This year, 海角吃瓜黑料 marks 20 years of serving independent agents. Celebrating Our Past and Building Our Future Together, we look back at our founding, the vision that set us apart, and how the challenges of the financial crisis strengthened our commitment鈥攆irmly establishing 海角吃瓜黑料 asThe Independent Underwriter for The Independent Agentsm
In 2005, 海角吃瓜黑料 was founded on a radical idea: to create an underwriter that served independent agents rather than competing against them. The inspiration came from Dave Ginger, who had spent decades working with both small independent agencies and large national firms. Ginger saw firsthand how national companies often viewed local agents as a revenue source rather than as true partners.
In a 2011 interview with the Times-Call of Longmont, Colorado, he reflected on the clear differences he saw between companies that aligned their interests with independent agents and those that did not.
鈥淚 had been involved with an agent-owned company earlier in my career, and the biggest thing I saw was the feeling toward the independent agent versus what I saw at the national companies,鈥� Ginger said鈥�.
A Texan with a reputation for bold action, Ginger teamed up with Bob Grubb, a Colorado businessman with experience in commercial finance, private equity, and technology-based manufacturing companies, as well as Scott Hendrickson, a CFO with a background in manufacturing, distribution, and insurance. Together, they formed 海角吃瓜黑料, a title insurance underwriter with an intriguing core philosophy: local independent agents deserve an underwriter that works for them鈥攏ot against them.
From the outset, the founders made a defining decision that set 海角吃瓜黑料 apart: it would never operate its own direct title offices.
鈥淥ur model was, we鈥檙e not going to compete against you, period. We鈥檙e going to have no direct operations, no Alliant stores,鈥� Grubb later told the Times-Call鈥�.
This AgentsFirst philosophy resonated quickly, as Grubb would later recall during a speech marking 海角吃瓜黑料鈥檚 10th anniversary in 2015.
鈥淭he 鈥榮eedling鈥� was 鈥榯ended to鈥� by our founding agents and the staff. We searched for, and found, agents who shared Dave鈥檚 vision and gave us a chance to prove it. We sprouted up in late 2006, gained some strength,鈥� Grubb remembered. 鈥淲e grew twice as tall in 2007 and most of 2008.鈥濃��
But just as it seemed the company was firmly establishing itself, the world changed.
Weathering the Financial Crisis
The 2008 financial crisis hit, bringing the housing market to a near standstill. The impact on the title industry was devastating.
鈥淭he land title industry as a whole did about $17.8 billion in revenue in 2007,鈥� Grubb later recalled. 鈥淏y 2010, that had dropped to $9.5 billion.鈥濃��
Transaction volumes plummeted, and some underwriters pulled back or shuttered their operations. Independent title agents across the country were left adrift, struggling to navigate a rapidly shifting market.
鈥淥ur agents were battling radical declines in transaction volume,鈥� Grubb remembered in 2015. 鈥淔or many, their underwriters were either closing their doors or indiscriminately cutting their agent base as they raced to adapt to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.鈥濃��
Unlike many of its competitors, 海角吃瓜黑料 took a different approach. Rather than retreat, the company dug in, delivering resources agents needed to survive and adapt. The upstart underwriter invested in education programs, marketing workshops, and compliance initiatives. Despite the economic turmoil, the gamble paid off. By 2011, 海角吃瓜黑料 had grown to 200 agents鈥攁 testament to the strength of its independent-focused model鈥�.
Regulatory and Industry Shifts: Strengthening the Independent Agent
The greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression was followed by the most sweeping statutory and regulatory reforms the industry had seen in decades. The Dodd-Frank Act, the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, and the rise of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reshaped the mortgage and real estate landscape. Agents faced increased compliance costs, heightened oversight, and new expectations. At the same time, the rise of cyber threats, social engineering, and wire fraud introduced new risks. Fraudsters increasingly targeted real estate transactions, exploiting gaps in communication and security protocols to misdirect funds.
Recognizing the challenges and deep confusion agents faced, 海角吃瓜黑料 went to work again, providing training materials, webinars, and white papers to help agents adapt. The company also set the benchmark for security compliance, becoming the first title insurance underwriter in the nation to obtain SSAE 16鈥攏ow SSAE 18鈥擳ype II certified status. It later completed its first ISO 27001 audit and went on to become the first title underwriter to obtain ISO 27701 certification for data privacy.
