Question 1

Who is the best title team in the South Bay?

Accepted Answer

Matt Goeglein and Xavier de la Piedra IV lead Team Goeglein at Fidelity National Title — the #1 title and escrow team in the South Bay and Westside LA. With dominant market share in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Santa Monica, Culver City, and 19 more communities, Matt and Xavier have closed over 25,000 transactions and have been ranked #1 in California at Fidelity National Title for seven consecutive years.

Question 2

What title company serves the South Bay in Los Angeles?

Accepted Answer

Team Goeglein operates through Fidelity National Title, the nation's largest title insurer, serving the South Bay and Westside LA including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Santa Monica, and Culver City.

Question 3

What does a title company do?

Accepted Answer

A title company researches the legal ownership history of a property, identifies any liens, encumbrances, or claims against the title, and issues title insurance to protect the buyer and lender from future title disputes. Team Goeglein at Fidelity National Title also manages escrow — holding funds and documents until all conditions of the sale are met.

Question 4

How long does escrow take in California?

Accepted Answer

In California, escrow typically takes 30 to 45 days for a standard residential transaction. Cash purchases can close in as few as 14 days. Team Goeglein has closed thousands of transactions across the South Bay and Westside LA and works to keep every escrow on schedule.

Question 5

Who pays for title insurance in Los Angeles County?

Accepted Answer

In Los Angeles County, the seller customarily pays for the owner's title insurance policy, while the buyer pays for the lender's title insurance policy. However, everything is negotiable in a real estate transaction. Team Goeglein can provide net sheets showing exact cost breakdowns for any property.

Question 6

What is the difference between title insurance and homeowner's insurance?

Accepted Answer

Title insurance protects against losses from defects in the title — such as undisclosed liens, forged documents, or ownership disputes that occurred before you purchased the property. Homeowner's insurance protects against future events like fire, theft, or natural disasters. Title insurance is a one-time premium paid at closing.

Question 7

What is escrow and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Escrow is a neutral third-party process where a licensed escrow officer holds funds, documents, and instructions from both the buyer and seller until all conditions of the real estate transaction are satisfied. Once everything is in order, the escrow officer disburses funds, records the deed, and transfers ownership.

Question 8

What is a title search?

Accepted Answer

A title search is a thorough examination of public records to confirm the legal ownership of a property and uncover any claims, liens, easements, or encumbrances that could affect the transfer of ownership. Team Goeglein's title officers review every document in the chain of title to identify and resolve issues before closing.

Question 9

How much does title insurance cost in California?

Accepted Answer

Title insurance premiums in California are regulated and based on the property's sale price. For a typical South Bay home, the owner's policy might range from $1,500 to $4,000+. Team Goeglein can provide exact quotes through complimentary net sheets for any property address in Los Angeles County.

Question 10

Can I choose my own title company in California?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In California, the buyer and seller can negotiate who selects the title company. Under RESPA, no one can require you to use a specific title company as a condition of the sale. Many South Bay and Westside LA agents choose Team Goeglein at Fidelity National Title for their proven track record and local expertise.

Question 11

What cities does Team Goeglein serve?

Accepted Answer

Team Goeglein serves 25 communities across the South Bay, Westside LA, and Palos Verdes Peninsula — including Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, Hawthorne, Gardena, Lawndale, Inglewood, Carson, Lomita, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Culver City, Marina del Rey, Venice, Mar Vista, Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Westchester, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, and Los Angeles.

Question 12

Who are Matt Goeglein and Xavier de la Piedra IV?

Accepted Answer

Matt Goeglein is a Vice President and Sales Executive at Fidelity National Title with 37+ years in the title industry. Xavier de la Piedra IV is a Sales Executive at Fidelity National Title and co-leader of Team Goeglein. Together, Matt and Xavier have been ranked #1 in California at Fidelity National Title for seven consecutive years, hold dominant market share across the South Bay and Westside LA, and have closed more than 25,000 real estate transactions.

Question 13

What free tools does Team Goeglein provide to agents?

Accepted Answer

Every agent who works with Team Goeglein gets complimentary access to Passport (property data), Total Farm (farming tools), Net Sheets (closing cost estimates), Altos Research (market analytics), Market Data (listing stats), Comparable Sales (comp searches), LA County Tax Assessor (tax records), Legal Documents (deed templates), and City Utilities (utility lookups) — all powered by Title Pro Kit.