How to choose a title company in Dallas: license, underwriters, escrow officer and reviews

Compare the full cost, because the policy premium is regulated

Shopping for a lower title insurance premium will not distinguish Dallas title companies when you are comparing the same policy. TDI sets the premium. Escrow fees and other closing charges can vary, so ask for an itemized written estimate with the assumptions clearly identified. TDI's title insurance FAQ explains the distinction between regulated premiums and other closing costs.

A useful comparison starts with identical transaction information. Give each company the same purchase price, financing details, property type and requested coverage information. If the estimates describe different policies or services, resolve those differences before comparing totals.

Ask which charges belong to the title company and which represent payments to another provider. Also ask which amounts remain estimates and what could change them. A total without explanations gives you little basis for deciding whether a difference reflects service, scope or an incomplete quote.

Use this comparison when reviewing proposals:

Our explanation of whether title insurance rates are the same in Texas provides additional context.

A lower estimated closing total deserves examination, but it should not end your review. An unexplained missing charge or different coverage assumption can make an estimate appear more attractive than it is. Ask the company to reconcile the difference in writing.

Verify the TDI license and underwriter appointments

Begin with the legal business name. A logo, website or recommendation does not establish licensing. Ask for the title agent's TDI license number, then use TDI's official licensing resources to check the record independently.

For Aurum Title, search for Aurum Title Inc. and license 2752531. Compare the name and identifying information with the company preparing your paperwork. If anything differs, ask for an explanation before sending funds or sensitive documents.

TDI provides access to active title agent and escrow officer information through its title agent oversight resources. Use the official record as your reference rather than relying exclusively on a screenshot supplied by a business.

Check the underwriters next. The title agent handling the transaction and the insurer underwriting the policy perform different roles. Ask which underwriter is expected to issue your policy and whether the agent's appointment covers the relevant county. TDI's title agent licensing rules address licensing and county appointments.

Our underwriters are Chicago Title, Fidelity National Title and Westcor. Our TDI appointments are for Dallas County. If your property is elsewhere, ask us to confirm the applicable arrangement before proceeding. Review our underwriters and license information alongside the official record.

Underwriter names alone do not tell you how your file will be managed. Ask who contacts the underwriter when a title issue requires review, who gathers supporting documents and who explains the response to you.

A clear answer describes an actual process: the issue, the person responsible for submitting it, the information needed and the next update. A vague assurance that a company has underwriters leaves those practical questions unanswered.

Know your escrow officer and the path to attorney attention

Ask for the name of the escrow officer responsible for your file before you commit to a closing team. Then check that person's licensing information through TDI. The company's license and the individual's credentials are separate parts of your review.

Also distinguish the escrow officer from other people assisting with scheduling, document collection or updates. Several team members may communicate with you, but you should know who is accountable for questions about the closing.

At Aurum Title, our licensed escrow officers are Austin Pennington and Monday Locklear. Ask which officer will handle your transaction and who will cover communications when that person is unavailable. A named contact is useful only when you also understand how to reach the team and escalate an unresolved question.

For a straightforward home sale, focus on document requests, settlement figures and the sequence leading to closing. For a transaction involving a lien or title defect, ask a more specific question: "Who evaluates this issue, and what must happen before the file can proceed?"

Our attorney-owned structure matters here. Austin Pennington's role as both executive escrow officer and attorney gives complex matters a defined route to attorney attention. He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law.

Attorney access does not guarantee that a defect can be resolved or that a transaction will close by a particular date. Ask what remains unresolved, what documents are needed and whether another party or underwriter must respond.

For example, if a recorded lien raises a question, useful communication identifies the concern and the next action. "We are working on it" is less helpful than an explanation of what information has been requested and what decision depends on it.

Read reviews for patterns, relevance and responses

A high star rating can help you identify a company to investigate. It cannot replace a license check, an itemized estimate or a conversation with the person handling your closing.

The same applies to our own rating: 4.7 stars from 9 reviews is a data point to weigh alongside our credentials and your direct experience with our team, not proof that every transaction will proceed without difficulty.

Start with the review count. A rating based on a limited number of reviews gives you a smaller body of reported experiences to examine. Read the comments themselves rather than making the score your entire decision.

Next, check recency. Older reviews may describe a different team or process. Look for recent descriptions of the work you need, and verify that the named staff members or services are still relevant.

Read for concrete actions. Did the reviewer describe understandable answers, consistent updates or careful handling of a problem? A review that identifies what happened is more useful than a broad statement that the experience was excellent or terrible.

For critical reviews, examine the complaint closely. Was it about unanswered messages, confusing figures, document handling or a delay involving another participant? You may not have enough information to assign responsibility, but you can turn the concern into a direct question.