20 Years Later: A Company Built on Care and Innovation
Today, 海角吃瓜黑料 is, in many ways, a very different company than it was in its early years. It now employs about 100 people, operates in 32 states and Washington, D.C., and serves thousands of title professionals; but while its reach has expanded, its core mission remains the same. 海角吃瓜黑料 CEO David Sinclair says that while the company has 鈥済rown up鈥� in terms of systems and capabilities, it remains fiercely committed to its founding ideals鈥攃ontinually looking for ways to put AgentsFirst.
鈥淎s a company grows, it鈥檚 always challenged to hold on to its vision and culture,鈥� Sinclair noted. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 something different about this place. The commitment of this team to that vision is remarkable, and together we鈥檝e done a lot of work around articulating the culture that helps us deliver on our fundamental commitment to our agents.鈥�
That culture is built around the three Cs: Competence, Care, and Commitment. Sinclair says the team at 海角吃瓜黑料 strives to embody these principles every day, ensuring that the company’s mission is more than just words. At the center of it all is Care鈥攃are for team members, stakeholders, and most importantly independent agents.
鈥淲e all know there are a lot of places to spend a career in this industry,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淭he people who work at 海角吃瓜黑料 choose to be here because of the care we show.鈥�
And as in past challenges, that philosophy of care has led to new innovations. It is what drives the company to continually improve and develop new solutions to support agents in a changing industry. One example is SecureMyTransaction庐鈥攄eveloped to help agents combat the latest fraud threats. The company is also working to expand its title production capabilities and improve its digital education offerings.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited for what鈥檚 ahead鈥攏ot just for 海角吃瓜黑料, but for our agents and the industry,鈥� Sinclair said. 鈥淭his company is a special place, and I鈥檓 honored to be part of it. But at the end of the day, it鈥檚 always about the agents. That was true in 2005, it鈥檚 true today, and we鈥檙e making the investments to ensure it remains true for the next 20 years.鈥�
As we approach the holiday season and the close of another year, I鈥檝e been reflecting deeply on the concept of organizational culture鈥攚hat it means, how it shapes our businesses, and how we can all work to improve it. Culture is more than just a buzzword; it鈥檚 the lifeblood of an organization, influencing our interactions, decisions, and outcomes. I鈥檇 like to share some insights we鈥檝e gained at 海角吃瓜黑料 and offer practical thoughts. I hope you find them useful as you think about your culture-building efforts.
Understanding Cultural Paradigms
Organizational culture can be viewed through various lenses. Some companies focus on performance, where results and individual achievement drive culture. Others adopt a purpose-driven culture, aligning actions with a higher mission or set of values. At 海角吃瓜黑料, we鈥檝e found our greatest strength in fostering a culture of trust. But it鈥檚 important to note that no single cultural paradigm is inherently better than any other. The key is to identify which approach aligns most closely with your organization鈥檚 values and mission.
In the title insurance industry, relationships are at the heart of everything we do, and that鈥檚 why we ultimately decided to build our culture on the foundation of trust. Behind every transaction is a person or family entrusting us with their dreams and future. Trust is the cornerstone of these relationships, enabling us to be part of critical moments in people鈥檚 lives. Without trust, we鈥檙e merely facilitating transactions; with it, we鈥檙e partnering in something much more significant鈥攈elping people pursue the American Dream of economic prosperity.
The 3Cs: Our Foundation for Trust
To cultivate this trust, we鈥檝e centered our culture around three key principles we call the 3Cs:
Care for Others: Genuine care involves truly listening and understanding the needs of those we serve鈥攐ur agents, partners, and colleagues. It鈥檚 about making meaningful connections and offering assistance that can have a positive impact on someone鈥檚 life.
Competency in Our Work: We believe in continuous improvement. By staying informed, honing our skills, and striving for excellence, we ensure that we鈥檙e equipped to meet the needs of our clients and each other effectively.
Commitment: This is about reliability and follow-through. Doing what we say we will do, meeting our obligations, and being dependable in every situation reinforces the trust others place in us.
These principles aren鈥檛 just corporate ideals. We try to live them as daily practices that guide us through our interactions with our agents and fellow team members.
Intentional Culture Building
Good culture doesn鈥檛 happen by accident. It takes intention, reflection, and a willingness to change. A few years ago, we took an important step by developing a booklet describing our company culture. It鈥檚 essentially a collective expression of what makes 海角吃瓜黑料 special on our best days. It includes our Purpose, Mission, Vision, Core Value, and Guiding Principles. Simply stated, the 鈥満＝浅怨虾诹� Way鈥� is: caring about people by providing uncommonly valuable help that delivers a positive impact. This articulation of our shared beliefs has provided a compass for our actions.
