done if I had not decided to write the Source of Title Blog and I can honestly say that I have learned from the experience.

So, I would have to say that I blog because I learn from it.  It has made me better at what I do.  If any of my readers have learned something from my experiences, well... that is just a bonus. Primarily, I blog for me.  And, I believe that makes for a better blog for my readers, too. 

I would encourage everyone to start blogging.  All of our registered members have the ability to start a blog here on Source of Title (See the "My Blog" link in the left column) or on a third party site, such as Blogger or Wordpress. If you take the time to do it right - you will learn more than you thought you ever would about topics that can only help you grow as a title professional.  Knowledge is its own reward.

Robert A. Franco
SOURCE OF TITLE