Abstractor

JCG Land Services; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

JCG Land Services, Inc. is seeking an experienced Title Research Specialist/Abstractor who can dig into property records, trace ownership, interpret legal descriptions, and render clear title conclusions for our project teams.

You will conduct courthouse record searches, review deeds and liens, read metes and bounds, and deliver accurate information to support land acquisition and development efforts. A hands-on background in title research is required.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of hands-on title research or abstracting experience.
• Experience working for a title company, abstract company, or land services firm.
• Ability to independently research property records and follow chains of title.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting deeds, easements, legal descriptions, and other recorded property documents.
• Ability to read and plot metes and bounds legal descriptions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct title searches using courthouse records, online databases, and other property research resources.
• Trace property ownership and review deeds, easements, mortgages, liens, releases, and other recorded instruments.
• Analyze title reports and property records to identify ownership interests, encumbrances, and potential title issues.
• Read and interpret legal descriptions, including metes and bounds descriptions, and plot legal descriptions as needed.
• Research property history and compile accurate information to support land acquisition and project needs.
• Work with Project Managers, Land Acquisition Specialists, title companies, and other professionals to resolve questions and clarify property information.
• Maintain organized, accurate records and protect confidential client and legal information.

Skills

Title research

Abstracting

Attention to detail

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Adobe Acrobat

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's or Bachelor's degree (advantage)

Tools

Court records databases

Property records databases

Job description

Know your way around property records? We want to hear from you!

JCG Land Services is looking for an experienced Title Research Specialist/Abstractor who knows how to dig into property records, trace ownership, interpret legal descriptions, and make sense of complex title information.

This isn't an entry-level administrative position. We're looking for someone with hands-on experience in title research or abstracting who can hit the ground running and help our project teams get the accurate property information they need.

If you have experience working with deeds, easements, courthouse records, and legal descriptions, and you enjoy the investigative side of real estate, we'd like to meet you.

What You'll Do

• Conduct title searches using courthouse records, online databases, and other property research resources.
• Trace property ownership and review deeds, easements, mortgages, liens, releases, and other recorded instruments.
• Analyze title reports and property records to identify ownership interests, encumbrances, and potential title issues.
• Read and interpret legal descriptions, including metes and bounds descriptions, and plot legal descriptions as needed.
• Research property history and compile accurate information to support land acquisition and project needs.
• Work with Project Managers, Land Acquisition Specialists, title companies, and other professionals to resolve questions and clarify property information.
• Maintain organized, accurate records and protect confidential client and legal information.

What You Need to Bring

• At least 3 years of hands‑on title research or abstracting experience.
• Experience working for a title company, abstract company, or land services firm.
• The ability to independently research property records and follow chains of title.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting deeds, easements, legal descriptions, and other recorded property documents.
• The ability to read and plot metes and bounds legal descriptions.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat.
• A high school diploma or equivalent.

Please note: General real estate, administrative, or document‑processing experience alone is not a substitute for hands‑on title research or abstracting experience.

Experience That Gives You an Advantage

• Right‑of‑way title research or land acquisition experience.
• An associate's or bachelor's degree.

Why JCG Land Services?

Your research helps lay the groundwork for projects that depend on accurate property ownership information and thorough title work. You'll work alongside project professionals who rely on your expertise to identify property interests, understand recorded documents, and keep projects moving.

If you know title research and take pride in getting the details right, we want to hear from you.