Seattle-based Ticor Title Co. of Washington plans to open a Spokane office next month.

Crystal Miller, who will be a commercial sales executive at the office, claims Ticor will be the first new entry in the title insurance market here since before the Great Recession.

“The market right now is really hot,” Miller says. “It’s a good time for a new title company.”

The Ticor office will be located on the third floor of the Rock Pointe III building, at 1330 N. Washington, in the Rock Pointe Corporate Center complex, Miller says.

Ticor hopes to open the office on April 3 and plans to hire about 10 employees.

“Were starting slow and building our way up,” Miller says.

Miller has 25 years of experience in the title insurance industry here, having worked for First American Title Insurance Co., Spokane County Title Co., and Pacific Northwest Title.

First American Title merged with Pacific Northwest Title in 2010, leaving four title companies with offices in Spokane since then.

“It’s been quite some time since a new title company has come to town,” Miller says.

Title companies research and guarantee the ownership of real estate subject to a transaction. They also maintain escrow accounts, which hold funds temporarily until certain conditions of transactions are fulfilled.

Ticor Title, a subsidiary of Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., provides title insurance and escrow services in 19 counties in Washington.