Tyler Lee never set out for a career in title and escrow. Like many in the industry, she stumbled into it—first entering business cards into a CRM, then delivering donuts to brokers, and eventually learning the ins and outs of title work. What started as a side gig turned into a career built on problem-solving, innovation, and a relentless drive to modernize an industry often resistant to change.
But despite all the progress, something didn’t add up. Title companies were sitting on mountains of data, yet the industry remained bogged down by manual data entry, outdated systems, and inefficiencies that drained productivity. The information was there—the problem was knowing how to use it.
The Unlock: Data as Title’s Biggest Untapped Asset
Lee sees data as the industry’s biggest opportunity, but the challenge isn’t just access—it’s usability. “We’ve always had the data needed to close a file, but we haven’t always been able to access it easily or even know what to do with it,” she explains. Too often, critical data is trapped in outdated systems, forcing teams to enter the same information multiple times and rely on too much manual oversight.
Blockchain, once often heralded as a game-changer, has a 50/50 chance of making a real impact in the next decade, Lee predicts. But not in the way most expect. Instead of an industry-wide overhaul, she envisions blockchain first taking hold in test markets where clean data structures allow it to thrive. The real transformation, however, won’t come from blockchain alone—it will come when title software evolves from a passive tool into an active decision-maker, anticipating needs rather than waiting for inputs.
Learning by Doing
Lee was embracing digitization before it was standard. Early in her career, she was scanning files before anyone else in her office, long before paperless workflows became the norm. Later, at Blend, she helped craft a digital-first title experience with a simple but radical goal: “We just want to do one end-to-end digital closing … then another … then another.”
But technology alone isn’t the answer—process is. “Original Title Production systems were designed to be dumb. They take smart people and make them do unnecessary work,” she says. The real opportunity isn’t just digitizing existing workflows—it’s designing systems that think, act, and remove unnecessary steps altogether.
The 45-Day Reset: How Stepping Away Changed Everything
After years of pushing the limits of innovation in title and proptech, Lee hit a wall. She had built, optimized, and streamlined, but something still felt off. Burned out and running on autopilot, she struggled to see what was next.
So, she did something bold—she walked away.
She and her wife packed up their converted Sprinter van and spent 45 days traveling up and down the California coast. No spreadsheets. No meetings. Just the open road, fresh air, and the space to think beyond the day-to-day grind. It wasn’t just a break—it was a reset.
And that’s when the idea for Beyond Title was born.
The problem wasn’t just inefficiency—it was mindset. Too many title professionals were stuck managing data instead of letting systems do it for them. What if title professionals could shift from being data entry clerks to actual transaction strategists? What if software could anticipate the next steps instead of waiting for someone to trigger them manually?
The Marketplace of the Future
Lee believes title companies can create a marketplace experience for consumers—one that prioritizes transparency, choice, and a seamless closing process. By harnessing real-time data, title companies won’t need to track every step manually. Instead, technology will surface key decisions exactly when they’re needed.
The problem? Most companies aren’t leveraging the data they already have.
Lee points to tools like Agent Brief, which provide real-time updates on agents’ listings and contracts, as an example of how smart data usage can drive business forward. Instead of looking backward and guessing what’s the next trend, companies can use real time updates to predict and drive what's next. “Nobody’s looking backward to use the data they already have,” she says. The title companies that embrace automation will be the ones leading the next wave of transformation.
The Future: Smarter Software, Smarter Title Professionals
Lee envisions a future where data isn’t just an afterthought—it’s the backbone of efficiency, consumer empowerment, and industry evolution. But the biggest shift? Title professionals won’t need to tell the software what to do. Software will already know.
Her journey is a reminder that sometimes, the best way to move forward is to step back. To unplug. To reset. Because the future of title isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter.
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.
