We share our ideas and expertise through our blog posts. Whether industry updates, marketing ideas or weighing on the latest trends, our posts contain useful information that is applicable to you.
Flooding and Real Estate St. Louis and nearby counties were hit by three rounds of flooding in July and August 2022, including a record-setting 9.07 inches of rainfall, breaking the previous record that...
Welcome to Payer Express - the secure and efficient way to transfer funds directly from your banking institution to the accounts at True Title Company, LLC. Click the below image to download the...
In a hot market with low availability and multiple buyers bidding on the same property itโs imperative that your offer stands out from the rest โ or your buyers might miss out on...
โEarnest moneyโ functions as the up-front โdepositโ made by a buyer in conjunction with the signing of a real estate purchase agreement. It serves as buyerโs good faith gesture to give the seller...
St. Louis realtorsโhereโs what to look out for in a homeโs heating and cooling system. Is this a โkick back and relaxโ house? The heating and cooling business has been a huge part...
The Threat Closing day can be exhilarating. It often represents a dream come true โ a growing business, a step toward financial independence, or the culmination of years of work. Being part of...
When you close with True Title, you can be certain we will always handle your data securely. Historically, not every party in a real estate transaction takes cybersecurity as seriously as we do....
Few things can make a realtor more nervous than the words, โI want out of my contract.โ When youโve worked to find the right property for your client, gotten everyone on the same...
Having spent my career in real estate law, Iโve seen many different title insurance companies operate in the St. Louis areaโsome successfully, some less so. To an outsider, title insurance may feel like...
[activecampaign form=1]โBut one of the reasons we bought the home wasโฆ.โ Imagine getting a call from a client that bought their dream home thanks to your efforts as buyerโs agent. You remember how...
True Title has two dedicated customer parking spaces in the garage immediately behind our office; to access the garage, turn up the alley to the right of the office, and then left into the garage just past the building. The True Title spaces are marked with BLUE signs, and immediately to the right as you pull in the garage.
If those spaces are full, True Title will happily pay for your street parking. Simply take a photo of the Parking Zone (which will be displayed on a sign indicating how to pay for parking) and a photo of your license plate, and our front desk will make sure it is paid.
BE CAREFUL, however โ some street parking is dedicated to a specific business for carry-out purposes, and may not be used. We cannot cover a parking ticket if you park in a space which is not available to the public.
Alexis began her career at a successful local law firm. There, she gained valuable experience in client relationships and producing documents efficiently but found herself drawn to the world of Title. As Executive Assistant, she keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes so we can focus on driving our business forward. She also specializes in helping clients navigate the complexities of 1031 exchanges. Alexis remains focused on providing exceptional service to our clients and staying ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving market.
John T. Banjak
General Counsel
John T. Banjak is a principal and general counsel of True Title Company, LLC, and managing member of Banjak & Associates, a law firm specializing in real estate and business transactions. John earned his B.S. degree in Finance from Indiana University and his J.D. law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He has extensive experience in all facets of the title insurance & real estate industries from a legal, title underwriting and consulting standpoint.
Before opening True Title in 2012, Mr. Banjak served as president and general counsel for three reputable St. Louis title agencies, two of which contained in-house construction disbursing departments, and as regional underwriting counsel for a national title insurance underwriter. He also served as senior vice president and general counsel for Pulaski Bank. Prior to entering the title insurance field, Mr. Banjak worked as a private practice attorney and as an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri.
John Duckworth
President
John Duckworth is the president and managing partner of True Title Company, LLC. In addition, Duckworth serves as president of Title Exchange Services, LLC, a 1031 Exchange Accommodation firm, as well as vice president of QDraw, Inc., a construction disbursing agency. In recognition of the rapid growth and success of True Title, John was recognized by the St. Louis Business Journal as a โ40-Under-40โ in 2016.
He received a BS in Marketing and BA in Spanish from the University of Missouri. Mr. Duckworth is a distinguished veteran of the title insurance industry; he has served on the education committees for both the Missouri and Kansas land title associations and served on the Board of Directors for the MLTA. He is a regular instructor for continuing education programs in the real estate & title industry, and he also prepared the Study Guide for the Missouri Department of Insurance Title Insurance Producerโs Examination, the accepted study guide for new title professionals across the state of Missouri. Mr. Duckworth began his career in the title industry in 2002 as a title examiner and policy department manager, and before leaving to build True Title, he served as president for a large title agency based in St. Louis, Missouri with operations in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois & New York. Prior to his beginnings in the title industry, Mr. Duckworth worked in Prague, Czech Republic as a global networking consultant for a venture capital firm. In that position, he helped locate start-up software firms for investment, and manage these firmsโ entries into foreign markets around the world.
Kimberly Kraemer
Vice President of Escrow Operations
Kim Kraemer is the Vice President of Escrow Operations at True Title. With over 22 years of experience in operations management and business development, Kim has cultivated a strong background in leading teams to foster new and recurring client business. Before joining the title industry, Kim served as an executive in the long-term care sector for 19 years. In this role, she managed internal and external healthcare services, specializing in risk management, policy implementation, best practices, and compliance with state, federal, and local regulations. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeast Missouri State University. She is passionate about leveraging her extensive experience in operations management and executive leadership to drive organizational growth and success. She is always eager to connect with like-minded professionals with a vision for continuous improvement and achievement.
Drew Heffner
Associate General Counsel
Drew A. Heffner, is a graduate of Washington University School of Law and Colby College in Waterville Maine. He has twenty years of legal experience representing multiple entities. Drew started his legal career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney before joining the St. Louis City Counselorโs Office. Drew has also served an Associate County Counselor for St. Charles County where he was led counselor to the St. Charles County Department of Correction and the St. Charles County Election Authority. During his time representing St. Charles County, Drew also served as a Special Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the St. Charles Countyโs Prosecuting Attorneyโs Office. As associate general counsel for True Title Company, LLC, Drew provides a full range of title and closing services in commercial and residential real estate. Drew looks forward to utilizing his broad range of legal experience to assist you with your real estate related needs.
Leo Hebert
Executive Vice President, Colorado Division
Leo Hebert is a dedicated professional with a wealth of experience in the title industry. His extensive background in various areas of the field, along with his leadership roles in organizations like LTAC and the Colorado chapter Respro, highlights his commitment to the industry. Leoโs interests outside of work, such as cooking, woodworking, camping, and fishing, show a well-rounded personality and a love for spending quality time with his family.