General NCS
What is the National Commercial Services Group? How does it differ from all other Commonwealth Land Title offices?
The National Commercial Services (NCS) Group is the national commercial division of Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company whose mission is to manage single-site and multi-site commercial title insurance transactions here in Massachusetts and throughout the United States. Combining its resources within Massachusetts, and its family offices and agents nationwide, the Boston NCS offers comprehensive title insurance resources in one office. The Boston NCS works with national and local law firms, real estate investment trusts, banks and investments institutions, commercial, industrial and residential developers, and real estate owned (REO) clients. The Boston NCS professionals are personally committed to developing innovative solutions for complex real estate transactions. From title order placement to underwriting to final policy issuance, the Boston NCS offers solutions, resources and service – all with a common sense and personal touch.
The Boston NCS office sets itself apart by being the preeminent title insurance provider for commercial transactions nationwide and offering a single point of contact for a wide range of commercial real estate title related services listed below.
What products and services are offered by Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company?
- Title searches, underwriting, and commitment issuance for commercial transactions
- Title Insurance Policy Issuance for the local Massachusetts market
- Title Insurance Policy Issuance in the other 49 states, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean
- Escrow Closing Services
- UCCPlus Insurance & Mezzanine Financing
- Earnest Money Escrows & Document Deposit Escrows
- 1031 Exchange & IPX Tax Deferred solutions
- National Special Projects including multi-state/multi-site recording solutions
- National Title Information (www.commonwealth.ntiweb.com) website providing recording related fees and taxes, laws and customs for all 50 states, and sample document forms
What is the function of your commercial sales and account management department?
The Boston-based NCS sales team prides itself on providing the utmost customer service oriented solutions to today's real estate transactions and issues. Our account management team specializes in handling transactions from the start of a transaction with competitive quotes and title order placement through all phases of the deal coordination including the underwriting and escrow closing process and, finally, through the post-closing follow-up stages of all deals including timely policy issuance.
Our client base is varied including national and local law firms, real estate investment trusts, banks and investments institutions, commercial, industrial and residential developers, property managers, investors, brokerage firms, and real estate owned (REO) clients.
Our account management team also helps coordinate seminars and webinars for our clients to help keep them apprised of any new developments and coverage changes in the title and real estate industry.
If you do not have a current contact in the Boston National Commercial Services group handling your transactions, please contact us so that we can discuss how best we can help you.
Do you conduct any informational seminars?
The Boston NCS presents title and escrow related seminars to help our clients keep abreast of coverage options and policy changes in the industry. We assist in introducing new law firm associates and employees of our clients with “Introduction to Title” seminars (see list below) that teach them how to solve title commitment, survey and escrow closing issues.
Our attorneys and underwriters also speak and are guest lecturers at a wide range of real estate related legal senminars for groups such as the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Foundation, the Real Estate Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, New England Land Title Association, and many others.
To schedule one of the below presentations or for more information please contact your Boston NCS Representative or Bob Soule. If you don't see the topic which you would like us to discuss listed below, we can build a customized presentation for your firm or company.
- Overview of Title Insurance
- The Title Policy
- Abstract, Examination and Commitment to Insure
- Endorsements
- Methods of Holding Title (Individual, T by E, TIC, Partnerships, Corporations, Trusts)
- Regulation & Rating Manual Issues in Other States
- ALTA-ACSM Survey Standards
- Condominiums, Cooperatives & Planned Development
- Liens (Mechanics Liens, Judgments, Federal Tax Liens, Real Estate & Municipal Liens)
- Easements
- Covenants, Conditions & Retrictions (CCR)
- Distressed Real Estate (Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, Deeds in Lieu, Marshall Sales, Receiverships)
- Registry of Deeds and Land Court Related Issues
Title Insurance
What is Title Insurance and what benefits does it provide?
Title insurance is a form of indemnity insurance which insures against financial loss from defects in title to real property and from the invalidity or unenforceability of mortgage liens. With a title insurance policy, you have an indemnity contract that will reimburse you for loss in the event someone asserts a claim against your property that is covered by the policy.
How can there be a title defect if the title has been searched?
Title insurance is issued after a careful examination of documents filed in the public records. Even the most thorough search cannot absolutely assure that no title hazards are present, despite the knowledge and experience of professional title examiners and underwriting practices. In addition to matters shown by public records, other title problems may exist that are not disclosed in a search.
What does Title Insurance protect against?
Here are just a few of the most common hidden risks that can cause a loss of title or create an encumbrance on title:
- Errors or omissions in recorded legal documents
- Mistakes in examining title records
- Fraud or forgery
- Erroneous or inadequate legal descriptions
- False impersonation of the true owner of the property
- Forged deeds, releases or wills, instruments executed under invalid or expired power of attorney
- Misinterpretations of wills and deeds by persons of unsound mind
- Liens for unpaid estate, inheritance, income, real estate or gift taxes
What protection does title insurance provide against defects and hidden risks?
The title insurer will defend its insured against any covered lawsuit attacking title, and will either clear up title problems or compensate the insured for its loss. For a one-time premium, an owner's title insurance policy remains in effect as long as you retain an interest in the property.
What does this ultimately mean to you?
The peace of mind in knowing that the investment you've made is a safe one. And, in the event of a title defect, you have a company who has been in business for over 165 years and holds the largest claims reserves in the industry to help protect you against costly claims even if the claim against your title is baseless.
What title companies are affiliated with Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Group?
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company is a member of the Fidelity National Title Group. Our Family of Title Insurance underwriters includes:
- Commonwealth Title Insurance Company
- Chicago Title Insurance Company
- Fidelity National Title Insurance Company
- Alamo Title Insurance Company
The Fidelity National Title Group Family of Companies represents the largest title insurance network in the world and our claims reserves are larger than all major competitors combined.
Title Orders
How can I place an order for title insurance?
Title orders for commercial transactions anywhere in the country can be placed by contacting your Boston NCS representative by phone or email. Our staff will promptly review the transaction details and provide an email confirmation of the request including the assigned Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company file number for future reference.
What information is needed to initiate a title order?
Please provide as much of the below information that you have in order to assist our title examination and coordination staff in promptly and properly completing the requested title services.
- Transaction Type – Sale / Refinance / Construction Financing
- Property Type – Office / Multifamily / Industrial / Hotel / Retail / Power Plant / Vacant Land to be Developed / etc.
- Property Address
- Tax Parcel Numbers and / or Legal Description
- Include any Prior Title Policies or Title Commitments, if available
- Purchase Price / Loan Amount
- Transaction Parties: Seller / Borrower / Current Owner of Record, if entity is different from the named Seller / Buyer / Lender
- Proposed Closing Date
- Contact Information for Sellers / Buyers / Borrowers / Lenders / all Attorneys
- Contact Information for any parties who should receive the title work once completed
What are your title insurance rates?
For commercial transactions, please contact your Boston NCS representative for a deal specific quote catered to the details of your transaction transaction and the location of the property involved. The rates, rules, and regulations differ from state to state.