Title Underwriting Assistant (Philadelphia or Pittsburgh)

What We DoBring your knowledge of title insurance and commercial real estate to a collaborative team supporting complex commercial transactions. If you enjoy reviewing title documentation, identifying potential issues, staying ahead of requirements, and partnering with others to move transactions forward, this may be a great opportunity to grow your career with a premier brand in the commercial real estate space.
First American is looking to add a Title Underwriting Assistant/Commercial Title Assistant to our growing team. This position plays an important role in supporting commercial title and underwriting activities, including reviewing title searches, commitments, surveys, recorded documents, legal descriptions, endorsements, and other transaction-related documentation. You will partner closely with underwriters, attorneys, lenders, customers, and internal teams to help identify and resolve title matters and facilitate the timely and accurate completion of commercial real estate transactions.
This position may be based out of our Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office, providing the opportunity to work alongside an experienced commercial team while supporting sophisticated commercial real estate transactions.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Working knowledge of ALTA title insurance policy forms, commitments, endorsements, and coverages, including Owner’s and Loan Policies.
• Knowledge of title commitments and pro forma policies, including Schedule A, Schedule B-I requirements, and Schedule B-II exceptions.
• Ability to review and understand title searches, commitments, surveys, recorded documents, legal descriptions, and supporting title documentation, and identify matters requiring additional review or escalation to an underwriter.
• Familiarity with common title exceptions and requirements, including mortgages, judgments, liens, easements, restrictions, rights-of-way, taxes, assessments, and other recorded encumbrances.
• Understanding of fundamental real estate and title concepts, including vesting, conveyances, legal descriptions, entity ownership, chain of title, and recording requirements.
• experience preparing, reviewing, and revising title commitments, pro forma policies, final policies, endorsements, and related title documentation with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to review deeds, entity and authority documentation, resolutions, organizational documents, and other transaction-related documentation, recognizing matters that require underwriting review.
• Knowledge of commercial real estate transactions, including acquisitions, financing, refinances, construction transactions, and other complex commercial transactions.
• Ability to review and compare surveys and legal descriptions and identify discrepancies, title matters, or other issues requiring further review.
• Understanding of recording and post-closing title processes, including review of recorded documents, satisfaction of title requirements, and preparation and issuance of final title policies and endorsements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple files, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced, high-volume commercial environment.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to accuracy and quality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate professionally and effectively with customers, attorneys, lenders, surveyors, abstractors, recording offices, and internal underwriting, escrow, sales, and production teams.
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of assigned files and responsibilities, proactively identify outstanding requirements, follow up on open items, anticipate next steps, and communicate status and potential issues without requiring continuous direction.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in determining when a matter should be escalated to an underwriter or other appropriate resource.
• Strong commitment to responsiveness and customer service, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams to facilitate timely and accurate completion of transactions.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Outlook, title production systems, and electronic document management platforms, with the ability to quickly learn and effectively utilize new technology and systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in the title insurance, commercial real estate, legal, or related industry.
• Experience supporting complex commercial or National Commercial Services transactions preferred.
• Familiarity with multi-state commercial transactions and varying state-specific title and recording requirements is a plus.
• Prior experience working directly with commercial real estate attorneys, institutional lenders, developers, investors, and other sophisticated commercial customers is preferred.

Pay Range: $20.31 – $27.09 Hourly

This hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements and geographic location.

What We OfferBy choice, we don’t simply accept individuality – we embrace it, we support it, and we thrive on it! Our People First culture is inclusive for all employees – not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s the key to our success. We are proud to foster an authentic and inclusive workplace For All. You are free and encouraged to bring your entire, unique self to work. First American is an equal opportunity employer in every sense of the term.

Based on eligibility, First American offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave and other great benefits like an employee stock purchase plan.
First American invests in its employees’ development and well-being, empowers them to provide superior customer service and encourages them to serve the communities where they live and work. First American is committed to diversity and inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer.