First American opened its doors for business in San Diego in 1959 in a small office downtown on Second Street, joining a handful of companies providing title insurance to a sleepy little Navy town. Two years later, in anticipation of growth of the local real estate industry as well as response to increased business, First American began construction on our current building, a distinctive red brick colonial located at 411 Ivy Street. As evidence of our commitment and belief in real estate, First American owns both the building and the land.

In 1974, as a result of the dynamic local real estate market and First American's increasing share of it, another expansion was required. We purchased the building across the street, 2137-41 Fifth, to house plant operations, including Customer Service, Searching and Engineering.

An industry leader in both technology and title, First American San Diego entered the computer age with a state-of-the-art computerized title plant in 1980. Although that plant has since been absorbed and superceded by subsequent plants, its development provided the technical know-how to enable First American to install computerized internal order tracking and accounting systems in 1988.

By 1993 we began a program to connect people and resources, ultimately developing a local network with over 150 computers, serving every department in the Company. The next steps will be to provide Internet access for all these work stations, provide/create an Intranet to expand communication between employees and improve service to our customers.

First American Title is the author and originator of the Eagle Policy, the most extensive title insurance policy available.

First American handles claims locally in each respective county of operation. San Diego claims are handled right here in San Diego.

Our local office has direct accountability to our customers and policy holders. First American Title Insurance Company is the #1 title insurer in San Diego County. 28% of the homes purchased in San Diego in 1999 were insured by First American.

In 2000, over 17,600 San Diego County Homebuyers were insured by First American Title Insurance Company.

Established in 1889, First American Title has over 100 years of valuable experience providing title service to the real estate industry. Our San Diego staff is knowledgeable, experienced and proficient. Our title officers have been with us an average of 17 years.

It is First American's commitment to our goal of customer service and satisfaction that has led from our "pioneering" use of typewriters and carbon, to early efforts at computerization to the Web page you see before you. But it is our staff of trained and dedicated professionals who make the goal a reality every day.