Almost every post on this site answers a question about a real estate transaction. This one is a little different. People ask me what I actually do all day, and plenty of buyers and sellers go through an entire closing without knowing what a title company does either. So here's both: a bit about me, and a plain-English look at the industry I've spent my career in.
The short version
I'm a Senior Vice President and Sales Executive with Chicago Title of Colorado, based in our Colorado Springs office. I've been in the title insurance industry since 2013, and I'm a Colorado State University grad.
I work mostly with real estate agents, lenders, teams, brokerages, and investors in El Paso County and the Denver area. I also handle commercial title work throughout Colorado and across the country.
What title insurance actually is
Before a property closes, the title company searches the public record on it: deeds, mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, and anything else that affects who owns it and what's attached to it. A title examiner reviews that history and issues a title commitment, which lists what has to be paid off, signed, or cleared up before the deal can close.
The policy itself protects against covered problems from before you owned the property, things like a forged deed in the chain of title, an heir nobody knew about, or a recording error. A few things worth knowing:
- It's a one-time premium, paid at closing. There's no monthly or annual bill.
- There are two policies. The lender's policy protects the lender's loan. The owner's policy protects you, the owner.
- Who pays is set in the contract. On most Colorado resale deals, the seller pays for the owner's policy and the buyer pays for the lender's policy, but it's negotiable.
- In Colorado, the title company usually runs the closing too. That means holding funds, preparing the settlement figures, handling the signing, paying off loans, and recording the documents.
If you want the real numbers on what title insurance costs here and how to pay less of it, I broke that down in Saving Money on Title Insurance in Colorado Springs.
Who does what at a title company
A closing touches more people than most clients realize:
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Title examiner / title officer | Reviews the search, decides what's insurable, and issues the commitment and policy |
| Escrow officer (closer) | Runs the file from contract to closing, handles the money, and sits at the closing table |
| Escrow assistant / processor | Orders payoffs, collects documents, and keeps deadlines on track |
| Sales executive | Works with agents, lenders, and investors on the front end and steps in when a file gets complicated |
That last one is me. I'm usually not the person sliding documents across the table. I'm the person an agent calls when something about the deal doesn't look normal, and the person putting out education and market data so agents have something useful to bring to their clients.
What I actually spend my time on
Difficult files. This is my favorite part of the job. Short sales, foreclosures, VA and FHA loan assumptions, inherited properties, houses owned by an LLC or trust, divorces. These are the deals where somebody needs a practical answer, not a script. Our team also negotiates short sales with the lenders. A few of the posts on this site came straight out of those conversations:
- Short sales guide for listing agents
- Is an assumable loan actually worth it?
- Selling an inherited house in Colorado
- Selling a house owned by an LLC or trust
Market data. I track what's actually happening with prices, days on market, concessions, and distressed activity in El Paso County, and turn it into something an agent can use with a client. That shows up in the monthly market reports and in the Colorado Springs Agent Insider newsletter.
Education. I teach classes for agents on short sales, farming, listing marketing, social media and video, and a lot lately on using AI in a real estate business. You can see what's coming up on the classes page.
What's changed since 2013
The basic job hasn't changed much. Search the record, clear the problems, close the deal, record it. What's around it has changed a lot:
- Wire fraud. Fake wiring instructions sent from a hacked or spoofed email are one of the biggest risks in a closing today. Always confirm wiring instructions by calling the title company at a number you already know, not one in an email.
- Rate swings. When rates jumped, low-rate VA and FHA loans became something buyers actively look for, and assumptions went from a rare file to a regular conversation.
- Technology. Agents now have tools that would have sounded ridiculous ten years ago. I think the agents who learn to use AI well are going to have a real edge, and I spend a lot of time helping them get there.
How I think about this job
Title is relationship-based, and I don't think the right way to earn an agent's business is to keep asking for it. My approach is to be useful: answer the hard question, send the data, teach the class, and pick up the phone when a deal is going sideways. If that's done well, the business tends to follow.
I'd also rather tell someone the honest answer early than the comfortable one late. A problem caught in week one of a contract is usually fixable. The same problem found the day before closing usually isn't.
Quick answers
What does a title insurance sales executive do?
A sales executive works with real estate agents, lenders, and investors on behalf of a title company. That includes helping with complicated files, providing market data and education, and connecting clients with the title and escrow team that handles the closing.
Is title insurance a one-time cost?
Yes. The premium is paid once at closing, and the owner's policy protects you for as long as you or your heirs own the property.
Who picks the title company in Colorado?
The title company is named in the purchase contract, and the buyer and seller agree to it. On many Colorado resale deals, the seller pays for the owner's policy and chooses the title company, but that's negotiable.
What areas does Ben Gosz work in?
Ben's residential work is mainly in El Paso County, including Colorado Springs, and the Denver area. He also handles commercial title transactions throughout Colorado and across the United States.
Does Chicago Title help with short sales and assumable loans?
Yes. Ben works on short sales, foreclosures, and VA and FHA loan assumptions regularly, and his team negotiates short sales with lenders.
Got a file that doesn't look normal?
That's usually the one I want to hear about. Call or email me early and we'll figure out the path to closing.
This article is general information about title insurance and closings in Colorado. It isn't legal advice. Every transaction is different, so talk to your title company, lender, or a Colorado real estate attorney about your specific situation.