Fairfax Title Is Bringing High-Touch Back to the Industry

In the dynamic, fast-changing landscape of real estate, where acquisitions are as common as interest rate hikes, a bold new player has entered the title scene, bringing a concierge touch and a commitment to excellence.

Meet Fairfax Title. The firm, co-founded by seasoned real estate professionals Ashley Cook and Travis Mathews, is set to reshape (and ROCK) the title industry in Dallas.

Mergers & Acquisitions

The title landscape has gone through a major shake-up with recent waves of mergers and buyouts. Now, it’s like every title company in town is part of one of these big national firms. National title insurance underwriters have been snatching up local title operations left and right for quite some time now. The result?

“There are hardly any independent players left in the game,” Mathews says.

That’s where local Fairfax Title is poised to shine.

A Real Estate Journey Rooted in Local Expertise

Cook and Mathews, Park Cities natives with more than two decades of experience in the industry, embark on this venture with a shared passion for Dallas real estate and prolific real estate genes.

Cook is a Highland Park High School, SMU undergrad, and SMU law school alum. While in private practice, Cook has handled litigation, corporate counsel, claims, and underwriting for several Fortune 500 title companies. Most recently, Cook served as in-house corporate counsel for Ebby Halliday Companies for 12 years. 

But Cook’s experience extends beyond her career as an attorney.

“I’ve been helping real estate agents navigate real estate law since 2006,” Cook says, “and I’ve been in the real estate business since I was 15. My mom is a real estate agent. So I think I’ve seen or heard just about everything. If you love the industry you’re in, you tend to gravitate to doing more and accomplishing a lot.”

Mathews, too, has deep roots in the real estate industry. The Cistercian grad, who went on to pursue a journalism degree at the University of Missouri and an MBA at SMU, was practically raised in the real estate industry.

“My mom taught me everything I know,” Mathews says of his mother Erin Mathews. “I started working with her right out of college and worked as an agent for years before moving into brokerage leadership roles.”

Mathews’ leadership roles include COO of Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Director of Operations at HomeServices of America, and most recently COO of the Ebby Halliday Companies.

Mathews comes to Fairfax with in-depth operational knowledge. With this collective intel, Cook and Mathews bring a symbiotic relationship with their commitment to the industry and the unification of two strong real estate universes.

The Boutique Approach: A Commitment to High Touch

Fairfax Title sets itself apart in an industry that has witnessed significant consolidation. Most buyers and sellers feel as if they are being cranked through a TSA-like labyrinth when they consummate a transaction. The Fairfax market approach emphasizes boutique service from the first signature, a concierge approach that prioritizes personal touch, communication, even hand-holding. They are the small, friendly neighborhood bank compared to the impersonal Goliath financial institution.

“We’re providing a high level of service with high touch,” Cook says. “Not a lot of title companies are independently owned anymore. We see the opportunity for a niche title company where we as the business owners are involved in every aspect of the operation.”

Empowering Decision-Making for Customer Impact

The co-founders recognize the importance of being independently owned, allowing them to make decisions that directly impact their customers and Realtors without bureaucratic delays. That’s the advantage of having business owners directly involved in the daily operations, and a huge benefit for clients.

“Being able to move without jumping through hoops works out really well and results in a much better experience for our Realtors and the consumer.”

A Client-Centric Perspective: Beyond the Afterthought

For consumers, choosing a title company is typically not top of mind, Mathews points out. But in a changing real estate landscape, more consumers now want to be more proactive in their title company choice.

“Oftentimes, the title company is kind of an afterthought chosen by the real estate agent,” Mathews says. “But agents should know there is a massive difference from the client’s perspective. We’re looking to provide a more sophisticated service, targeting clients who want to get back to local, with business hands-on service and rapid response times.”

A Fusion of Legal Expertise and Industry Insight

With Cook’s extensive experience in providing legal guidance to agents and Mathews’ multifaceted background as an agent and operator on the brokerage side, Fairfax Title brings a unique blend of legal acumen and industry insights. 

Fairfax Title is a refreshing testament to the dedication, expertise, and passion of its co-founders.

“Ashley’s been in the industry for a long time, providing legal guidance, and I’ve been in the industry for about the same amount of time on the agent servicing side. Fairfax Title is a culmination of two solid backgrounds.”

With their deep Dallas roots and extensive industry experience, Cook and Mathews are poised to steer Fairfax Title towards new heights, offering a sophisticated, client-centric approach to real estate transactions.

Fairfax Title is located at 8117 Preston Road, Suite 750 in Dallas. Reach out to Mathews at [email protected] or Cook at [email protected], or find more information at FairfaxTitle.com.