Matthew J. McDonald is a LandAmerica vice president and branch manager and counsel for LandAmerica Cumberland Title in Portland, Maine.

In a time when regulators are pushing title agents to be more consumer-oriented, McDonald has already set the standard for the new paradigm.

“Matthew is passionate that consumers understand their rights about choosing their title company,” nominator and client Tracy DeMatteis of Bank America Mortgage said. “He is diligent to make sure they all have the power of knowledge to make their first home buying experience a positive one. He also has gone about marketing his business with a new entrepreneurial style, marketing his business to the end user, the borrower, vs. the typical business to business approach many other title companies use.”

One of the many ways he markets his services directly to consumers is by teaching a class several times a month for prospective homebuyers.

Dematteis was also very complimentary of McDonald’s professionalism. “I choose to do business with Matthew because of the unique experience and commitment he brings to the transaction. Matthew is an attorney and personally conducts the closings himself. This brings a much greater level of professionalism and confidence to all parties involved in the closing. Also, having someone of his experience and legal standing in charge allows a great resource to the clients and a sense of calm and control when disputes or concerns arise.”

My first job out of law school was as an attorney at a small law office. I did not have a staff so I was responsible for every part of the settlement process. I did the title search, typed the commitment, processed the file, closed it and completed the post-closing work. I even licked the envelope to send out the policy! It was a great introduction to the industry.

As an attorney in a small town you see a lot of different kinds of legal issues. I worked on everything from divorces to construction disputes. I think my practice gravitated more towards settlement services because all the parties involved (usually) wanted to get to the same goal. In other areas of the law, the goal was often to fight it out. In real estate title and closing, everyone wants to get to the same place — a successfully closed real estate transaction. It was a natural fit with for me.

My staff. They are the best in the business. Don’t tell my boss, but I’d come here every day for free to work with them.

Robert Avaunt, Esq. Bob was my first boss out of law school and was the one who patiently showed me every aspect of the settlement process. I owe him a lot.

I think ‘who’ is a better question. I couldn’t have gotten anywhere if it weren’t for Mom and Dad.

Denise Marshall of LandAmerica. Her speech to me and my staff regarding LandAmerica’s Superior Service Guarantee set the stage for my office to begin a policy where if the homebuyer is not completely satisfied with our service, we refund the closing fee. The SSG has become a defining force in our office and serves to create great closings file after file after file…….



I took two years off from college to travel around the Caribbean. (Hey – I had to “find myself!”)



Favorite Book. The Terrible Hours by Peter Maas. In the closing days and hours before WWII a Navy Sub goes down in 250 feet of water. The Terrible Hours is the story of Swede Momson, an American Hero, and his fight to save their lives. A GREAT read!!



Play my Xbox 360. There is nothing like an intense firefight against a horde of aliens after a tough day of work.



I love teaching at first time home buyer classes. For the past year and half I have taught at the HoMEworks program in Maine. One to two Saturdays a month and one evening class per month, I volunteer to teach prospective home buyers about deeds, title insurance, settlement statements and title searches. Even though it is on Saturdays and nights, you couldn’t keep me away from teaching that class.

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