Stewart Title relocates corporate offices

Stewart Title has relocated its Las Vegas headquarters to CENTRA Point, a business park in the southwestern Las Vegas Valley. Located at 8363 W. Sunset Road, the office proved impressive for Stewart chiefly because it is technologically ready for the latest in Internet products.

"We had isolated this area several years ago in response to the due diligence we had performed," Glenn Barton, vice president and director of marketing, said. "When (I was told) about this potential office site, I was already sold. And when I looked at the amount of development activity planned within this area the next several years ... the decision was basically a no-brainer.

"The principals of CENTRA Properties ... know the importance of having cutting-edge wiring, hookups and amenities available. When we saw their vision involving the infrastructure of these buildings, we signed up."

Nikki Wilcox, president of Stewart Title of Nevada, said the capabilities are ideal for the company's newest product, SureClose, a transaction management Web site that unites all parties in the closing process. The buyer, seller, realty agent, broker, lender, settlement service provider and title agent can monitor the transaction's progress; view, print and download documents; post and receive messages; and receive event notification.

"In all my years of working in real estate, this is the first time I've seen a tool that enables the buyer to stay so in tune with the process," Wilcox said. "SureClose allows the buyer to know what's going on, every step of the way. We (also) feel strongly this product will provide a great value to our Realtor clientele."

Barton said the company prides itself on serving the local real estate community.

"Where some title companies give out calendars or key chains to their Realtor clients, we offer them a DVD about the benefits of living in Las Vegas," he said. "This Las Vegas infomercial is a great selling tool for our Realtors to hand to their clients. It features vignettes such as an interview with (Las Vegas Mayor) Oscar Goodman, as well as addresses gaming revenues, new hotels planned, schools, golf courses, etc.

"When Realtors hope to complete a real estate transaction with a minimum of hassle, I want them to think of Stewart."

Wilcox and Barton's thinking reflects the philosophy of Stewart Morris Jr., president and co-chief executive officer of Stewart Information Services Corp., president and chief executive officer of Stewart Title Co. and chairman of Stewart Title Guaranty Co.

In an interview printed in a recent edition of "The Title Report," an industry newsletter, Morris said the real estate community is challenged to provide a "magnificent customer experience.

"For 100-plus years, the real estate, title and lending industries have done the public an injustice by not being able to view in advance all the documents needed for closing," he said. "It has been difficult to communicate the status of a transaction with all the parties without the technology that we have today. Now, with ... SureClose, we can do that well."

Morris believes the real estate industry will begin to see e-mortgages and cyber-closings by late this year or early next year.

"I believe transaction management and e-signature capability is the key."

Stewart Title has five additional offices in the valley, including a commercial-industrial division.

Stewart Title is a subsidiary of Houston-based Stewart Information Services, a title insurance and real estate information company. It provides title insurance and related services through more than 7,100 offices in the United States and several international markets.

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