I opened my small independent title agency in 1984 in Southeastern PA and from the day I opened my doors, the ability to compete on a level playing field has been non existent.  Interesting that Anne Anastasti created her first Controlled Business Arrangement in the same year that I started.  Before that time, Anne and I had been friendly competitors, as she had been with other local title agents some of whom she eventually put out of business by taking all the Realtor referrals and making nice little packages of CBS's with the Realtors.

Before turning to the "title" side of the business, I was a Realtor for 12 years. We selected our title insurance agent based on his/her knowledge and professionalism, so that the best possible scenario was created for our clients.  While still a Realtor, I was approaced by a title agent offering me a percentage of the premium in exchange for all of my business.  I delined but the practice became more prevelant.  At one point the large underwriters were offering Realtors the opportunity to be licensed as a soliciting title agent, in an attempt to make the kick backs legal.  Several Realtors that I knew did obtain the licenses, but the soliciting title agent mode was short lived.

Controlled business has snowballed, and the small independent agents such as myself are hard pressed to make a living.  My office consists of 4 people, two of which are my son and my sister.  It really is a family affair, and we treat our clients like they are part of this family. We order our searches from actual people working in the local courthouse, and we examine their work.  We read every legal description.  We don't cut corners, and we take pride in our closings which are both  professional but homey at the same time.

It is sad for the consumer, but in selecting the one stop shopping that the CBA's are pushing,  it is usually only about the money- not about a job well done, but rather the bottom line.  Most likely it the the Realtors or Lenders commission that gets the protection rather than the consumer.

Sometimes I just feel like giving up.