Columbia Title

What Columbia Title does

Columbia Title (legal entity: Columbia Title Group) is a privately held land title and real estate settlement agency headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, operating six branch offices across Indiana (Delphi, Evansville, Frankfort, Lafayette, Monticello, Williamsport). The firm was founded in 1987 and employs between 11 and 50 people. Its core activities comprise title searches and examinations, issuance of owner's and lender's title insurance policies, escrow and closing services for residential and commercial transactions, and specialty services including 1031 tax-deferred exchange coordination and FinCEN compliance reporting for entity-buyer transactions. Customers include Realtors, individual buyers/sellers/refinancers, mortgage lenders, and commercial real estate counterparties.

The firm's product portfolio is built around a transaction-based workflow: title commitments are produced in-house, then policies are issued through multiple underwriter relationships (Stewart Title, Fidelity National Title, First American Title, Old Republic Title, WFG National Title). Proprietary technology exposure comes through the affiliated Columbia 1031 Exchange service, which uses patented Exchange Manager Pro software, and through CertifID integration for wire-fraud protection with up to $5M per-transaction insurance. Order intake is handled via a website-based online ordering system supporting location selection, property detail entry, and contract upload, with optional in-person or in-office drop-off.

Columbia Title monetizes through one-time, transaction-priced title insurance premiums (regulated; based on purchase price for owner's policies and loan amount for lender's policies), professional services fees for search/examination and closing/escrow, and 1031 Exchange coordination fees. Distribution is direct via six Indiana branches and digital self-serve, supplemented by Realtor and lender referral channels. Industry standing is reinforced by ALTA membership and ILTA membership, with Owner/President Jill Bunch serving on the ALTA Membership and Organizational Committee since 2009.

Name

Columbia Title

Legal name

Columbia Title Group

Website

https://columbiatitlegroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Columbia Title Group is an Indiana-based title and settlement agency operating six branch offices that provides title searches, title insurance, closing/escrow, 1031 exchange coordination, and FinCEN reporting to Realtors, consumers, lenders, and commercial clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Title Insurance and Settlement Services

NAICS

Title Abstract and Settlement Offices (541191)

SIC

Title Insurance (6361)

akta.pro primary industry

Title Search & Examination (BPAJAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Abstracting Services (Title Abstracts) (BPAJAOAC), Title Insurance (FSAJACAL)

Keywords

• Title insurance services
• Real estate closing
• Settlement services
• Title search examination
• Escrow services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Title Insurance Policies: Issuance of owner's title insurance policies (protecting property ownership) and loan policies (protecting lender's lien interest). Premiums are one-time fees paid at closing - owner's policy based on purchase price, loan policy based on loan amount. The owner's policy remains in effect for as long as the owner or their heirs maintain interest in the property.
2. Title Search and Examination: Comprehensive title searches reviewing public records for documents affecting ownership, liens, easements, and other recorded matters. Title examination confirms current status of title and identifies issues to be resolved before closing.
3. Settlement and Closing Services: Document preparation and funding for commercial and residential closings, including new construction, vacant land, farmland, REO/foreclosure properties, and land contracts. Services include escrow services and coordination of closing documentation.
4. 1031 Exchange Coordination: In-house coordination of 1031 tax-deferred exchanges through patented Exchange Manager Pro software, facilitated by attorneys with subject matter expertise and Certified Exchange Specialists. Includes security of funds with insurance coverage.
5. FinCEN Reporting Services: Compliance services for reporting certain residential real estate transactions purchased with all cash or without institutional lender financing where buyers are entities (LLCs, corporations, partnerships, trusts) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Columbia Title is a full-service title and settlement company that provides title insurance policies, comprehensive title searches and examinations, escrow services, document preparation, and closing/settlement services for residential and commercial real estate transactions across Indiana. The company also facilitates 1031 tax-deferred exchanges through patented workflow technology and offers wire fraud protection services in partnership with CertifID.

