Legal Counsel

Job Summary

Homestead Title Agency (“Homestead”) is the affiliated title company of Fischer Homes, a top-30 national homebuilder with operations throughout 7 states and 10 markets. Since 1980, Fischer Homes has built over 30,0000 homes, employs over 700 associates and has earned the reputation as one of the largest, most reputable home builders in the midwestern and southeastern states. As Legal Counsel (Title), you’ll manage Homestead’s title team operations, overseeing personnel, workflows and deliverables related to title examinations, reports and insurance with a focus on accuracy, timeliness and exceptional customer experience. 

You will thrive in this role if you:

• enjoy high-volume, residential real estate transactions.
• are an independent thinker and efficient problem-solver, skilled at finding solutions.
• approach your work with exceptional focus, attention to detail, and completeness.
• Take pride in your work-product accuracy and legal compliance.
• strive to mitigate risk through research, analysis, and independent decision-making.
• enjoy working on a team to accomplish common goals.
• seek to work in a dynamic and growing organization.

These skills will be used to: 

• manage the training, direction and supervision of the title team, including Abstractors, Policy Processors and external vendors, ensuring accurate work product, timely closings and exceptional customer experience.
• perform, review and oversee accurate and timely completion of title-related tasks, including examinations, reports, cures, commitments, documents, closings, recordings and policies.
• resolve challenging title issues.
• prepare, review and record legal and title documents, including deeds, powers of attorney, memoranda, affidavits, closing disclosures, settlement statements, mortgages, commitments and title policies, ensuring work product accuracy and legal compliance.
• Collaborate and assist with Homestead’s processing and closing teams, including customer communications, internal and external touchpoints, closing ceremonies, post-closing functions, loan documents, file processing, closing documents, escrow functions and closing files.
• lead process improvement initiatives, including training and adoption of new technologies and procedures to enhance work product accuracy, timeliness and customer experience. 
• manage a workload in several states and markets.
• become proficient in relevant regulations, including RESPA, TRID and state-specific real estate and insurance regulations, case law, local practices and underwriter standards.
• perform additional duties as requested by management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field of study.
• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Kentucky, or prepared to become licensed upon employment.
• At least 3-5 years of experience performing real estate title examinations and closings.
• Expertise in real estate law, title insurance and closing processes.
• Proven management or leadership experience.
• Familiarity with title insurance practices and underwriting standards.

Physical demands and work environment:

• Must be able to use sensory skills (i.e. verbal communication) to effectively communicate and interact with other Associates and customers.
• Must be able to perform repetitive motions and use fine motor skills (i.e. typing, writing) to operate office supplies (i.e. computer, calculator, copier).
• Must be able to lift and carry approximately 20-25lbs unassisted.
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time with low periods of reaching and standing.

The Value of a Career with Homestead Title

At Homestead, we select highly skilled and talented Associates, focusing on teamwork, individual contributions and diversity. Our team is honest and ethical, and our actions demonstrate respect, courtesy and fairness to our Associates and customers. Associate benefits include:

• competitive compensation package, including salary and bonus.
• 401(k) with company match and profit-sharing.
• paid vacation, personal holiday and time-off.
• company health insurance.
• professional development training programs.