Proper Title, LLC, a full-service title insurance firm serving the commercial and residential real estate industry throughout the Chicagoland area, today announced Katy Thomas, a 30-year veteran of the title insurance and real estate industries, has joined the firm as director of business development – Chicago. Based in the firm’s Loop office at 180 N. LaSalle St., Thomas will focus on driving new business growth in residential, commercial and national real estate transactions.
“Bringing Katy onto our team is just the latest in a string of strategic hires and new office openings over the past six months to meet demand as Proper Title completed nearly 25% more residential closings in 2019 than the year prior,” said Kim O’Donnell, vice president of business development for Proper Title. “She brings a wealth of skills and industry ‘know how’ and is highly regarded throughout the industry for her responsiveness, professionalism and integrity. Katy has also built a vast network of trusted real estate professionals that we value and would be honored to serve.”
Most recently, Thomas was the Chicago-area sales manager for Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund. Prior to that, she held several different positions, including a broker associate for Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, founder and owner of Regent Title, and executive vice president of sales for Near North Title Group. Thomas began her career in real estate as an escrow closer for Chicago Title Insurance Company. She holds a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.
“As a former owner of a title insurance firm, I really respect Proper Title’s rapid growth and entrepreneurial spirit – it resonates with me,” said Thomas. “Joining Proper Title was also a natural decision because we share the same goals – making sure clients are happy and have a successful transaction from title to closing. I look forward to continuing my long-term partnerships with some of Chicago’s best real estate attorneys, lenders, developers and brokers at Proper Title.”
Thomas grew up in the northwest suburbs and has lived in Chicago since 1993. She serves as a member of the Chicago chapter of Women in Commercial Real Estate (CREW), Real Estate Investors Association (REIA) and Real Estate Finance Forum (REFF).
Launched in 2013, Proper Title was recently recognized as one of Chicago’s “Best Places to Work 2019,” an annual ranking of 100 companies compiled by Crain’s Chicago Business, and was a 2019 recipient of the “Excellence in Action” award from Fidelity National Title Group, Inc. for the fifth year in a row.
Proper Title has closing offices in the Chicago suburbs of Palatine, Northbrook, Libertyville, Park Ridge, Oak Brook and St. Charles, as well as closing locations in Chicago’s Loop, Bucktown and Irving Park neighborhoods. The title company also offers remote closings to attorney clients.
About Proper Title, LLC:
Palatine, Ill.-based Proper Title, LLC, is a full-service title insurance agency serving the residential and commercial real estate industries. Since its founding in 2013, Proper Title has substantially grown its transaction volume in just a few years with its commitment to servicing the needs of its clients and is currently the second-largest title insurance agency in Illinois. The firm has earned the “Rising Star / Excellence in Action” award by Fidelity Investments for the past five years in a row. With nine closing locations in Cook, Lake, DuPage and Kane, Kendall counties, Proper Title is able to deliver an exceptional title experience throughout the Chicago area and the Midwest. For more information, visit propertitle.com.
Katy Thomas is the new director of business development – Chicago at Proper Title, LLC.