Land & Mortgage Title Agency

Rarely (if ever) do I post negative reviews, but given the opportunity for a principal of this company to take advantage of buyers or sellers who may not be educated on real estate issues, I feel a responsibility to write about my recent terrible experience with Lisa Rookard at Land and Mortgage Title. I "met" Lisa by phone when I learned that I property that was held in joint tenancy by me and another party was "in contract" to be sold the next day. Lisa threatened me that she would be promptly filing a lawsuit on behalf of the buyer (obviously someone who is a regular and large client of the firm) for specific performance. When I questioned the veracity of such a suit, given that I was clearly listed at the auditor's site, easily found by googling my name, and had not been contacted by anyone about the sale of the property - Lisa admonished me arrogantly that she has been in the business for more than 40 years. Apparently that is not long enough to be familiar with the statute of frauds, that requires real estate contracts to be in writing - not verbal. Lisa told me that all parties were "to sign the contract at closing" and that she has "seen such cases hold up many times." She then told me that regardless of the validity, such an action would sufficiently "cloud the title" so as to achieve her goal of preserving her buyer's position anyway. As if that was not enough, as I navigated a tricky ownership issue on my side, moving through a court case and bank issue with my partner as quickly as possible, she actually yelled at me through the phone at closing - threatening me yet again with some consequence she considered dire and apparently worth rattling me...which it did not. This was after I had called out several errors on the settlement statement and spent over an hour in her office working with her staff to produce and accurate document. Thankfully she was not there for the closing, or I likely would have walked away from the transaction. Unless Ms. Rookard is suffering from a serious health issue (mental, physical, or otherwise), there simply is no excuse for the persistent bullying, railroading, and complete lack of professionalism she displayed throughout my experience with her firm. I am appalled by the experience, and urge anyone who interacts with Land and Mortgage Title Agency to seek outside legal advice about their transaction. I am investigating reporting options available to me.