Product overview

Columbia Title Group is a full-service title and settlement company offering real estate title, escrow, and closing services across six Indiana locations (Delphi, Evansville, Frankfort, Lafayette, Monticello, Williamsport). The core product portfolio includes title searches, title examination, title insurance (Owner's Policy and Loan Policy), document preparation, escrow services, and funding for both commercial and residential closings. Additional specialized services cover new construction, vacant land, farm land, REO/foreclosure properties, and land contracts. The company also offers a proprietary 1031 Exchange service using Exchange Manager Pro technology, and partners with major title insurance underwriters including Stewart Title, Fidelity National Title, First American Title, Old Republic Title, and WFG National Title. Services are segmented by customer type: Realtors, Consumers (buyers, sellers, and borrowers), Lenders, and Commercial clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Realtor Services Title and settlement services for real estate professionals including thorough title search and examination, proactive communication, efficient closings, and ALTA Best Practices compliant risk management for residential transactions.
• Consumer Services Title services for home buyers, sellers, and borrowers including title searches, title insurance policies, lien satisfactions, document preparation, and refinance closing support designed for individual consumer transactions.
• Lender Services Title and settlement services for lenders including compliance standards adherence, single point of contact, timely title commitments, and document handling per lender requirements.
• Commercial Services Title and settlement services for commercial transactions handling complex matters including layered ownership structures, prior liens, surveys, easements, and underwriting coordination.
• Columbia 1031 Exchange Facilitates 1031 tax-deferred exchanges through Exchange Manager Pro patented workflow technology, providing in-house coordination, access to Qualified Intermediaries, Certified Exchange Specialists, and fund security with insurance coverage ($50M Fidelity Bond, $25M E&O, $20M Cyber Liability).
• Title Insurance Title insurance policies (Owner's Policy and Loan Policy) protecting property owners and lenders against title defects including undisclosed heirs, recording errors, forgery, and other covered risks that existed prior to closing. Premiums are one-time fees paid at closing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wire fraud protection with up to $5M direct insurance per transaction through CertifID
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Stewart Title Guaranty CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor title insurance underwriter partner providing title insurance products through Columbia Title. Part of the company's insurance carrier network for issuing title insurance policies.
• Fidelity National Title Insurance CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor title insurance underwriter partner providing title insurance products through Columbia Title. Part of the company's insurance carrier network.
• First American Title Insurance CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor title insurance underwriter partner providing title insurance products through Columbia Title. Part of the company's insurance carrier network.
• Old Republic TitlecoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor title insurance underwriter partner providing title insurance products through Columbia Title. Part of the company's insurance carrier network.
• WFG National Title CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor title insurance underwriter partner providing title insurance products through Columbia Title. Part of the company's insurance carrier network.
• CertifIDcoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital identity and device verification solution provider enabling secure exchange of financial information to prevent wire fraud. Offers up to $5M direct insurance per transaction and fraud recovery services. Integrated into Columbia Title's wire transfer process.
• Exchange Manager Pro (by Qualified Intermediary Partner)coreTechnology or IntegrationPatented 1031 exchange workflow technology used by Columbia 1031 Exchange. Provides exchange coordination through one of the nation's leading Qualified Intermediaries, with software keeping clients and advisors informed of transaction timelines and funds available.
• ALTA (American Land Title Association)coreOthersMajor industry association for the land title industry. Columbia Title is a proud member and Owner/President Jill Bunch has served on the ALTA Membership and Organizational Committee since 2009.
• ILTA (Independent Land Title Association)coreOthersIndustry association for independent title companies. Columbia Title is a member, demonstrating commitment to staying connected and involved within the title industry.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• First American Title Insurance Company: Largest U.S. title underwriter with nationwide direct and agency operations. Columbia Title is an independent agency partner of First American, so it competes against First American's direct/agency network while relying on the carrier to underwrite policies.
• Stewart Title Guaranty Company: Large national title underwriter with deep agency relationships. Stewart is explicitly listed as a Columbia Title underwriter partner and represents the same buyer-driven competitive set across residential and commercial closings.
• Fidelity National Title Insurance Company: Major national title underwriter (FNF segment) issuing policies through agency networks. Columbia Title places business with Fidelity as an underwriter partner and competes against Fidelity-affiliated agencies for lender and Realtor referral volume.
• WFG National Title Company: National title underwriter with an agency-based distribution model. WFG is a Columbia Title underwriter partner and is highly comparable in that both monetize through independent-agent networks rather than direct retail.
• Old Republic Title: Diversified national title underwriter with agency operations. Old Republic is a Columbia Title underwriter partner and represents the same independent-agency-vs-captive competitive dynamic.

Emerging players

• PropLogix: Tech-enabled vendor providing title searches, municipal lien searches, and compliance services. PropLogix targets the same back-office search/examination workload that Columbia Title performs internally, representing substitution risk on the search side.
• Qualia: Digital closing and title-production platform serving title agencies and underwriters. Qualia competes for the settlement-software layer that Columbia Title's online ordering stack sits on, and its adoption by agencies directly pressures incumbent workflows.

Direct peers

• Investors Title Company: Mid-sized independent title insurance underwriter and agency operator focused on real estate transactions. Closely comparable to Columbia Title in business mix (title insurance, search/examination, settlement) and in using an agency-channel go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/columbiatitleIN
• Instagraminstagram.com/columbiatitlein
• Xx.com/ColumbiaTitleIN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-title

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Title