Title Searcher - Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department

City of Detroit•Michigan, MI

14h•Onsite

About The Position

The Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department (BSEED) mission is to provide for the safety, health, and welfare of the general public as it pertains to buildings and their environs in an efficient, cost-effective, user-friendly, and professional manner. BSEED enforces construction, property maintenance, environmental compliance, and zoning codes, which preserve and enhance property values and promote quality of life to make Detroit a preferred place to reside and conduct business. Under general supervision, searches public records to determine the legal ownership of and/or interest in the property, including legal actions, land titles, and documents that affect the legal status of the property; and analyzes and records the information for code enforcement, court hearings and/or other purposes.

Requirements

High School graduation or GED
One (1) year of experience performing complex clerical duties.
Knowledge of records maintenance procedures.
Skill in basic operation of personal computers.
Skill in precise documentation of data.
Ability to perform logical and sequential data search.
Ability to record and maintain accurate and legible notes.
Ability to manage own time and workflow.
Ability to acquire additional knowledge and skills to remain current in the field.

Responsibilities

Examines computerized and hard copy public records to determine ownership, parties of interest and property actions pending from descriptions or property addresses.
Ensures the identification of property owners and other interested parties by examining and mapping the chain of title and deed transfers.
Obtains and compares source documents to abstract information to verify findings.
Examines court records and confers with court personnel to retrieve records in cases where the owner is deceased and records are not available.
Updates property search information for omissions and developments that have occurred since the initial search.
Records findings and all relevant address and contact information to ensure that all appropriate parties can be contacted or served.
Checks and documents property tax status and taxpayer of record.
Defends search findings in court and participates in other proceedings regarding disputed property.
Investigates interested parties through other available records and means, as directed.
Updates computer records with relevant findings.
Provides guidance or instruction to less experienced peers or clerical staff.
Interfaces with other City departments, agencies and other public bodies in conveying or accessing information.