The title and escrow industry is built on tradition—deeply entrenched processes, paper-heavy workflows, and meticulous transactions that make it one of the most detail-driven corners of real estate. But as technology reshapes the landscape, title professionals face a choice: evolve or risk falling behind.
At the forefront of this transformation are Andrea Castelli and Erica Waldron, business partners at First Class Signing – a national signing service. Together, they are proving that innovation in title isn’t just about automation. It’s about smarter workflows, strategic partnerships, and rethinking how business gets done.
From a Happy Accident to a Lifelong Career
Like many in the title industry, neither Andrea nor Erica planned on building a career in it.
In 2018, Andrea was bartending and teaching yoga when a good friend and regular customer invited her to join a newly launched title company. The industry was completely foreign to her, but she jumped in.
“I remember Googling ‘What does a title insurance company do?’ before my first day,” she laughs. “I even looked up the definition of an easement so I could sound prepared.”
What she found was a world that was complex, fast-moving, and surprisingly compelling. She worked her way up from managing closings to overseeing operations, developing a deep understanding of the industry’s moving parts.
Meanwhile, Erica came from commercial real estate and had always dreamed of running a business with Andrea. When the pandemic hit, they saw an opportunity to launch a mobile notary company, Sunny Signings, to meet the surge in demand for remote closings. The business took off, and soon they merged with First Class Signing, gaining the infrastructure to scale nationwide.
Today, they work with lenders, real estate agents, and title professionals across the country—streamlining the closing process and proving that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about building a better way of doing business.
The Industry is Changing—But Not Fast Enough
Andrea and Erica have watched the industry shift toward automation, integrations, and remote online notarization (RON), but they know there’s still a long way to go.
One of the biggest inefficiencies? Paper-based processes.
“I wish I could snap my fingers and make it so we never had to print another set of closing documents again,” Andrea says. “iPen technology already exists, where buyers and sellers can sign digitally on an iPad, but widespread adoption just isn’t there yet.”
Beyond the paperwork, quality control remains a major challenge. Title transactions involve hundreds of pages, each requiring meticulous review. A single missed initial or incorrect signature can cause delays that ripple through the process.
“Right now, it’s all human review,” Andrea explains. “That means errors get caught late and fixing them takes time. But that’s about to change. A new AI-driven solution is already in the works—one that will scan and verify documents instantly, catching errors before they cause delays. When it’s ready, it’ll be a complete game changer.”
But beyond technology, awareness is a major roadblock.
“If I could change one thing, it would be for every title professional to know the resources available to them,” Erica adds. “There are so many forward-thinking vendors in this industry—solutions that could reduce stress and eliminate tedious tasks. But too many agents don’t realize what’s out there.”
Making Title a Career People Actually Choose
For Andrea and Erica, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about people.
Most professionals “fall into title” rather than choosing it as a career. But they believe that needs to change.
“We need to make this industry appealing to younger professionals,” Erica says. “Right now, most people don’t even know what title is until they stumble into it. What if we shifted the narrative to: ‘I want a career in title’?”
That shift starts with better access to industry education and networking. Conferences, for example, are invaluable—but often feel out of reach for newcomers.
“The opportunities are endless if you invest in yourself,” Erica says. “When you believe in yourself, others believe in you too. We need to make conferences, mentorships, and events more accessible to the next generation.”
Standardization & Efficiency: A Smarter Future
Looking ahead, Andrea and Erica advocate for standardization, sustainability, and efficiency.
- Standardization – “Every lender has different closing requirements—it’s unnecessarily complex,” Andrea explains. “A more uniform process would make everything smoother.”
- Sustainability – The industry is moving toward greener, digital-first practices—but those should be the standard, not just an option.
- Efficiency – “The sooner we make digital the norm, the better,” Erica says. “It keeps us competitive, modern, and more appealing to new talent.”
The Industry You Never Leave
Despite challenges, they’re optimistic about the future—one driven by efficiency, better technology, and stronger relationships.
“We need young professionals to step up and be part of the change,” Andrea says.
And as for the idea that title is an industry you never leave?
“Jen Giles, a WFG rep, once told me, ‘Welcome to title—the industry you’ll never leave,’” Andrea laughs. “She was right. Once you see the potential and relationships, you realize this is where you’re meant to be.”
The Growth & Scale Report is published by CloseSimple, and explores strategies for growth and tools for scaling your title or escrow company. The report emphasizes the art of balancing growth and scale, with a focus on personal and organizational success stories. It aims to share insights from industry leaders who have navigated these challenges, providing a platform for broader conversations in the business landscape.
