Jason

I agree with a lot of things you said.  The future, unfortunately, is not here yet and we truly have no way of knowing what direction it will take. There is a tremendous amount of publicity and public awareness today being directed at "outsourcing" in many fields - not specifically the title industry - yet.   There is more to a search, even when available online, that just being able to sit at a computer and run a chain. And title plant information is expensive - in order to justify the expense, it is necessary to do a larger volume.

I am not sticking my head in the sand, my goal has always been to be as technologically savvy as I could manage.  For fourteen years, I have been fortunate enough to have access to technology and been able to utlize it.  I hope I have never been construed to be a whiner and a complainer because I am not. My bottom line train of thought has always been service, service, service. Quality service and excellent turn around time. This industry experienced an incredible boom with the down turn of interest rates; and it is settling back into a more "normal" volume.  I believe that the age of quick and ready abstractors is dwindling; but I don't think it is ready to fade away altogether.  This country is full of small counties and they aren't necessarily backwords - just perhaps protective of their records, and many of them will never go online.  Online access may change in the future - dependent on public awareness and how accepting they may be on the availability of internet access to personal information.

This is the age of information...and specialization.  A lot of title companies that I know about ask that their examiner not only examine a property, but that they abstract the chain, pull copies, type the committment and subsequently issue policy.  Perhaps that role will eventually become where the independent abstractor goes...which will call for experienced, professional, knowledgeable people.  Maybe the "independent" part will fade away....who is to say?

In the meantime, I do believe that nay-saying and publically venting anger and frustration could be more harmful than we realize.  This is a public forum, and I know I would not want any of my customers to think I disrespect their business  or personnel.  Negativity breeds negativity. Much like the ancient Egyptians - I do believe simply saying a word, gives it life.

Just an opinion...

Ellen M Malloy
Tri County Abstract Inc
St Louis Missouri