The Seaport District, recently rebranded as the Innovation District, is the largest tract of underdeveloped land in the city of Boston, and its 1,000 acres are booming. Thanks to the innovative high-tech and pharmaceutical companies that are moving in, the area has attracted billions in funding. Currently, several condo and luxury apartments are being built in the area, along with a hotel.

The strong uptick in hiring within these industries is attracting an influx of 20- to 30-year-olds who are fueling significant activity in the city. As this younger set looks to live, work and play without a car, they are driving development in apartments, condos, retail and restaurants – really boosting the multifamily market.

The Financial District is seeing growth in both office and residential real estate. The office market is strong, as it is an attractive area for law firms, financial services companies and other businesses. One luxury condominium project is under way; another with mixed use is set to start construction later this year.

The Back Bay office market has been slower to recover, but finished 2012 on a high note with some significant office activity in this historically strong residential and retail area. Newbury Street, for instance, is considered the “Rodeo Drive of Boston.”

Stewart’s Boston office saw a lot of business at the close of 2012, and had a busy first quarter of 2013. We are seeing modifications of loans that closed in 2008 and 2009, refis and more high-liability/high-dollar deals around Boston and across the country. I am looking forward to continued growth in 2013, providing our customers with superior underwriting and customer service.

As the incoming president of New England Women in Real Estate, the Boston chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with so many great people in the industry. I really look forward to building upon those existing relationships and making new ones in 2013.

Ultimately, it all comes down to underwriting and responsiveness. Stewart’s ability to anticipate and meet customers’ needs and come up with creative solutions in title is invaluable. Given the depth of our underwriting experience and our stellar customer service, we anticipate that 2013 will be a great year for the office and our clients.

Our team is designed to provide the utmost service and expertise to our customers. Underwriters are stacked geographically and based on an approval authority limit basis. Stewart Legal Services is home to approximately 50 underwriters, each of whom has both primary and backup responsibilities for a particular state. They all report to one of the regional underwriting counsels under our Chief Underwriting Counsel Jim Gosdin. These Underwriters do not include our National Title Services Underwriters or Direct Operations Underwriters who report up through their respective business units but adhere to the guidelines set by Stewart Legal Services. We have a seamless high-liability approval process with calibrated authority levels, from underwriter, to associate senior underwriter, to senior underwriter. Senior underwriters have the experience to underwrite the most complex risk and have no geographic limitations.

In order to meet varied customer needs, it’s important that all of our underwriters have a varied knowledge base. While some of our senior underwriters have specific areas of expertise, they’re typically generalists and can handle legal issues that come up in any type of real estate transaction. Our senior underwriters handle transactions involving Native American rights, water rights, energy rights, renewable energy, shopping centers, multi-family, resorts, industrial, liquid natural gas, construction loans, wetlands and multi-site/multi-state deals.

As the economy improves, we’re seeing growth in these types of commercial deals along with more building contracts. Our breadth of experience in handling major, complex commercial transactions positions us well to handle this growth.

Right now we’re seeing a few hot-button issues like mechanic’s liens and mineral rights. We’ve seen the most issues with mechanic’s liens on the west coast particularly in California. The lien laws of the various states protect the mechanics and materialmen differently, so it’s important we have the local knowledge supported by our experienced Senior Underwriters to protect our customers and review the facts of each transaction carefully. Our state underwriters also monitor the legislative and regulatory measures affecting our work.

Additionally, mineral rights claims have increased with the growth of shale fracking across the country. In places like the Dakotas, to upstate New York, Ohio and Texas, we’ve had to pay close attention to these transactions to ensure our customers have the appropriate coverage.

As the economy improves and commercial transactions normalize, we expect to see more of these issues arise—and more commercial business at Stewart. With our depth of expertise in the commercial arena, Stewart’s superior team of underwriters will be fully prepared to help our customers navigate even their most complex deals.

Brokers have traditionally reviewed documents from one, often large, stack of incoming papers that they can quickly flip through to read. When documents went digital, the process became complicated. Reviewers were required to open and keep track of multiple PDF documents in separate windows. There were a number of benefits associated with taking the process digital, like full annotations, pre-loaded stamps and highlighting. However, the cumbersome process left many brokers clinging to their manila file folders instead of taking the leap to electronic files.

