Members of the association are in business in most counties across the nation. Nearly all title insurance companies hold ALTA membership, in addition to abstracters* and title agents. Nearly 2,000 title agents, abstracters, and title insurance companies are Active members, ranging from small, one-county operations, to large national title insurers. Associate members of ALTA may include attorneys, builders, developers, lenders, real estate brokers, surveyors, consultants, educational institutions, computer services firms, and related national trade associations.

ALTA members advocate safe and efficient transfer of real estate and insist on high standards when searching land title records and preparing insurance documents. The industry seeks to eliminate risk before insuring, which provides the insured with the best possible chance of avoiding land title problems. But, title difficulties can and do occur, and members offer both owner's and lender's title insurance as effective safeguards.

For a one-time cost at the real estate closing, title insurance will identify title problems found in a title search of public records, will pay valid claims, and will pay for defending against an attack on title as insured.

Professionals in the real estate market, as well as the home buying public, benefit considerably from the commitment to excellence that is routine in the work of ALTA members. Involvement by a title company is often thought of as the catalyst that allows a real estate closing to proceed smoothly until completed.

• American Land Title Association