Amid rapid technological transformation in the real estate industry, companies have been reimagining the way we find properties, obtain financing, and even move into a new property. Similarly, when it comes to title insurance, a lot of technological advancements are having an impact on how a property is insured. But while most companies increasingly rely on direct-to-consumer models, CATIC, remains steadfast in its commitment to its network of over 2,000 agents. For 50 years, this title insurance startup has delivered its product only through independent agencies.
Its product is title insurance, but its efforts span far beyond issuing insurance policies. CATIC has a uniquely collaborative relationship with its agents and aims to see them grow professionally. We provide a suite of state-of-the-art products and services to help agents facilitate transactions with efficiency and ease.
“One of the most important things that we provide to our agency base is a proprietary software program,” says Jim Czapiga, CEO of CATIC. This program, known as PrepExpress, is a customized closing tool that helps agents manage the title process expeditiously, from start to finish.
One of the most important things that we provide to our agency base is a proprietary software program
In addition to providing a streamlined way to prepare policies, PrepExpress offers users the ability to create insured closing letters, automatically calculate tax data, transfer information to disbursement statements, and export disbursement data to a format that can be imported into accounting software like QuickBooks. This tool is offered exclusively to CATIC agents at no cost, giving them a significant advantage in the marketplace.
CATIC’s innovation doesn’t stop there. “We try to equip agents with the things that they need to not only keep themselves in the game but to flourish in the game,” says Czapiga.
This mission was particularly evident in March 2020. When the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic brought turmoil to the real estate industry, CATIC was a saving grace for many agents. As government-mandated closures restricted access to land records and other official data, agents across the nation found themselves unable to close transactions. With little warning or precedence to guide them, the CATIC team swooped in and developed an innovative system for underwriting guidelines that allowed closings to continue without title searches or inspections.
CATIC issued over 200 agent bulletins in the first few months of the pandemic, covering new developments in every corner of the real estate space. From defining essential workers to alerting agents of pandemic-related closings, CATIC empowered agents with the information they needed to confidently navigate the treacherous waters of the early pandemic era. With a carefully crafted blueprint in hand, many agents successfully bounced back from the initial blow.
As the real estate industry continues to evolve, CATIC has proven that it can handle anything that comes its way. Whether it’s insuring property in the metaverse or introducing blockchain technology in real estate, CATIC will be ready to equip its agents with the resources they need to thrive.
With offices scattered across the East Coast, CATIC is expanding its reach and its impact every day. But no matter how much the company grows, it will always keep its focus on the heart of its operation; the independent agents that make up its network. By delivering improved efficiency and unrivaled resources, CATIC is helping to shape the future of the title insurance landscape—one agent at a time.
