partner spotlight
Gulf Shores Title By Dave Danielson Photos By Sam Whitt Photography
T RUSTE D RESOURC E
In a business where the moving parts are never in short supply, it is a necessity to have partners you can count on. One of those that stands at the forefront is Gulf Shores Title. When you talk with President Jim Owen, you understand how rewarding it is for him and his team to be viewed as a trusted resource in the region through time. “We were incorporated in February 1985. At the time, I had a partner. We had worked together for a title company since 1978, and it was a branch office of another, still-existing title company here in Mobile,” Jim recalls. “In 1985, we purchased their branch office.” Made for This
In some ways, it may be no surprise that Jim ended up in the industry. From an early age, he had a close view. “I was first exposed to the business when I was 17 years old,” Jim remembers. “My father was an attorney who did some searches, and he would take me with him to the courthouse.” Reputation for Results
The reputation for results at Gulf Shores Title has continued to grow through the years. One reason for that is a strong, local range of capabilities. “We have our own examiners that do all of our title examinations. We don’t use any independent examiners,” Jim explains. “Plus, we have copies of all the courthouse indices from 1935 forward. We used microfilm before things went digital. Having access to historical records like that is very helpful if you have to dig back into something that’s not online. Our research side and our records are second to none.” Through time, Gulf Shores Title has continued to add to its archival collection. “We have acquired records from three different title companies that are no longer in business,” he explains. “So we have records from our own operations since 1978, plus all that we’ve picked up from other companies through the years. That’s helpful to us and our clients.”
22 • September 2020
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Gulf Shores Title has 15 people on the team. While each of them are experienced professionals, Jim emphasizes the importance of enjoying their environment. “One of the things I always tell anyone before I hire them is that I insist that we have fun at work,” Jim says. “Because if you’re not having fun, you’re not going to be happy. And if you’re not happy, you’re not going to do a good job.”
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