TITLE INSURANCE SUCCESS STORIES

involving multiple properties securing the loan. The properties were vested in different trusts and situated in various jurisdictions. I obtained underwriter approval to issue the ALTA 12-06, aggregating multiple loan policies for lender and title insurance premiums to save clients considerable costs.

for a major franchisee of an international restaurant chain in the Midwest. Necessitated simultaneous closings on purchases of multiple leasehold pad sites in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as insuring the client and credit line transactions. 

A foreign developer unfamiliar with ground leases purchased a large property to develop a multifamily project.  The broker did not advise the developer or the title agent that in a subdivision wherein leaseholds straddle lots, neither Fannie Mae nor Freddie Mac will insure. Therefore, an initial $3M investment sat dormant. A consultant introduced the client to Gary, who retained an experienced boundary retracement surveyor to assist in an SDAT redemption of the ancient, unregistered ground rents.  SDAT issued certificates providing the client with fee simple interest in the multiple ground leases dating back to the early 1800s. We insured fee simple title to the subdivision and the $8M project successfully moved forward.

Simultaneous 911 closings on multi-state retail centers, with Purchaser and Seller participating in time-sensitive exchange transactions, each requiring insuring over identified risks.

The Client’sland use attorney contacted me after the originating title agency would not insure marketable title to a parcel of land that bisected the property being developed into a major mixed-use development. After explaining my methodology and process, I was retained. Although the landowners met the state requirements to obtain a fee simple title by adverse possession, underwriters require a court order to insure marketability.  History: Through the passage of the Turnpike Act of 1812, Laws of Maryland, Nov. Sess. 1812, Chapter 78 (the “Act”), the Maryland General Assembly chartered the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike Company (the “Turnpike Company”) to construct and operate a turnpike road between the District of Columbia and the Baltimore City. Our engagement was to obtain absolute fee simple interest in the remnant parcel for our client. We retained the assistance of a renowned boundary retracement surveyor, and by an extensive search of 1000s of title instruments, we could identify one individual who became record title owner in 1772. Ownership of the Dead Man’s Curve roadbed was never granted to the Turnpike Company or the State of Maryland. Instead, the development and use of this roadbed was through prescriptive easement only. In 1942, the Baltimore & Washington Boulevard (Route 1) was realigned to eliminate the portion of the turnpike that became known for its many accidents as “Dead Man's Curve”.  After the results of our search became apparent that there were at least 300 possible claimants to the remnant, we were granted permission by the Court to serve notice by publication. The process took three years (Covid had closed the state archives for much of the period), entailed over 3000 records being examined, publication, and a military service search to prepare affidavits of the possible heirs in service. The team effort resulted in a court order issuing absolute (marketable) title to the landowners, the sellers to our client. The project is on track to begin grading in late 2025 or early 2026.