Prior to 1979 all the title agencies in Cuyahoga County were located in downtown Cleveland near the Cuyahoga County Courthouse and the County Records office. At that time, Ted Panek left the title agency where he worked to found Estate Title Agency, one of the first title agencies in the county to be located in the suburbs. His new Independence location made it easy to serve the real estate markets in both Cuyahoga and Summit Counties. In 1983 Ted enlisted the help of his nephew and partner Henry (Hank) Panek, moved the growing company to larger quarters at 6495 Brecksville Road, and re-christened the firm as Northcoast Title Agency. Over the past twenty-five years, Northcoast Title Agency has handled transactions in two thirds of the counties in the State of Ohio. We met with Hank recently, and listened as he described the services Northcoast Title Agency offers;
Northcoast Title Agency is a full service title agency offering in-depth title searches, title insurance, and third party escrow services. We issue title insurance backed by the country's largest underwriter, in addition to offering For Sale by Owner services to homeowners wanting to personally handle the sale of their property, as well as title insurance for refinances.
We're one of only three title agencies in Cuyahoga County that still performs full title examinations as far back as the records go as a standard product. The industry standard for title searches today is forty years, however we feel that many problems can result from only searching back forty years. Short exams became the industry norm over the past ten years as everyone wanted their title searches completed faster and cheaper. Our philosophy is based on the fact that you can't receive a proper title search that's fast, accurate, and cheap. We want each customer to receive a thoroughly researched title coupled with good title insurance. As a result, we've never done the shorter exams and never will, although we still manage to remain competitive price-wise with the fees others charge for the shorter, potentially liability laden short searches.
Northcoast Title Agency assists For Sale by Owners with their paperwork by helping them comply with regulations which results in a proper real estate transfer. We ensure the title the buyer is receiving an appropriate and marketable, and have the ability to network with trusted local attorneys on intricate or complicated transfers. We're a small, neighborhood business and have a twenty-five year track record for providing our customers with the thorough title services they need and deserve.
Although current legislation has enabled lenders and Realtors® to offer title insurance, we feel that this creates a conflict of interest and doesn't fully protect the buyers. We've determined that it's best for the consumer if we remain independent and faithful to our responsibilities to the buyers and sellers. Title insurance insures against events that have taken place in the past, and the only way to honor our obligation to our customers is through a thorough search completely independent of influences from either lenders or Realtors®. Government regulations empower the buyer to choose the title company simply because they are the party who will have to live with the quality of the title insurance. Choosing a title agency that performs a thorough search is the best guarantee a buyer can get that their ownership experience will be as unencumbered by past events as possible.
I'm personally very dedicated to the local area. I attended elementary, middle, and high school here, and Independence is where my family makes its home today.
Northcoast Title Agency is dedicated to providing the most thorough title searches available in the local area. Call Northcoast Title Agency today, and don't forget to tell them The Advocate sent you!
