Stewart Title of Austin, LLC
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Land title insurance |
| Predecessor | James V. Bergen and Company |
| Founded | 1873 in Austin, Texas, United States |
| Headquarters | Austin , United States |
Area served | Central Texas |
| Parent | Stewart Law and Land Title Company |
Originally established in 1873 in Austin, Texas under the name Gracy Title Company, it holds the distinction of being Texas's earliest and longest-standing land title insurance provider.
History
The origins of the company’s land title records and document archives date back to the territorial era of Texas, when land grants were issued by the King of Spain to initial settlers prior to Texas achieving Republic status (1836-1845). Following the Civil War during the Reconstruction Era of the United States, ambiguity surrounding property ownership and real estate claims prompted a need for insured land transactions and contracts. Although the concept of title insurance was already in existence, it gained formal legal recognition after an 1868 legal conflict in Pennsylvania was resolved by 1873 and subsequently codified under The General Corporation Act of 1874.
Gracy evolved from an earlier abstract of title enterprise, James V. Bergen and Company, which was established in 1873 by surveyor James Valentine Bergen alongside George B. Zimpelman, a former Travis County sheriff and real estate developer. As Zimpelman’s role expanded, he became a partner, leading to the firm’s rebranding as Zimpelman & Bergen. In 1881, David Bergen Gracy, a cousin of Bergen, joined the business. Following Zimpelman’s retirement, the company operated as Bergen Daniel & Gracy Abstract Company at 103 E. 6th Street. The Austin Board of Trade acknowledged it as "the only institution here that furnishes reliable abstract of title in the county." The office was later relocated to 819 Congress Ave. David Gracy held positions as Austin’s city treasurer and commissioner and played a key role in founding prominent deposit, loan, and mortgage institutions. The firm adopted the name Gracy Title Guaranty Company in 1920 and remained under family ownership until 1947.
Title & Escrow Services
Now functioning as Gracy Title, a subsidiary of Stewart Law and Land Title Company since 2008, the company earned recognition from Forbes as the fourth most respected and trustworthy firm nationwide. In July 2017, Gracy Title underwent rebranding to become Stewart Title of Austin. It issues title insurance policies and delivers title services through twelve offices throughout Central Texas. Stewart’s presence in Texas dates back to 1893 with origins in Galveston before merging with Gracy.
Stewart Title of Austin provides underwriting for policies via three leading US underwriters: First American Title, Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, and Stewart Title Guaranty Company. Its offerings encompass title and escrow services, post-closing support, and insurance products tailored for both commercial and residential real estate dealings.
See also
List of United States insurance companies