Title company opens office in Orleans County at former Swan Library

Deb Boyer serves as branch manager, title examiner at Independent Title Agency, LLC

Photo by Tom Rivers: Deb Boyer, center, is pictured with Joy Brewer, an abstractor (left) and McKenna Boyer, Deb’s daughter and the administrative assistant.

ALBION – The former Swan Library in Albion is now home to a title agency and the manager of that operation would like to see an attorney and surveyor open an office in the building as well to create a “one stop” shop for those in real estate.

Deb Boyer has worked in the title industry for three decades. She accepted the challenge of heading the new branch for Independent Title Agency. She had been leading the Crossroads Abstract on North Main.

She was considering retiring from the title industry to focus more on selling real estate, but welcomed the chance to open the new branch for Independent Title Agency.

Boyer is joined by long-time colleague, Joy Brewer. They have worked together for 17 years. Brewer is an abstractor, who researches the title and history of a piece of property, going back at least 60 years, sometimes to the 1800s. She checks deeds, mortgages, easements. She has gone back as far back as 1824 when a property was sold by the Holland Land Office.

Boyer’s daughter McKenna works as an administrative assistant for the branch. She recently earned a business administration degree from Genesee Community College.

“We do the research on a piece of property, the history of the land,” Boyer said. “We right the title insurance which ensures what you’re buying is accurate.”

Sometimes there may be issues with liens, judgements, back taxes or property line disagreements that need to be worked out before the sale.

“It’s always been interesting,” Boyer said from her spacious office at the former Swan. “Every day is different. No two titles are the same.”

She likes how the office looks out at the County Clerk’s Building and Surrogate Court, where a title examiner and abstractor dig through the old records.

“We not obtain not only the history of a parcel of real estate but show if there are any existing liens against the property,” Boyer said. “What we do is vital in the real estate closing process in order for the banks to issue financing for real estate. They rely on our findings which are shown in our abstracts and title reports.”

Boyer started in the title industry 31 years ago after being encouraged by her late uncle, attorney Mark Klafehn of Brockport. She initially worked doing secretarial duties and moved up.

Independent Title Agency approached her about opening an office in Orleans County. Independent also operates out of Rochester, Syracuse and Utica.

She is happy to have the branch in the former library, which closed in June 2012 when the new Hoag Library opened a couple blocks away in July 2012. Boyer praised building owner Chad Fabry for turning the library into attractive office space. Other tenants in the building include The Parlour, which is Marked by Janna Brow Artistry & Waxing Spa and the Tease hair salon.

Boyer sees the site as a hub for local real estate professionals. Her office space includes a conference area with a table for closing on real estate deals.

“My goal is to have a one-stop shop for real estate to make it easier for everyone involved,” she said.

Her office already works in conjunction with attorneys, realtors and surveyors.

She has advice for homeowners on the importance of protecting their documents:

“Being a Realtor and a title examiner goes hand in hand,” she said. “I can’t express to all homeowners the importance of the safe keeping of your abstract. Because when the time comes to sell or refinance your home this document is vital in the sale process and an abstract is very costly to replace.”

Boyer said she has found a passion in working in the real estate business and title industry.

“I enjoy looking at the history of real estate,” she said. “It’s sometimes like a puzzle that I need to put together. I like a good challenge and it’s been my pleasure helping homeowners with the sale process. That’s why I also became a Realtor because of my vast title knowledge. I examine title all over New York State, not just here in Orleans County.”