Title Officer

Zillow Closing is looking for an experienced Title Officer to bring deep search, examination, and curative expertise to our Title Solutions team. You will independently manage title-only files through examination and curative, resolve complex title matters, and help deliver a world-class closing experience.

Responsibilities

Review county records, search packages, tax certificates, tax assessor reports, attorney title opinions, surveys, and other property records to identify requirements and exceptions for title commitments; Conduct and evaluate county, DataTrace, PACER, Patriot/OFAC, LexisNexis, and related searches; Examine title commitments and attorney title opinions to identify matters that must be resolved before or at closing, including loans, liens, judgments, taxes, municipal liens, UCC terminations, and affidavit requirements; Coordinate with consumers, creditors, attorneys, underwriters, and vendors to cure title issues efficiently and accurately; Update title commitments as new information becomes available during clearance, including revising requirements and exceptions when a matter has been resolved; Interpret buyer and lender waiver requests and prepare pro forma title policies or marked-up title commitments; Draft or coordinate deeds, affidavits, escrow agreements, and other legal documents where permitted; review recorded instruments such as releases; Review county GIS overlays and satellite imagery to identify potential survey needs; Review and approve complex supporting documentation, including surveys, divorce decrees, trust agreements, probate records, bankruptcies, death certificates, entity formation documents, and court dockets; Generate and revise Insured Closing Protection Letters and calculate title insurance premiums and invoices for title-only transactions; Accurately enter clearance-related charges, such as survey invoices, into settlement statements; Communicate clearly and proactively with all transaction parties by phone and email, including supporting the general phone line as needed; Confirm all outstanding matters are cleared before or at close of escrow while effectively prioritizing a fast-moving queue of urgent work; Meet established turnaround times, service standards, and quality metrics that are monitored and reported weekly.

Requirements

Eight or more years of title examination and curative experience within a title operation; A four-year college degree; Search, examination, and curative experience supporting transactions at a national scale; Deep knowledge of title search, examination, curative, and clearance practices, including ALTA title insurance forms, endorsements, issuing guidelines, metes-and-bounds legal descriptions, and common mortgage loan documents; Confidence editing deeds, affidavits, indemnity agreements, and related documentation; Proficiency with title production software and tools such as DataTrace, PACER, LexisNexis, Slack, and other search and examination platforms; Exceptional attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to identify and resolve complex title issues; Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to consult effectively with Closing teams, search vendors, underwriters, attorneys, and leaders on technical title matters; The ability to manage multiple files and competing deadlines while maintaining a positive, collaborative approach and supporting teammates when needed; Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment where requirements, markets, and processes may change; A proactive, resourceful problem-solving mindset: you see the bigger picture, investigate solutions, and know when to escalate.

Nice to have

Strong expertise in one or more of the following markets is preferred: Maryland; Virginia; Washington, DC; Pennsylvania; Ohio; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; New Jersey.

Benefits

Equity awards