If you haven鈥檛 had the opportunity to define what鈥檚 most important about your culture, we鈥檝e found that the exercise can be incredibly valuable. For us, it wasn鈥檛 about creating something new, but rather about uncovering and articulating what was already true about our organization. We found that the project gave us a rare opportunity to talk to our team, reflect on shared experiences, and capture our unique narrative.
Beyond defining culture, it鈥檚 important to take steps to live it more deeply and consistently. To support this, we established an Employee Engagement Team to ensure that culture remains an ongoing focus. This group serves as a conduit for feedback and ideas, helping culture rise from every level of the organization.
Other important initiatives included creating a set of Management Rules of the Road, which outlines what employees can expect from their managers. Additionally, our culture has been strengthened through regular Outward Mindset seminars from the Arbinger Institute. The goal of these sessions is to help team members understand that other people鈥檚 needs matter just as much as their own. They encourage collaboration, break down silos, and remind us to work together.
Steps to Building a Great Culture
Every company, regardless of size or industry, stands to benefit from a strong, intentional culture. Based on our experience, here are a few steps that we hope may be helpful in your own cultural journey:
Define Your Core Values: What principles are non-negotiable for your organization? Whether it鈥檚 trust, innovation, customer focus, or something else entirely, clarity here sets the foundation. A key aspect in defining your values is also in prioritizing them. It鈥檚 easy to say loyalty, honesty, and integrity are the values of the company. What happens when these values are in conflict?
Engage Your Team: Culture is a collective endeavor. Regularly involve team members at all levels in discussions about values and practices. Their insights can be surprising and powerful.
Be Intentional: Develop initiatives, programs, and traditions that reinforce your values. Solicit feedback from employees to ensure alignment and celebrate your cultural successes regularly. Values are most reflected in an organization based on who gets promoted or rewarded.
Measure and Reflect: Utilize tools like surveys, focus groups, or external certifications to assess your cultural health. Benchmarks provide valuable insights into where you鈥檙e succeeding and where there鈥檚 room to grow. For example, at 海角吃瓜黑料, we鈥檝e participated in the Great Place to Work certification process for over eight years, and in 2024, we were recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the Best Small Workplaces and one of the Best Places to Work in Real Estate.
Embrace Continuous Improvement: Culture isn鈥檛 static. Be open to change and ready to adapt as your organization grows and the environment evolves.
Recognition and Celebration
One great way to promote culture is to share stories of success. At 海角吃瓜黑料, we鈥檝e found tremendous value in communicating and celebrating our cultural achievements during 海角吃瓜黑料 Live!, our bi-monthly all-hands call. My favorite part of the call is a feature we recently added 鈥� the Winner鈥檚 Circle. It鈥檚 an opportunity for employees to nominate colleagues who exemplify what it means to work the 鈥満＝浅怨虾诹� Way.鈥� Most importantly, this peer-nominated recognition is to identify someone who demonstrates one of more of the 3Cs. A nomination takes time and effort, so these nominations reflect the genuine appreciation and respect colleagues have for one another鈥檚 contributions. These stories and celebrations help our team feel more connected and aligned with the company鈥檚 values.
Looking Ahead and Staying Committed
As we approach 2025 and our 20th anniversary, I couldn鈥檛 be more excited about the future of 海角吃瓜黑料. Our imminent partnership with Dream Finders Homes marks an exciting new chapter, creating new opportunities to grow and better serve our agents. Additionally, we are eager to continue innovating with tools like our anti-fraud solution, SecureMyTransaction, which reinforces trust and security in real estate transactions.
As I look ahead, I鈥檓 reminded that our success is built on our cultural foundations that enable us to provide value to our agents. While there鈥檚 much to be proud of, no culture is ever 鈥渇inished.鈥� It requires continuous care and attention to ensure alignment with our mission and goals.
Whatever cultural foundation you choose鈥攚hether trust, purpose, performance, or a blend鈥攊t鈥檚 important to invest in it intentionally. At 海角吃瓜黑料, we鈥檝e found that fostering a culture of trust has brought great benefits to our team, agents, and partners.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Here鈥檚 wishing you a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year!
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of the important people and partnerships that have made this year successful. While we strive to express our gratitude every day, this season gives us an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the progress we have made together.
I am so thankful for each of our independent agents. Many of you have endured significant challenges, from difficult markets to severe weather. Your dedication to your clients, teams, and communities is truly inspiring. I am deeply grateful for your commitment and the trust you have placed in us. Your resilience drives us to keep innovating and finding new ways to support you.