If several reviewers describe difficulty obtaining updates, ask how status communications are handled. If a review mentions unexpected charges, request a complete estimate and an explanation of possible changes.

Responses matter too. Look for a professional tone, an effort to address the issue and respect for transaction privacy. A defensive response or an answer that avoids the actual concern should prompt further questions.

Finally, match the reviews to your needs. A seller coordinating a home sale and an investor planning a commercial acquisition have different concerns. Relevant details should carry more weight than a review that describes an unrelated service.

Evaluate communication, timing and wire-fraud procedures

Your first exchange with a title company offers a practical service test. Send a concise description of the transaction and ask what the team needs to begin. Evaluate whether the response addresses your questions and identifies missing information.

Ask how you will receive updates, who receives them and what happens when an issue threatens a contract deadline. Buyers, sellers, agents and lenders can each hold information the closing team needs. Communication works better when responsibility for obtaining that information is explicit.

We organize our process for quick turnaround, but timing depends on the file. Missing documents, unresolved liens, unanswered requests and required third-party decisions can slow progress. Ask what is ready, what is pending and who controls the next step.

For a home purchase or sale, review how a Dallas home closing works so you can ask informed questions about the sequence. Scheduling a signing should not substitute for understanding what still must be completed.

Wire procedures deserve their own conversation. Before transferring money, ask how instructions will be delivered and how you should verify them independently. Establish a trusted phone contact before you need to send funds.

Do not treat an email's familiar display name, signature or transaction details as sufficient proof that payment instructions are authentic. If instructions change, pause and verify through a contact method you already trust. Review our wire fraud information before sending a wire.

Ask the team to explain:

• How you obtain and independently verify payment instructions.
• Whom you contact if an email changes an account or recipient.
• How you confirm that expected funds have been received.
• What to do immediately if you suspect incorrect instructions.

These are questions about procedures, not a request for an absolute security guarantee. You want clear instructions you can follow under the pressure of a closing deadline.

Choose for the transaction you actually have

A title company should understand your transaction before telling you how it will handle the closing. Explain your role, property type, financing and known concerns early.

Home buyers: Ask who will explain title documents and closing figures, how questions should be submitted and what information the team needs from you. If something is unclear, request an explanation before the signing appointment.

Home sellers: Identify any known ownership or lien issues at the beginning. Ask what documents or authorizations the team needs from you and when. Waiting until the closing approaches to disclose a concern reduces the time available to address it.

Real estate agents: Focus on coordination. Ask who owns the file, how the team communicates unresolved items and how it flags a decision needed from your client. A useful update identifies an action you can help complete.

Investors: Describe the ownership structure, property type and planned transaction. Ask whether the assigned team handles that kind of work and which issues need early review. An investor buying a residential property may need different coordination from one acquiring industrial property or completing a 1031 exchange closing.

Our commercial title work includes multifamily, self-storage, industrial, land, builder lot takedowns, commercial escrow and 1031 exchange closings. Explain the proposed structure so we can discuss what the title and escrow work requires.

For any transaction, ask about selection before assuming the closing location has been settled. Review the contract and discuss the proposed title company with the relevant participants. Our guide to who chooses the title company explains the question in more detail.

A referral from an agent, lender or investor can provide a useful introduction. Apply the same verification process to a recommended company that you would use for one you found yourself.

Running the same checks on Aurum Title

We would rather you check us than take our word for it. Aurum Title Inc. is a Texas title agent with TDI license 2752531, handling residential and commercial title insurance and escrow in Dallas from 8150 N Central Expy, Suite 1100. Our ownership includes the managing partners of Atwood & McCall, PLLC, and our executive escrow officer, Austin Pennington, is an attorney who leads real estate transactional matters there, which gives complex title defects, liens and high-liability transactions attorney attention.

Our licensed escrow officers are Austin Pennington and Monday Locklear. Our policies are underwritten by Chicago Title, Fidelity National Title and Westcor, with appointments on our TDI record for Dallas County. Our Google rating is 4.7 stars from 9 reviews. Ask us who will handle your file, how questions are escalated and what we need to move it forward; our residential title and escrow page covers home transactions.

Use this checklist before making your decision

Gather the answers in writing where practical. You are looking for consistency between official records, the estimate, the assigned team and the company's explanations.

A red flag calls for an explanation. An inconsistency may be resolvable, but do not ignore it simply because a deadline is approaching. Ask the company to clarify the record, revise the estimate or identify the responsible person before you proceed.

Promises also deserve scrutiny. A company cannot responsibly assess an unresolved title issue from a brief description alone. Prefer a specific explanation of what must be reviewed over a guarantee that everything will be handled by your preferred date.

Once the credentials, costs and working process meet your needs, open a title order with our team and provide the transaction details so we can identify the next steps.

Frequently asked questions