Title company issues

[Somaya Abdelhadi]

Serious question about title companies. We’ve been calling our title company and the specific agent working for us since we started the process. We signed papers almost 2 months ago. And our agent has been dodging our calls. Not giving us a closing date. We finally got a hold of her 2 weeks in and said there were title issues with the title chain. So she needed to contact previous owner etc. a month later we still have nothing. We keep calling and they keep saying she is busy or she is out or she is this and that, however she never calls back. In the past two months we’ve spoken to her 3 times...We got the previous owners information. Even the lawyer that was the middle man for previous owner and present owner. My question is, is it possible to change agents, or even changing to a complete different title company if it’s been this long. Anything will help thanks .

[Yonah Weiss]

@Somaya Abdelhadi First of all, I'm sorry to hear you are in this situation. You didn't provide much information about the type of property in the transaction, but if it's a residential property it shouldn't take more than 2-3 weeks to pull title. 

Short answer--it is possible to change title companies, even after you signed, but you have to have good reason (which it sounds like you have), and you have to contact the seller. You must add an addendum to the PSA, signed by all parties.

If you need a reputable title company in NY/NJ PM me I can provide you with a great one.

[Somaya Abdelhadi]

@Yonah Weiss

Thank you for your response.

It is indeed a residential property, the title had some affidavit of heirship issues with the previous owner. But I didn’t get to know that was the issue until I called another title company and told them I’d like to switch everything over to them which was soon after I posted. It was smooth and honest. Nothing like the company I was dealing with. However I work virtually. So that was in Memphis. I would love any recommendations of attorneys that are investor friendly in NYC.

Thank you again

[Wayne Brooks]

The attorney for the seller will be your best bet.  The seller is the one that is responsible for getting it done.  Sounds like a sloppily done inheritance issue on the past transaction.

[Sam Shueh]

I just walk into the Title Escrow company talk to the manager. The title company carries error insurance and if they messed up the insurance pays. But I think there are other issues involved.  I always work with big name title company like Chicago, ORTC, First American etc where they have offices in more cities than I know.