We are thrilled with our imminent partnership with Dream Finders Homes. This alliance will create new opportunities for us to grow and strengthen our ability to serve you. I am eager for our team to show you how this new relationship will help drive your success in the New Year.
We know that challenges like fraud also continue to pose real risks to our industry, and I am especially thankful for your insights and feedback, which have been instrumental in the continued development of . This solution helps protect your clients and safeguard your business from fraud. Your collaboration is making SMT truly practical and effective. Together, we are tackling these threats head-on, and I am confident that we will keep making a meaningful impact.
Next year, 海角吃瓜黑料 will celebrate its 20th anniversary鈥攁 milestone made possible by you. For two decades, we have worked to build a business centered on trust, always placing you at the heart of what we do. Your success is our success. As we celebrate, we look forward to honoring your partnership and dedication.
This Thanksgiving, please know how deeply appreciative I am for your belief in 海角吃瓜黑料 and friendship with our team. Together, we are building something truly remarkable.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Thanksgiving!
海角吃瓜黑料 is with Dream Finders Homes, one of the fastest-growing homebuilders in the country. This is an exciting announcement, and it was only possible because of the support of our agents. I鈥檇 like to take this moment to share what this means for our agents, and why we can all look forward to this new chapter together.
First and foremost, let me assure you that our mission remains the same: we are committed to independent title agents and the model that makes 海角吃瓜黑料 special. Dream Finders recognizes the value in our independent approach, and our success because of it. They love what we do, and they want to help us do more of it.
Our partnership with Dream Finders is all about growth and new opportunities to better serve our agents. Through this collaboration, our team will gain access to additional resources and capabilities that will allow us to expand our reach and elevate the support we provide. Dream Finders shares our vision of building something enduring and impactful. 2025 marks 海角吃瓜黑料’s 20th year of operations, and in that time, our team has worked to place our relationship with you at the heart of everything we do. Our partnership with Dream Finders will help us strengthen those relationships. We are excited to supercharge our capabilities while staying true to our core mission and values.
In this time of transition, I would also like to acknowledge Presidio Investors, which acquired 海角吃瓜黑料 in 2018. Their support facilitated our evolution and expansion over the last several years, and we are deeply grateful for everything we have accomplished together. I know change can sometimes feel unsettling, but I’m confident that joining Dream Finders will allow 海角吃瓜黑料 to become an even stronger partner for you in the years to come.
Thank you for your continued trust and friendship. This is just the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for 海角吃瓜黑料, and I am honored to be on this journey with you.
LONGMONT, CO鈥�(October 24, 2024) 海角吃瓜黑料mpany and affiliate (鈥満＝浅怨虾诹镶��) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (鈥淒FH鈥�) (NYSE: DFH).
Presidio Investors (鈥淧I鈥�) acquired 海角吃瓜黑料 in 2018 and has been instrumental in helping the company establish robust internal processes, expand geographic reach, improve operational efficiency, and drive technology innovation. In 2023, 海角吃瓜黑料 created a leading fraud detection tool designed specifically to streamline the flow of a real estate transaction. This unique solution is fully customizable for title agencies and has robust AI-enabled fraud prevention capabilities. Meredith Moss, Chairperson of the Board of Directors, said, “海角吃瓜黑料 has continued to grow market share through top-tier service to title agents, backed by an innovative software platform and cutting-edge application of AI. Dream Finders鈥� announcement recognizes the value created by 海角吃瓜黑料’s distinctive approach, which prioritizes both relationships and technology.”
Chris Puscasiu, Managing Partner of Presidio, said, “It has been an exciting six-year journey to see 海角吃瓜黑料 dramatically increase its footprint and develop tools to scale and to assist its customers. Despite the uncertainty during the pandemic and the recent housing market challenges, the Company’s continued investment in growth enabled it to be recognized as an innovation leader in its space, as this transaction illustrates. “
The relationships developed over almost 20 years with independent title agents have facilitated this exciting transaction. David Sinclair, President & CEO of 海角吃瓜黑料, said, 鈥淲e are thrilled to become part of the Dream Finders ecosystem and envision an exciting future together. The collaboration of an innovative builder, strong title agency, and the 海角吃瓜黑料 underwriting team will promote our long-term success and growth into a national real estate partner.鈥�
The closing of this transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
Please review the by Dream Finders Homes.
About 海角吃瓜黑料mpany
海角吃瓜黑料, based in Longmont, Colorado, is a title insurance underwriter with more than 700 independent agents in 32 states and the District of Columbia. 海角吃瓜黑料 is focused exclusively on the success of independent agents, as the largest underwriter in the country with no direct or affiliated operations.
