Real estate literacy is crucial to building strong and sustainable communities, especially in underserved areas with limited access to quality information and resources. Homeownership is often seen as an unattainable dream in such communities, and residents may miss out on the wealth-building opportunities that come with it. This is where firms such as Casita Title & Escrow Agency come in, offering valuable resources and guidance to existing and aspiring homeowners in Southwest Detroit. By empowering residents with knowledge and support, Casita Title & Escrow Agency is helping to level the playing field.

Casita Title & Escrow Agency, owned by Sonya Rivas, is a full title settlement service company based in Southwest Detroit. Sonya provides valuable services to clients during any real estate transaction. Those services include searching the property and ensuring that there are no delinquent taxes, outstanding liens, or pending judgments that could prevent the borrower or buyer from obtaining a clean title or warranty deed at closing. The company also supports land contract transactions and for-sale-by-owner transactions where no realtors are involved.

Starting a business from scratch is never an easy task, but for Sonya, it was a challenge she was willing to embrace. With more than a decade of experience in the title industry, Sonya had seen the ups and downs of the market and knew she had found her niche. However, during the pandemic, things changed. As a mother of three young children, Sonya found it hard to keep up with the demands of her job at a larger company. So, after leaving her job, she decided to start her own business.

During this time, she attended the Walk-In Wednesday workshops at SDBA to learn more about the services they offer and explore the possibility of renting office space, and from there, the doors started to open for her.

“I asked Marco [Marco A. Andrade Jr. SDBA Business Development Manager] if they had an office space available, and he said yes,” said Rivas. “I filled out an application for it, and before you know it, SDBA allowed me to rent the office, and I have been here since the Fall.” 

Additionally, and remarkably, at this beginning phase of her journey, she managed to complete the entire process of transitioning into business ownership and renting her office space at the Southwest Detroit Business Association, not to mention navigating the logistics of starting a business, all on her own and without any assistance.

Rivas expressed, “Navigating the unfamiliar territory of entrepreneurship without any guidance, in the beginning, was a daunting task. But, I took it as a challenge to learn and grow. It wasn’t just a big step for me but for my family as well. We decided to leave behind the traditional 9-5 work routine and venture into this new world. I was determined to succeed, and I believed that speaking it into existence was the first step towards achieving my goal.”

It’s crucial to understand that you should never stop learning, even after reaching a certain level of success. Despite having made it this far on her own, Sonya still had some questions, and luckily, SDBA was there to provide her with answers. Marco A. Andrade Jr., SDBA Business Development Manager, was conveniently located right across the hall from her, ready to address all of her concerns and guide her toward the appropriate resources.

“Marco was so generous in leading me to the appropriate resources for anything that I needed for any aspect of my business.” 

In addition, Marco led her to other neighboring economic development groups, who played a role in her business evolving.  

Sonya Rivas’ decision to start her own title company, Casita Title & Escrow Agency, right in the heart of Southwest Detroit was not just a brilliant business move, but also a selfless act of giving back to the community where she grew up. Her determination to succeed extends beyond profit. She wanted to provide a much-needed service to her community – a service that was never available before. The lack of real estate literacy in the area made it difficult for residents to navigate the complex world of homeownership. And now, with Casita Title & Escrow Agency right in their neighborhood, residents have access to valuable resources and guidance that can help them achieve their dream of owning a home.

“Our office is 5-10 minutes’ walking distance from the residential neighborhood. How convenient is that?” said Rivas. You don’t necessarily have to speak on the phone. Residents can walk in and ask their questions, and that is what the title company is here for – to help service you and explain the complexities to you.

In addition, one of the significant advantages of Casita Title & Escrow Agency is that it provides Spanish-speaking services, understanding that not all residents in Southwest Detroit are comfortable with English and prefer speaking in Spanish. By providing this service, Sonya is breaking down language barriers, ensuring that everyone in the community can access their services without feeling left out. This is incredibly important, especially in a community where real estate transactions are often complex. With Casita Title & Escrow Agency, residents can feel confident that they are making informed decisions and that their needs are being met.

Sonya sees her agency growing, but not at the expense of her community. As a resident of Southwest Detroit, Sonya understands the importance of providing valuable resources and guidance to existing and aspiring homeowners in the area. She believes that if she moves out, the community work will suffer due to a lack of resources. That’s why she is determined to expand her agency within the community, whether it be in a bigger or newer building. Home is where she wants to be.