Think of Texas Investors Title as the small-town company that can compete with the big boys in Dallas and Houston. Based in Boerne, the full-service title company is among a handful of Texas firms specializing in high-end, million-dollar-plus real estate transactions. Capable of closing transactions anywhere in Texas or the nation, Texas Investors is the title company of choice for Cordillera Ranch.

We can compete with the biggest title companies in the state,” Steve Vallone, Chief Executive Officer and primary closer, says. “Since our fees are regulated by the state, all title companies charge the same premiums. But we have grown to be one of the top title companies in Texas because of our service and expertise. We are competent in closing any transaction, with our primary focus being the satisfaction of our customer and the accuracy of our work product.

Texas Investors is known for going the extra mile to ensure smooth, efficient, stress-free closings. “If you can’t come to our office, we’ll come to you when it’s time for documents to be signed,” Vallone says. “We have obtained signatures from a doctor between surgeries at a hospital, as well as a seller while the movers were loading furniture at the property being sold. We try to make things as easy as possible and with the least amount of stress.”

A title company, essentially, handles all the paperwork involved in a real estate transaction, including historical research, confirming ownership and determining what recorded documents
affect the property, such as mineral rights, mortgages, easements and other legal issues. To complete the transaction, the title company provides escrow services, including providing, collecting and getting all pertinent documents signed and then collecting the money and paying all involved. Finally, the title company issues a title insurance policy guaranteeing the accuracy of its work.

“We represent all sides of a real estate transaction and handle all of the many documents that are involved,” Vallone says. “The title insurance policy provides a defense if we have overlooked a document or misconstrued something. We go out of the way to help with legal bills. We try to fix any problem without causing a large amount of attorney fees.”

As an independent agent, Texas Investors represents multiple underwriters for title insurance policies. The company services a wide variety of customers and can handle all of your title insurance needs whether commercial, residential or farm and ranch. But with a focus on high-end transactions, Texas Investors keeps its volume low, which allows the company to take a more proactive role in resolving title matters such as obtaining variances from homeowner associations and reviewing surveys.

Texas Investors shares investors in Cordillera Ranch, which makes for a close working relationship, Vallone says. “We know all the properties in Cordillera Ranch inside and out,” Vallone says. “While it’s not a requirement for Cordillera Ranch residents to use our services, no other title company can match our knowledge and experience working with Cordillera Ranch.”

“We know when we are using Texas Investors Title that there simply won’t be any last-minute hiccups or delays; that’s a critical element in determining the best title company to use. They are service-oriented and committed to delivering on time without hassles, which is incredibly comforting in our business,” says Charlie Hill, President of Cordillera Ranch Development Corp.

President and Escrow Officer Becky Edmiston is a Certified Escrow Settlement Professional (CESP), one of only about 200 people in the state with the certification by the Texas Land Title Association. She oversees the day-to-day operations of Texas Investors with nine people at its Boerne headquarters and one in a branch office in Houston.

“We are a very tight group and everyone has their specialty,” Edmiston says. “Our Residential, Farm & Ranch, and Commercial Departments consist of experienced escrow personnel with backgrounds in legal, title and real estate. Their knowledge of contracts, title insurance and general real estate procedures enable them to work closely with the parties regardless of the type of transaction.”

Cordillera Ranch Living Magazine - September / October '19
by Dan R. Goddard

Texas Investors Title would like to congratulate Becky Edmiston on earning her Texas Land Title Association (TLTA) certification.

TLTA congratulates the newly certified title professionals honored at the 2017 Texas Land Title Institute. In today's competitive market, it's important to distinguish yourself, and getting certified is the perfect way to do just that. TLTA certification demonstrates your knowledge and enhances your professionalism. And TLTA is here to walk you through every step of the process!Texas Investors Title would like to congratulate Becky Edmiston on earning her Texas Land Title Association (TLTA) certification. TLTA congratulates the newly certified title professionals honored at the 2017 Texas Land Title Institute. In today's competitive market, it's important to distinguish yourself, and getting certified is the perfect way to do just that. TLTA certification demonstrates your knowledge and enhances your professionalism. And TLTA is here to walk you through every step of the process!

By: Steve Vallone

My partners and I had a title company in Houston for 28 years, and we sold it to Stewart Title in 2007. The conditions of the sale required me to run one of the Steward Divisions for 3 years, and when the time was up I decided to move to the Hill Country. The business model for the Houston company was to have a group of shareholders who were active in real estate, and would make their best effort to send business to the title company. The guys were developers, attorneys and mortgage lenders, and they were very loyal and productive. We made profits 27 of our 28 years. We use the same business plan for Texas Investors Title. Our owners are developers, attorneys, realtors and lenders. They make their best effort to send their real estate transactions to us, and if we make a profit then the owners get a dividend.

By: Jay Ermisa

Texas Investors Title was selected to close the sale of the Houston Astros from Drayton McLane of Temple to a partnership headed by Jim Crane and Crane Capital of Houston.

The five-person title company closed the $250 million loan from Bank of America to the partnership and provided the title insurance securing the loan with the lease on Minute Maid Park where the Astros play.

Steve Vallone, president of Texas Investors Title, said the total sales price of the Astros was reported to be $680 million and included the move by the Astros to the American League in 2013. Vallone was involved in the Nov. 22 transaction along with assistants Becky Edmiston and Jackie Crouch.

"It was a great opportunity to put our little company on the map," Vallone said. "What this shows is that you can be a small company in a small town and compete against anybody who might be in a larger city with a large company. "Hopefully, this will be sort of a wake up call to a lot of small companies ... don't be afraid to compete with the big companies. If it boils down to the quality of your work on a level playing field, we can do anything they can do in Houston or Dallas.

Everyone loves a David versus Goliath story. In business, it's when the little guy takes on an industry giant and wins.

We see thousands of examples of this every day. Remember when Apple, operating out of a small garage, took on IBM and software behemoth Microsoft? Or, in the '70s when Southwest Airlines' Herb Kelleher battled several major airlines trying to prevent his planes from taking to the skies? There are hundreds of entrepreneurial Davids taking on indus­try goliaths and winning. We have our own David here in Boerne: Texas Investors Title at 116 West Blanco, Suite 101, in Boerne, led by co-owner, President and Escrow Officer Steve Vallone.