Buyer guide
Who picks the title company in North Carolina?
What RESPA Section 9 and North Carolina guidance actually say, and how choosing a title agent works when an attorney runs the closing.
Can I choose my own title company in North Carolina?
Yes, in the ways that count. Federal law bars a seller from requiring you to buy title insurance from a particular company as a condition of the sale, the NC Department of Insurance tells consumers they may choose the title insurance company they want, and an affiliated provider cannot be made a condition of your loan. Your lender and your closing attorney still need to be able to work with your choice, so tell them early.
"Who picks the title company" is one of the most common questions buyers ask, and the honest answer has several parts, because the rules come from different places and cover different people.
What each rule actually says
| Who | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The seller | A seller may not require, directly or indirectly, as a condition of selling the property, that the buyer purchase title insurance from any particular title company, where the purchase uses a federally related mortgage loan. A seller who violates this is liable to the buyer for three times the title insurance charges. | 12 U.S.C. 2608 (RESPA Section 9); 12 CFR 1024.16 |
| Real estate agents and lenders | NC DOI consumer guidance: you may choose the title insurance company you want and do not have to use a title company selected by a real estate agent or lender. | NC Department of Insurance |
| Affiliated companies | When a company refers you to a provider it shares ownership with, it must give a written disclosure, and you cannot be required to use the affiliate, with narrow exceptions such as a lender's own attorney or appraiser. | 12 CFR 1024.15 |
| Your lender's shopping list | The lender gives you a written list of providers for services you can shop for. You may choose a provider not on the list if the lender agrees to work with it. | CFPB |
Sources: 12 U.S.C. 2608 (RESPA Section 9) 12 CFR 1024.16 NC Department of Insurance, Title Insurance 12 CFR 1024.15 CFPB, What closing services can I shop for?
How choice works with a North Carolina closing attorney
North Carolina adds one more layer. Before a policy can be issued here, the title insurer must have the opinion of an independent NC attorney who examined title or supervised the examination. N.C. Gen. Stat. 58-26-1 So in practice your title insurance is placed through your closing attorney's office: the attorney certifies title to the insurer or its agent, and the agent issues the commitment and policy.
That means the most useful thing you can do is tell your closing attorney, in writing and early, which title insurance agent you want. Many NC firms use a one page title preference sheet for exactly this purpose; our preference sheet guide explains it. Attorneys generally work with a set of underwriters they are approved with. If the attorney you have chosen cannot work with your preferred title agent, you can ask why, choose a different provider, or in some cases choose a different attorney. That decision is yours.
How to compare title providers when the premium is filed
In North Carolina, insurers that are members of the Rating Bureau use the same filed schedule for the same coverage, so comparing providers is mostly about service and clarity. NCTIRB rate manual, effective Feb 1, 2026 The CFPB suggests asking providers for references and asking how responsive they were and how they handled problems. CFPB, Shop for title insurance Questions worth asking any title agent:
- Who is the underwriter, and is your agency licensed by the NC Department of Insurance? (You can check licenses through the NAIC lookup used by NCDOI.)
- Do you work with my closing attorney, and how does the attorney send you the order?
- Will my owner's policy be standard or enhanced, and what is the difference in premium?
- Is there a prior policy on this property that could qualify for the reissue rate?
- Do you share ownership with my lender, agent or builder? If so, where is the written disclosure?
We answer those for Ironwood on our about page: our underwriter is First American Title Insurance Company, we are a licensed NC title insurance agency, and we share ownership with 1st Advantage Mortgage, which is disclosed in writing to every borrower it refers.
Telling your attorney you choose Ironwood
- 1
Write it down
On the attorney's title preference sheet, or in an email to the attorney's office, write: "I would like my title insurance issued through Ironwood Title Group, orders@ironwoodtitlegroup.com."
- 2
Include your file details
Your name, the property address and, if you have it, your loan number help the office match your request to the file.
- 3
Copy your loan officer
So the lender knows the title agent on the file and can confirm it accepts the policy.
- 4
Ask us anything
Email orders@ironwoodtitlegroup.com if you have questions before you decide. Asking does not commit you to anything.
Questions people ask
Can my real estate agent pick my title company?
Your agent can recommend one, but NC Department of Insurance guidance says you may choose the title insurance company you want and do not have to use one selected by a real estate agent or lender.
What is RESPA Section 9?
Section 9 of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, 12 U.S.C. 2608, says a seller may not require the buyer, as a condition of the sale, to buy title insurance from a particular title company when the purchase uses a federally related mortgage loan.
Does choosing a different title agent change my premium?
For the same coverage, NC insurers that use the Rating Bureau schedule apply the same filed rates. Differences usually come from coverage choices, endorsements and prior policy credits, not the agent.