Buying or selling a home can be one of the most stressful transactions in life not only for the buyer and seller, but for brokers as well. Having partners you can count on to close the transaction efficiently, compliantly, and with great communication is key. That’s where NexTitle Puget Sound comes in, but they take it one step further by inviting qualified partners to share in the profits of their affiliated business. As founder and CEO, Stephen Routh, says, “We have perfected a way to legally share profits with our partners that differentiates us from others in the industry, and that is what has made us so successful.”

To better understand how it works, I interviewed the incredible team behind NexTitle Puget Sound. Company President, Randy Cornwall, was born in Canada and moved to Kirkland in the third grade. After completing his undergrad studies at UW, he went to SU Law School where he graduated with honors. He initially joined a large law firm but quickly realized that keeping track of every six minutes of his time was just not for him, so he joined his family’s mortgage and real estate company owned by his dad, Alan Cornwall. “My dad told me one day – now that we have a lawyer in the family, you can start the escrow company!” says Randy. A now self-proclaimed “recovering lawyer,” Randy has committed his entire career to title, escrow, and real estate.  

Enter Stefanie Jones. Stefanie had already been working for years with Randy’s dad at another title company when his dad suggested Randy try to recruit her. 20 years later, Randy and Stef are still working together.   When the pandemic hit, interest rates fell dramatically, and a flurry of refinance activity ensued.  “Stef and I were only handling the escrow side of things at the time, so we needed a great title partner to work with,” Randy explains. “We found that in Stephen and the NexTitle team.” What Randy didn’t know was that NexTitle was a joint venture, and they were looking to open an office in Puget Sound. Stephen approached him about merging teams and the rest, as they say, is history.

Stephen had long been practicing real estate law before entering the title business around 15 years ago. “I built NexTitle from one small operation in Ellensburg to multiple offices in multiple states, including Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington,” he says. “We conceived of a joint venture model around seven years ago and started that first in Hawaii and then expanded it to our other markets. Partnering with folks like Stefanie and Randy has been a blessing for our company.”

“The brokers invited into ownership with us must meet both high production and ethical standards,” says Stephen. With company values that include Growth, Kindness, Being Different, Relentless Self Improvement, Next Level Service, Connection, Building Relationships that Matter, and Owning It, their standards are high, to say the least. As Randy says, “We partner with firm owners, high-producing brokers, and teams. Unlike some of the other JV's out there, we are agnostic when it comes to the firms our Partners are from. We have Partners from Windermere, Compass, Sotheby’s, eXp, and independent firms too. Our main goal is to partner with great brokers who share our vision. That’s what it is all about.”

Benefits to their partners include:

“No amount of financial return will ever replace exceptional title and escrow services,” stresses Randy. “We pride ourselves on a white-glove closing experience to make sure the buyer, seller, and brokers are all taken care of. That means providing timely communication and conveniences such as free mobile notary services anywhere in the country.” With the team’s combined talents and breadth of experience, this is a next-level partnership like no other.

“I met Randy and was introduced to Nextitle almost two years ago. I've used them a ton, tested them, and now have become a JV partner. They have a wonderful partnership group and a solid backing of business. The entire team delivers an amazing closing experience for my clients and the brokers they serve.” – Roy Towse, Founding Broker & Managing Broker,  Compass Real Estate

“NexTitle has done an outstanding job for me and my clients. Over the years, I have worked with them all and have found NexTitle and their teams to be very attentive, proactive, and communicative. It has also been helpful to call on them in the more difficult transactions to bounce off ideas and solutions. As one of the most active agents in the Puget Sound Region, I would highly recommend NexTitle as your title and escrow company.” – Jeff Dickinson, Managing Broker, eXp Realty.

Yet NexTitle’s service doesn’t stop there. Its partners and employees positively impact the communities they serve by partnering with local charities and nonprofits as a company and through volunteering as individuals. Stephen is also personally passionate about assisting wounded soldiers as they recover from service-related injuries. He frequently hosts disabled veterans and their guests at his Alaska lodge and Oklahoma ranch to offer them support.

In their off time, Randy enjoys skiing, playing tennis, and rooting for the Seahawks, Mariners, and Huskies with his wife and two kids. Stefanie also loves cheering on our local teams and watching her two teenage boys play sports. As for Stephen, you will find him flying helicopters or floatplanes, swimming 2 kilometers daily (often in Lake Washington), or competing in triathlons.

To inquire about partnering with NexTitle Puget Sound please contact Randy Cornwall at rjcornwall@nextitle.com or 425-440-6581.