BOURBONNAIS — On and off discussion for the past five years finally resulted in the end goal for two Kankakee County-based title companies.
As of Friday, the two title companies, HomeStar Title Company, 222 N. Industrial Drive, Bradley, and Kankakee County Title Company, 311 N. Kinzie Ave., Bradley, will be known as Kankakee HomeStar (KHS) Title.
The newly-formed business will relocate under one roof at 1873 Armour Road, Bourbonnais, in the former 8,000-square-foot location which had once been the home of Key Outdoor, an outdoor sign company.
The goal is to be in the new office by Dec. 1.
HomeStar Title is owned by Manteno-based businessman Francis Smith, and Kankakee County Title is owned by Kankakee businessman Mike Pinski.
Charlotte Blanchette, of Bourbonnais, president of HomeStar Title, will take on this same role with the newly-formed entity. Kankakee County Title manager Lisa Garcia will be shifting her focus to working with Pinski at MJP Development Corp., in Kankakee.
Blanchette has been a title professional since 2000.
The two companies will be seeking occupants for the space they are vacating, about 6,300 square feet for Bradley Boulevard (formerly Kinzie Avenue) and another 2,100 square feet on Industrial Drive.
A title company performs a variety of services to ensure that a property’s title is clear and free of defects before a real estate transaction takes place. Title company officials handle all paperwork with attorneys, real estate agents, buyers and sellers, and negotiating any settlements or lien payouts to aid the closing.
In short, a title company verifies that ownership of the real estate is legitimately given to the homebuyer. Basically, they make sure a seller has the right to sell the property to a buyer.
When renovations are completed at the Armour Road site, the location will have four private closing rooms.
The location will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Kankakee County Title has been in its current location since 2018. HomeStar moved into its Industrial Drive home in January 2000. Kankakee County Title was formerly known as Kankakee Title & Trust. The company, which was incorporated in 1910, changed its name in 2006.
“We don’t want to move, but we need more space,” Pinski said. “Francis and I have talked about this one and off for five years.”
The merger will blend 15 employees.
Pinski and Smith stressed this combined business will make for a stronger company as well as a strong team of title professionals.
“It means better service to the community,” Smith said. “It will now be all under one roof.”
The two men said while they were obviously competitors, the two businesses were always friendly companies.
“This is a good move all the way around,” Pinski said.
Smith said he is also getting a little bit up in age.
“Life goes on. I’m 82 years old,” he said. “I’ve been a friend to Mike for years. As I’ve gotten older, we’ve teamed up with people we like and trust. The only person I would consider doing this with is Michael Pinski.”
Blanchette said the Armour Road site is a prime location. She acknowledged it is not the easiest site to navigate at this moment due to the ongoing road construction on Bradley Boulevard at Armour Road, but the construction will be eventually completed.