This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Baltimore Real Producers as a Partner Spotlight.
Written by Lauren Stevens, Photos by Alex Krebs
Local Expertise and Outreach
Brad Walsh and Betsy Jiranek both love the water. As an avid fisherman, Brad’s patience and adaptability are crucial in the ever-changing world of real estate. Betsy is an experienced swimmer who knows the value of strength and determination – especially in choppy waters. Together with the rest of their leadership team, Betsy and Brad captain Eagle Title’s crew in helping clients navigate the ebbs and flows of life. Their philosophy “focus on moving forward in situations you can’t control” is key to their consistently exceptional service to clients, even in challenging times.
Founded in 2007, Eagle Title’s business model centers on the importance of local expertise. They began branch operations in 2020 and acquired Betsy’s company, American Land Title, in 2022. The result: branches in Towson, Annapolis, and Severna Park – all part of a larger growth strategy dedicated to serving the Baltimore-Washington metro area while maintaining their focus on localized knowledge and strong connections. Brad shares, “We know that real estate is local. And we want to have local specialists that know the ins and outs of those communities…There are so many companies out there that are national organizations, and they want to run [based on] what’s going on a spreadsheet and a P&L…The unique thing about not being affiliated with any brokerage in particular is…having that localized knowledge.”
Outside of the office, the Eagle Title team is dedicated to giving back to their communities through charitable efforts. Swim Across America – Baltimore, which Betsy founded in 2010, has raised over $5 million to support the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. Across the Bay, Brad has been instrumental in fundraising for cancer care at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center through the fishing fund-raiser Fish For A Cure. Brad’s team, Reel Counsel, will reach more than $500,000 raised this fall.
Eagle Title’s reputation is built on a foundation of ethics, hard work, and exceptional service. Coupled with their localized approach, this allows them to foster excellent relationships – a resource they can leverage to overcome obstacles. As Betsy explains, “By having local offices, post-closing and processors and underwriters actually can call people in land records, or the Clerk of the Court office, and they know people and names…You can have those local relationships which I think our clients benefit from, because the transaction can be that much smoother when we have people that can assist us with questions or issues or bumps in the road.”
Eagle Title’s community-based model is also key to their ability to provide consistently excellent service while also giving each client’s needs the unique and individualized attention they require. Much like no two waves are the same, no two transactions are identical. According to Brad, “Every single piece of real estate is special…If you try and do a one-size-fits-all answer on any question within our business, it’s not going to work.”
Brad lives in Arnold with his wife Stephanie and their three children, Dean (10), Blair (7), and Henley (4). While pursuing a law degree at University of Baltimore, Brad took a job at a title company where he fell in love with real estate. Starting as a receptionist, Brad worked his way through various company roles, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the business. When he passed the bar in 2014, he took over the day-to-day operations of the company, and today is the President of Eagle Title. His brother, Jay, and uncle, Terry, are also members of the Eagle Title leadership team. When he’s not working, you can find Brad on the water, and he hasn’t totally abandoned his childhood aspiration to be a marina owner – something he says he’ll con-sider pursuing as his “retirement job.”
Betsy resides in the Homeland neighborhood of Baltimore City with her husband, Drew. She started out in architecture, earning an under-graduate degree from Princeton and a Master’s from the University of Virginia. In the mid-1990s, she ran her own construction management company. After having three kids in four years – Alice (31), Frannie (28), and Jay (26) – she closed her company and took a year off. When Drew shared his idea to start a title company, she got licensed, and they founded American Land Title in 1999. She has been on the master swim team at Coppermine Meadowbrook Club for 31 years and her family – led by her grandson, Graham (2 ½) – cheers her on.
The undercurrent of Eagle Title’s success is their commitment to exceptional service, investment in local communities, and a culture of resilience and creativity – all of which make the company a trusted name in their industry. Above all, what the leaders at Eagle Title understand is that each transaction is unique and, while they offer consistent service, they are personally invested in every interaction.