— There’s a phrase that all Texans – and most Americans – know: Don’t mess with Texas. What started as a bumper sticker in 1985 and became a statewide anti-littering campaign illustrates the big pride that Texans have in their big state. —

And anyone who’s done business there knows Texans like working with companies that don’t just offer services in their state but have bona fide boots on the ground. That goes for mortgage lenders, title companies and data providers, like DataTrace®. DataTrace has had boots on the ground in Texas for over 40 years, including when it opened its first title plant in Dallas in 2010. In some counties, the company has property records going as far back at 1846 – more than 175 years back.

Recently, DataTrace enhanced and expanded its title plants in Nueces and San Patricio counties – part of the Corpus Christi MSA – further solidifying data coverage among its 39 title plants across the state covering 75% of the state population. The enhanced plants provide title companies with online access to more than 232 million digital title records. The Nueces plant was converted from an existing alternative plant and now offers nearly 3 million title documents going back to 1959 with an additional back plant going back to 1929. The expanded San Patricio title plant now offers more than half a million title documents going back to 1846, with increased capabilities for deed as well as oil and gas images going back to 1900.

But it’s not just data coverage that’s important to title companies – and Texans. Data accuracy, currency and the source of the data is what sets DataTrace apart from the pack. In cultivating fast and accurate tax information, DataTrace is the only company that actively acquires and curates title source data, as opposed to “scraping” data from county websites or procuring it manually, which can introduce all kinds of opportunities for timing lags and inaccuracies. Having actual source data for a majority of counties gives DataTrace and its customers a significant head start in speed and data quality, which improves their ability to close title orders efficiently, from both a resource and cost perspective.

Expanding on the topic of tax, another benefit of working with DataTrace: it is the only company in Texas that is a single source for both tax and title data – providing tax certificates to meet regional requirements across all 254 Texas counties, including automated certificates in 68 counties. State-based experts employ specialized regional knowledge to deliver current tax certificate information, including current and prior year detail including payoff amounts, municipal searches and tax suit status. This, combined with the company’s locally based title and tax experts, account managers and operations teams, provides Texas title companies assurance any local nuances, statutes and title practices or customs are factored in.

For example, in most states, short-form refinance commitments contain only boilerplate exceptions – they do not include specific exceptions for restrictions, easements or other matters which could affect coverage on the property. However, in Texas, while not required by statute, it is customary for examiners to include an exception for the document which identifies owner associations and, if a separate instrument, another exception for the document which authorizes association maintenance charges, assessments and other fees. Texas examiners know this and expect this level of detail.

As TX-based Katherine Dieterich, Director of Operations, sees it, having a local team that knows the ins and outs of Texas tax and title practices is invaluable. “Texans have an inherent sense of state pride, so our team is genuinely committed to protecting our Texas clients. It goes a long way to be able to help our partners navigate the county-specifics of tax and titles. This state-based expertise enables us to build supportive, meaningful client relationships and pathways for success.”

Having access to both title and tax data can help title companies build relationships with builders and developers looking for subdivision opportunities in rural counties. It’s extremely important to understand when rural land has previously had an exemption or agricultural taxes which would change once it’s developed. It’s standard practice for DataTrace to highlight this information for customers.

DataTrace’s Texas plants are geographically indexed title plants so they are easier to search with multiple property parameters, including legal descriptions, subdivision names and assessor parcel numbers, which allows for faster research and identification of relevant transactions associated with the property. Access to Texas title plants is also available through direct integration or though DataTrace title automation products.

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only single source provider of both Texas tax and title data.