Title Abstract and Settlement Offices NAICS 541191

        Title Abstract and Settlement Offices

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Purchase Report

Industry Summary

The 6,800 title abstract and settlement offices in the US coordinate and conduct activities necessary to transfer ownership of real estate. Firms may charge fees for title searches, surveys, tax certificates, legal services, escrow, filing, recording, documentation, and delivery. Firms also earn commissions as an agent for a title insurance provider.

Dependence On Third Parties

For most real estate transactions, a third party, such as a real estate agent, builder, or mortgage banker, recommends a title company.

Government Regulation

The complexities of real estate transactions and potential for service providers to commit fraudulent or unethical acts have led to government regulations to protect buyers and sellers.


Recent Developments

Sep 23, 2025 - Mortgage Rates Hit 11-Month Low
  • The average 30-year mortgage rate was the lowest in nearly a year in the second week of September, increasing buying power for would-be homeowners, but headwinds for a housing recovery remain, according to The Wall Street Journal. The week of September 18, the weekly average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 6.26%, down significantly from 7% at the start of 2025, and marking the lowest rate since October 2024, according to Freddie Mac. Industry insiders suggest the frozen housing market may begin to thaw when rates are consistently below 6%, a financial and psychological signpost for many. However, affordability remains a challenge as home prices are about 50% higher than in 2019. Insurance and property tax costs are also elevated. Signs of a slower labor market may also give some potential buyers pause.
  • Home builder confidence in the single-family market was unchanged in August but remained solidly in negative territory in September, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), remained at 32 in September 2025, unchanged from August’s reading. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. Home builder sentiment has been stuck in the 30s since May 2025, but in the most recent survey, builders were optimistic that interest rates would move lower and stimulate demand. The HMI survey also showed that 39% of builders reduced home prices in September to lure potential buyers off the sidelines, although the average price reduction of 5% has remained unchanged since November 2024.
  • Single-family housing starts fell 7% month-over-month and decreased 11.7% year-over-year in August. The number of building permits issued for single-family, privately-owned housing units dropped 2.2% month-over-month and fell 11.5% year-over-year in July 2025. With just 890,000 single-family homes breaking ground, August marked the lowest activity since April 2023. Builders may be slowing production amid a mounting oversupply of new homes on the market, according to Reuters. The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark overnight interest rate from 4.25% to 4.0% on September 18 amid a tepid labor market, and the central bank is expected to announce more cuts before the end of the year. In anticipation of the Fed rate cut, mortgage rates moved lower earlier in September. Industry insiders hope rate cuts will ease a prolonged housing slump.
  • High home prices and mortgage rates have priced many would-be homebuyers out of the market, creating robust pent-up demand that’s unlikely to be realized in the near term, according to The Wall Street Journal. In 2024, there were about 1.1 million first-time buyers, compared to an annual average of about 2.1 million over the last 20 years, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). To afford a median-priced new home today, a buyer would need an income of $127,000 compared to $79,000 for the same home in 2021, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Industry watchers suggest that many first-time buyers may remain stuck on the sidelines, absent a significant drop in mortgage rates or a recession that pushes down home values.

Industry Revenue

Title Abstract and Settlement Offices


Industry Structure

Industry size & Structure

The average title abstract and settlement office operates out of a single location, employs 11 workers, and generates $1.8 million annually.

    • The title abstract and settlement industry consists of about 6,800 companies that employ about 74,300 workers and generate about $12.5 billion annually.
    • The industry is fragmented; the top 50 firms account for 39% of industry sales.
    • The industry includes real estate settlement offices, title abstract companies, and title search companies.
    • Some large title insurance companies, such as Fidelity National Financial and Stewart Information Services, are vertically-integrated, and provide titling services in addition to insurance policies.

                            Industry Forecast

                            Industry Forecast
                            Title Abstract and Settlement Offices Industry Growth
                            Source: Vertical IQ and Inforum

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