With that in mind, we created our document review tool as a free, add-on to SureClose®. This tool digitally emulates the traditional stack of paper. Brokers can pull and organize documents in SureClose and digitally “flip” through them in the same manner as a hardcopy.

The document review process is now faster and more efficient. If corrections are required, just a few clicks will send the document to the appropriate party; otherwise all it takes is one click for the broker to approve or reject the document, then send the reviewed document back to its place within the SureClose file. Furthermore, all of this activity is tracked to the SureClose file for compliance.

We have seen tremendous success and improved workflow for the brokers, managers and transaction coordinators who have adopted the review tool. Today, more than 2.3 million documents have been reviewed by SureClose users through its document review tool. This tool became available to customers in May of 2010.

By incorporating the familiar method into our current technology, we were able to create an easy-to-use tool that is now an integral part of SureClose, the real estate industry’s most widely used transaction management system.

In 2012, we saw increased activity around the Metroplex in concentrated pockets. In downtown Dallas, for example, the city’s visual and performing arts institutions have moved in and created their own neighborhood, a new Arts District, which has become a vibrant addition to the downtown landscape. Midtown has been strong in retail and mixed use.

North Dallas is booming with retail right now. A recent announcement that the Nebraska Furniture Mart is building a $1.5 billion, 433-acre complex in The Colony has been a real game changer for the area. The new facility, to be completed in 2015, will include a showroom and distribution center, and bring approximately 1,700 jobs and 8 million visitors per year. Anticipation of the local economic boost has spurred interest from grocers and retailers, who are preparing to accommodate the flood of people to the area.

As we head into 2013, we are excited about the opportunity to move the needle here as the economy recovers. It’s a little early to tell if the momentum of 2012 will continue, but as of now, it looks promising. More people are getting back to work and getting out of debt. Businesses are expanding, and there’s a general feeling that a vibrant economy is on the horizon. Locally, we can already feel the excitement as we have more transactions come through the door. Customers who’ve been discussing projects for years are starting to move on them. In fact, we recently secured two new customers in two days – both of whom we had been talking to for two years.

Our local Stewart offices are lucky to have a diverse base of clients across many different segments. In 2012, nearly half of our business was comprised of transactions in the entertainment, multifamily and retail sectors. In 2013, we will likely continue to see many transactions in those sectors, with an increase in industrial and hotel business as well.

As business picks up, it’s important to remember the value of service. At Stewart, we take pride in giving the best customer service possible through transparent transactions and frequent updates. Our customers expect us to know the business and close the deal, but moreover, they want to know we’ll go above and beyond for them. If we can’t “wow” them, the rest won’t matter. It’s probably true in most places, but here in the DFW Metroplex, responsiveness and impeccable customer service keeps people and companies coming back.

In the past year, we’ve seen a significant number of $75 million deals and about a dozen in the $100 million+ range, including a $1.1 billion deal in which Amazon became the largest property-owner in Seattle. Amazon’s purchase included 11 buildings with 1.8 million square feet in the South Lake Union area, just north of downtown.

There are a number of factors driving this strong commercial growth. One is the strong base of large companies like Amazon, Nordstrom, Boeing and Microsoft. They’re fostering a highly educated workforce along with confidence that jobs and opportunity will continue to grow. Transactions like the South Lake Union deal are expanding our downtown business section. The development is causing a reversal of the flight to the suburbs, with young adults moving back to the urban core.

The rush back into heart of the city is generating tremendous growth in multifamily development. Major projects on hold for several years have broken ground. In total, more than 22,000 apartments are under construction or being planned in the Seattle/Puget Sound area, according to the Seattle Times.

It’s interesting to see vibrant new residents breathe life into existing areas, spurring new restaurants, hotels and businesses. There’s something unique percolating here that people want to be part of. It feels similar to the culture phenomenon that took place in Silicon Valley in the 70s and 80s.

Seattle’s phenomenal growth isn’t happening equally throughout the city. It’s concentrated in micro segments across the area. One is in the very heart of Seattle – Pioneer Square. New restaurants, apartment developments and entertainment facilities are being built. A new basketball and hockey arena, which is intended to bring the NBA back to Seattle after nearly five years, is being planned downtown. The nearby landscape of our waterfront will change when a new tunnel system is built to replace the current highway that runs adjacent to the water.

Without a doubt, 2013 holds a lot of promise for Seattle. While the deals may not be quite as big as those we saw in 2012, we expect more of them.

