Your title insurance, Made in India

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Good morning, Serena Williams, it’s time to rise and shine.

We think we have uncovered the real reason that California home buyers are paying ‘unnecessarily high rates’ for title insurance: it’s the shockingly high wages demanded by those notoriously overpaid clerical workers in India and the Philippines.

This is our sarcastic way of passing along these nuggets from today’s L.A. Times: Over the last three years, title insurer First American has sent many of its jobs overseas and, as of the second quarter, had 5,500 employees in India and the Philippines. Further, the company suggested it could step up its off-shoring efforts.

First American said Tuesday it would slash 1,300 jobs, institute hiring and salary freezes and cut certain unspecified executive perks and benefits to reduce expenses. We’re guessing the hiring freeze might not apply to India and the Philippines.

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