The Southwest Colorado Title Company You Can Rely On
Dedicated to establishing enduring relationships
It is our commitment to always provide you top-notch, personalized service. Be assured that you can rely on us as your title insurance partner of choice.
Our Team
Scott Bloom
President/Attorney/Partner
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Scott Bloom is the founding partner of Title Durango, LLC. He has been a licensed attorney in Colorado since 1998 and involved in the title insurance industry for 17 years. His professional experience includes starting, owning and managing multiple title companies, as well as being a former Division President for Stewart Title, one of the world’s largest title companies.
Scott Bloom is the founding partner of Title Durango, LLC. He has been a licensed attorney in Colorado since 1998 and involved in the title insurance industry for 17 years. His professional experience includes starting, owning and managing multiple title companies, as well as being a former Division President for Stewart Title, one of the world’s largest title companies.
Mike Fenton
Vice President/Partner
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Mike is a graduate of Colorado State University and a native of Colorado. He is an expert title examiner, having spent the last 24 years working in the title and real estate industry in Durango. He has been married to his wife, Wendy, for twenty years. They have a daughter attending C.S.U. and a son attending Durango High School. Mike enjoys fly fishing, skiing, camping and watching DHS and FLC soccer.
Mike is a graduate of Colorado State University and a native of Colorado. He is an expert title examiner, having spent the last 24 years working in the title and real estate industry in Durango. He has been married to his wife, Wendy, for twenty years. They have a daughter attending C.S.U. and a son attending Durango High School. Mike enjoys fly fishing, skiing, camping and watching DHS and FLC soccer.
Melissa Barthel
Escrow Officer
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Melissa is originally from Idaho Springs, Colorado. She first moved to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College. After graduating, she spent a few years in Portland, Oregon where she began a career in banking. Missing the sunshine and active lifestyle, she returned to Durango and continued her career in finance. In May of 2014, Melissa joined Stewart Title of Durango, now known as Title Durango, where she has enjoyed learning all facets of the Title Industry. She loves being part of an organization dedicated to the community and everything that makes Durango a great place to live and work. Melissa lives in Durango with her husband Ryan and Siberian husky, Brodie. Away from the office you can find her enjoying the endless outdoor activities that our area has to offer and can’t imagine a better place to call home.
Melissa is originally from Idaho Springs, Colorado. She first moved to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College. After graduating, she spent a few years in Portland, Oregon where she began a career in banking. Missing the sunshine and active lifestyle, she returned to Durango and continued her career in finance. In May of 2014, Melissa joined Stewart Title of Durango, now known as Title Durango, where she has enjoyed learning all facets of the Title Industry. She loves being part of an organization dedicated to the community and everything that makes Durango a great place to live and work. Melissa lives in Durango with her husband Ryan and Siberian husky, Brodie. Away from the office you can find her enjoying the endless outdoor activities that our area has to offer and can’t imagine a better place to call home.
Our Story
Here for the long haul
Title Durango, LLC is a locally owned and operated full service title company serving southwest Colorado. At Title Durango we are committed to providing the best title insurance and closing experience possible. With a highly motivated and experienced staff, coupled with the resources necessary to handle any transaction, we are the southwest Colorado title company that you can rely on. Our focus is not only on your transaction, but also to establish a long-term relationship as your title insurance partner of choice that you can count on to get the deal closed.
Our Services
We take care of everything you'll need.
Prior to Closing
- Conduct Title Search
- Coordinate all aspects of title services with appropriate parties
- Prepare all necessary documents
- Schedule settlement
During Closing
- Account for all funds
- Review closing documents
- Disburse all mortgage loan or sale proceeds
After Closing
- Satisfy all lender requirements
- Record transfer documents
- Issue title insurance policy
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See where you’re at.
La Plata County
Colorado Rate Manual
What is Title Insurance?
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Who needs it?
Owning real estate is one of the most precious values of freedom in this country. You want the assurance that the property you are buying will be yours. Other than your mortgage holder, no one else should have any claims or restrictions against your home.
Title insurance is issued after a careful examination of the public records. But even the most thorough search cannot absolutely assure that no title faults are present, despite the knowledge and experience of professional title examiners. In addition to matters shown by public records, other title problems may exist that cannot be disclosed in a search. Title insurance eliminates any risks and losses caused by faults in title from an event that occurred before you owned the property.
Title insurance is different from other types of insurance in that it protects you, the insured, from a loss that may occur from matters or faults from the past. Other types of insurance such as auto, life, or health cover you against losses that may occur in the future. Title insurance does not protect against any future faults, but does protect you from risks or undiscovered interests. Another difference is that you pay a one-time premium for a policy that remains effective until the property is sold to a new owner – even if that doesn’t occur for decades.
What is a Lender’s Policy?
A lender’s policy, also known as a loan policy or a mortgage policy, protects the lender against loss due to unknown title defects. It also protects the lender’s interest from certain matters which may exist, but may not be known at the time of the sale. This policy only protects the lender’s interest. It does not protect the purchaser. That is why a real estate purchaser needs an owner’s policy.
What is an owner’s policy?
An owner’s policy protects you, the purchaser, against a loss that may occur from a fault in the ownership or interest you have in the property. You should protect the equity in your new home with a title policy.
What does an owner’s policy provide?
Protection from financial loss due to demands that may be charged against the title to your home, up to the cost of the title policy. Payment of legal costs if the title insurer has to defend your title against a covered claim. Payment of successful claims against the title to your home covered by the policy, up to the cost of the policy.
Why the seller needs to provide title insurance?
Any purchaser will need evidence that his investment in your property is free of title defects. The title insurance policy that you provide the purchaser is a guarantee that you are selling a clear title to your real estate, unencumbered by any legal attachments that might limit or jeopardize ownership. It will reassure your purchaser that he or she is protected from any risks or losses and could help you close your deal.
Why the buyer needs title insurance?
Without title insurance, you may not be fully protected against errors in public records, hidden defects not disclosed by the public records, or mistakes in examination of the title. As a result, you may be held fully accountable for any prior liens, judgments or claims brought against your new property. If this should occur, your title policy insures that you will be defended at no cost against all covered claims up to the amount of the policy.
How much does title insurance cost?
The insurance commission approves and controls the premiums for title insurance policies. The premiums are paid only once and the cost depends upon the purchase price of the property and the policy amount must be equal to the purchase price.
What does title insurance protect from?
- Undisclosed heirs
- Forged deeds, mortgages, wills, releases and other documents
- False impersonation of the true land owner
- Deeds by minors
- Documents executed by a revoked or expired Power of Attorney
- False affidavits of death or heirship
- Probate matters
- Fraud
- Deeds and wills by persons of unsound mind
- Conveyances by undisclosed divorced spouses
- Rights of divorced parties
- Deeds by persons falsely representing their marital status
- Adverse possession
- Defective acknowledgements due to improper or expired notarization
- Forfeitures of real property due to criminal acts
- Mistakes and omissions resulting in improper abstracting
- Errors in tax records
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Title Durango is located at
1199 Main Avenue, Suite 201,
Durango, Colorado, 81301
Office open daily M–F
8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.