Stewart is well-equipped to help clients navigate the influx of development here in Seattle. We’ve learned that each deal that comes through the door will be unique, and we adapt our services to meet those unique wants and needs. We certainly provide the solid underwriting our customers have come to expect, but one of our true advantages is our responsiveness. Our customers have confidence that we’ll do what’s necessary to move a transaction to the closing table and handle any snags along the way.

The Escrow Security Bond, offered by Stewart Specialty Insurance Services®, is a unique fidelity bond underwritten by Lloyd’s of London®. It protects agents from financial loss due to fraudulent activities, including settlement funds theft. This bond benefits lenders by providing coverage to the agent if they are held liable for one of these types of issues/claims:

Computer crime rider

If someone gains unauthorized access to your company’s computer network, this enhanced coverage safeguards settlement funds.

Cyber liability – consumer data security

In the event data is stolen from your company and used to steal customers’ identities, this optional enhancement provides coverage.

Employee theft coverage

You know your employees are trustworthy – lenders don’t. This coverage gives lenders peace of mind that their funds are protected in case of employee theft.

Partner/principal owner theft coverage

While this isn’t a concern to most title professionals, lenders need this coverage to make sure funds are secure in all possible scenarios. Even if a lender has a closing protection letter from an underwriter, this is still not enough. Partner/principal owner theft coverage provides the comprehensive protection lenders are looking for.

To succeed in the new regulatory environment, you must be able to show lender customers and prospects that you have the necessary tools to provide settlement fund security. The Escrow Security Bond can help you achieve this and secure your place in the real estate transaction for as little as $130 per month.

For more information on the coverage offered by the Escrow Security Bond, call Stewart Specialty Insurance Services at (866) 845-4676, or visit stewartbonds.com.

We insure the past, not the future

According to the American Land Title Association (ALTA), one-third of all title searches reveal a problem with a home’s title. The primary job of the title company is not simply to ensure that those flaws will not cause financial harm, but also to help remedy problems prior to your real estate closing. The majority of cost is thus not in reserving for future loss, but in problem recognition and resolution prior to closing.

Because there are hidden issues, title insurance also adds financial protection should a covered title problem arise after you purchase the home. The title policy is the end result of a search, examination and clearing of your title, and it provides financial protection to cover unforeseen issues, such as errors and mistakes in land records, forgery and undisclosed heirs, as provided in the title policy.

One-time fee

Because we insure the past, the consumer does not have a recurring payment to keep that coverage in place. Unlike the periodic monthly or annual payments made to keep traditional insurance in force, title insurance is a one-time expense paid at closing, which provides coverage for as long as you own the home, making it extremely cost-effective.

We not only protect, we enable

While we do offer a product, the production of title insurance often operates as a service. Though there are state variations, the title industry not only provides financial protection, but also enables successful real estate transactions.

Multiple parties are involved in real estate transactions, and the transfer of clear title is a very important process performed by the title company. Our network of independent agents and direct operations act as the trusted third party that facilitates a complex transaction and ensures the transaction is done correctly.

I hope this gives you a clearer picture of the value that we provide, and how it differs from other insurance products. The ALTA provides a more comprehensive description of title insurance, which I would encourage you to review.

Title Insurance is an essential business that enables successful transactions and provides assurance to homeowners and the lending community. Our work reduces mortgage interest rates and shortens the time it takes to complete a transaction. We make the complex simple so you can rest assured – making your house a home.

Determining the value of social networking seems to be the holy grail of social media today; many companies are investing significant time and resources into creating and maintaining these channels. But is it justified?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to establishing metrics. Each organization needs to look back to its individual goals. Was the intent to increase engagement? Educate customers on industry trends? Drive potential customers to the website?  Metrics can be tailored to the unique goals and needs of your organization. Perhaps you measure website visitors, engagement, “likes,” conversations or share of voice (your company’s participation in the social discussion of a topic).

The goal for many companies is to create more business by increasing web traffic. The simplest and best way to test results is a Google® Analytics report, which tells you exactly where your website visitors came from – a search engine, advertising, events, LinkedIn®, Twitter®, Facebook® and more. It can also provide you some simple analytics on social media efforts, such as social referral (incoming traffic to the website from social networks) and social visitors flow (tracking the path of website navigation once a visitor from a social network reaches the website). Once you’ve identified the highest-referring social platform, focus efforts there. Or, conversely, boost your efforts in under-performing social venues to gain more website visitors from those untapped channels.

