Chicago title should be used with caution!
I am writing…read moreregarding a deeply troubling matter involving Chicago Title of The Woodlands, Texas, (Possibly negatively influenced by Black Label Title).
My mother & I had owned the property for nearly 45 years. We were initially approached before hiring a realtor by a developer named Jared Hays, who, along w/ his agents, presented questionable offers with contracts his escrow agent supports and will be shared with TREC and TDI with copies of EVERYTHING.
After a difficult negotiation, Mr. Hays agreed to use a TREC-approved contract, but insisted we use his escrow company, Black Label Title in Katy, TX, claiming the escrow officer there "makes things easier for him." We assumed an escrow company would operate impartially.
Mr. Hays repeatedly delayed escrow, then attempted to reduce the purchase price by $50,000--a third of the agreed amount. We declined. In January 2025, he returned offering more than his original price. We agreed, with the condition that we retain earnest money if he backed out or changed terms again. Black Label confirmed the deposit was in place and we were officially under contract. Yet, Mr. Hays again backed out.
When we inquired with Black Label, the escrow officer then claimed no deposit had been made. This contradicted previous confirmations and made it clear she was protecting Mr. Hays' interests inappropriately. Statements the developer, Mr. Hays, made about the Black Label Title agent, "helping him in ways other escrow officers wouldn't," now took on a more alarming meaning. I recorded these conversations for personal documentation due to the many inconsistencies.
After this second failed transaction, we cleared the lot and hired a licensed real estate agent with eXp Realty to protect ourselves from further exploitation. We soon received offers; the buyer requested to use Chicago Title of The Woodlands, and we agreed without issue.
The buyer was ready to fund by April 29, 2025. However, we were told repeatedly by our agent the buyer was assembling funds. Later, we were informed, the funding was not the reason for the 3 week holdup & the delays were solely due to Tara of Chicago Title on a witch hunt fabricating bs about my family for unsubstantiated & unknown reasons. We have that conversation on recording too. At the time of the recording we had no idea we were being framed for a fantasy fraud story so a white knight Tara could be a hero ... or something insane like that. It is "wow" to re listen to how crappy you spoke to my elderly Mother Tara!
On May 6, we were formally informed the real issue was Tara at Chicago Title who, for some fantasy in her head, believed my mother & I were CONS trying to commit fraud -- probably based on unknown & unfounded claims made by the Black Label escrow officer(?), with whom we had an openly contentious history due to her mishandling of the 1st offer(s). (THE REAL FRAUD IS BLACK LABEL TITLE & they are being reported to TDI ++++. You Tara will be referenced since you decided to handle the situation with 100% lack of consideration).
Chicago Title's "Team Tara" took the word of an outside party with a personal grudge and failed to contact us directly to verify any facts. (I let the escrow company Black Label know that the developer established himself as a "non arms length" relationship with their company and they should beware. Black Label responded in attack at me for informing them of the developer's misstep to their legal risk exposures. At the time i thought just move on and let it go. My family's business and affairs are more important. Not knowing Black Label would cause future problems).
As of May 8, 2025, our buyer still wished to move forward & we were forced to move the transaction to a new company to avoid the character attacks from two title companies who should be acting with neutrality, not engaging in personal vendettas. After we let Tara at Chicago Title know we were sick of the hold up and transferring the closing, she canceled it as if she found fraud:
BULL SHITE TARA.
We were able to close under Alamo Title who knew of the entire situation & said there are ZERO reasons to have held up our closing by THREE WEEKS (with Chicago Title 's Tara).
We also reserve the right to make our experience public to warn other consumers. We are honest people and expect to be treated fairly and professionally.
I will be outlining the events in timeline for Fidelity. This Chicago Title Officer may have the right to cancel and even cause problems for clients, but i have a right to share the problems she caused both the Seller and the Buyers & warn the public!
Selling is stressful enough already: no one should experience what we have.
The unnecessary stress and heartache brought to our family out of some kind of entertainment by sadistic escrow people, with a strange witch hunt fantasy, should be public so people know to avoid these MAJOR RISK EXPOSURES!!!!