If you’re measuring engagement for social media platforms, there are plenty of websites and software packages that can do the analyzing for you. Facebook business pages have a free Insights tool, which demonstrates trends in engagement based on likes, comments and shares. This information can help identify the types of posts and content that most resonate with your audience, and become a roadmap for your site. An increasing number of web analytics companies like Radian6 and Meltwater® Buzz provide very powerful (but more complex and expensive) applications that monitor and measure engagement. HootSuite™ offers some simple analytics, but also helps manage multiple profiles, and schedule messages and tweets.

Precise and accurate measurements correlating social media efforts and business impact may eventually be determined, but it’ll take time. Meanwhile, it all comes down to measuring what’s most important to your digital marketing strategy: relationships, web traffic, or share of voice.

Whatever it is for you, keep in mind that social media is at its root a relationship builder. We connect through these channels to expand our networking beyond face-to-face and not only garner business, but to gain trust from our customers.

Goal-setting should be one of the first pre-launch considerations. Ask yourself why you’re investing resources into social media in the first place. Is it all about engagement and interaction with customers? Or do you want to educate followers on industry trends? Goals will help you focus your efforts and determine criteria for measuring results.

While an online conversation can never be fully controlled, creating social media policies and guidelines before making the first post live to the public will help keep the conversation on the right track and build a voice for your brand. Within the guidelines, be sure to include any industry regulations that could affect your social media strategy. Apply your new policies to all of your social media outlets to improve brand and messaging consistency.

To create your own social media policy, you can leverage what other companies have done – many have even posted this information to their website. Take a look at this article from Inc., and this one from Mashable, for more on writing a policy.

Be sure to take post frequency and tone into consideration as a part of your strategy. Securing fans, visitors and followers takes time; generating a plan for acquiring and retaining them will include determining how often they need to hear from you and what interests them. Stagnant pages will lose their audiences quickly, so plan frequent updates with relevant, engaging and helpful content.

But you don’t want to inundate your audience with too many posts, either. At Stewart, we organize our posts and keep them on schedule by generating content calendars, and assigning a contact person to ensure the effort stays on schedule.

Meaningful interaction requires timely response to inquiries and comments. Assign someone to  review feedback, keep track of what you hear and reply as needed. Don’t miss the opportunity to strengthen a business connection or build a new one.

Successful efforts take significant investment, so companies should identify resources at the outset of the program. Much like a media relations effort requires dedicated spokespeople, a dedicated person (or group of people) should be appointed to oversee social media efforts and keep the message consistent.

Social media has potential to deliver significant rewards by starting meaningful conversations that can drive business and increase credibility over time. Establishing guidelines before you begin your effort will help keep you on the road to success and ensure you reap the rewards you want from your journey.

The consumer is the ultimate customer for all of the providers to the real estate transaction, including title insurance and closing. Therefore, the consumer experience in the real estate transaction is of ultimate importance to us at Stewart. There is heightened attention in the marketplace today on the consumer experience; it’s now often suggested that we make it as easy as buying a grande latte from Starbucks®. The real estate transaction is complicated by nature, but there are many ideas, services and processes being refined to deliver a better experience as well as improved efficiency.

As technology and service providers up the ante with new ways to serve their customers, the bar is continuously raised. And we, as the service providers for real estate, have an opportunity to think of ways to make the transaction a more enjoyable, more convenient and simpler experience for the consumer, as well as to improve the process for our traditional lender and REALTOR^® intermediary customers.

The consumer will first usually find a loan and/or the property before we get involved. But when the title company gets under way, we should think about how to improve their experience across all our touchpoints to make the property title-ready and get the deal closed. With the advantage of our technology, like SureClose® and Stewart Online®, we can offer mobile and online access to data and documents throughout the transaction process, as well as provide weekly status reports and emails as new documents enter the consumer’s file. We can work together with our lender and REALTOR® customers to find solutions for consumer experience issues, while ensuring that we honor the regulatory requirements for real estate transactions and consumer protection.

The consumer should get what they want, the way they want it, and enjoy a convenient closing experience. Providers should help educate consumers on the process, keep them informed, minimize their work and make it convenient. The customer experience is essential, and we will move ahead with our enhanced vision for this experience – keeping in mind that serving our customers always comes first.

Let’s be innovative in the customer experience! Please share your thoughts on the latte vision in the comments.