Wilhelmina Kightlinger has taken the helm as chief underwriting counsel for the Stewart Title family of companies, bringing decades of experience in commercial real estate law and title insurance.
Having previously served as chief underwriting counsel for Stewart's National Commercial Services (NCS) division, Kightlinger sees her new role as an opportunity to build upon the strength of the company’s underwriting capabilities while navigating an evolving market.
“I am proud to be a part of Stewart’s legacy of excellence in underwriting. My past experience has been invaluable, especially with the NCS division,” Kightlinger told The Title Report in an exclusive interview. My history as a practicing attorney representing commercial developers, buyers, lenders, and sellers provides me with the customer’s perspective of our product, which leads to practical underwriting solutions.”
Kightlinger’s career has also included time at Old Republic, where she served as general counsel for the National Commercial division.
“Commercial real estate is in my blood,” she said. “When I returned to Stewart a few years ago, I really appreciated their underwriting philosophy, talent, and the company’s growth trajectory. Stewart is outpacing the competition, and that’s what made it so attractive for me to return. The last few years have really seen Stewart as a destination for top-tier talent, and I’m excited to continue to lead that charge.”
Kightlinger initially joined Stewart in 2005 as a commercial underwriting counsel and returned in 2022 as deputy chief underwriting counsel for NCS. She was promoted to chief underwriting counsel for NCS in 2023, during which she launched initiatives including the NCS Underwriting Onboarding and Mentorship Programs.
Recognized for her contributions, she became deputy chief underwriting counsel for the entire Stewart Title family of companies in 2024.
Navigating an evolving market
Kightlinger assumes her new role at a time of considerable change in the real estate industry.
“Current macro conditions are challenging for sure,” she said. “I have watched the U.S. economy survive the Savings & Loan crash, the dot-com bubble, and the Great Recession, which all had cyclical patterns. Today’s environment is tough to navigate as consumers are faced with elevated interest rates, limited supply and continued price appreciation.”
Despite the uncertainty, Kightlinger remains optimistic.
“The challenge ahead is adapting to this new era,” she said. “The industry must be flexible and ready to adjust. Stewart is well-positioned to support its agents and customers with creative and innovative underwriting solutions, just as we have for the past 130 years.”
Underwriting has also had to keep pace with rapid technological change, something Kightlinger is acutely aware of. She said the real estate industry has always been slow to change, holding onto paper and delaying digital transformation.
“COVID forced us to adapt, and now we’ve learned important lessons about digital closings and new technology,” she said. “The key is to remain flexible and responsive to the needs of the marketplace.”
Kightlinger also emphasized that underwriting must evolve alongside technology to maintain the integrity of transactions.
“Fraudsters are smart,” she said. “They learn how we adapt and then find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities. That’s why staying ahead requires constant vigilance and innovation.”
Trends to watch, looking ahead
Kightlinger identified some pressing underwriting concerns that title agents and other industry peers should remain on the lookout for.
“Vacant land fraud is a trend we’ve been seeing, and I think it’s only going to grow,” she said. “We’ve issued several bulletins with red flags for our agents to look for. We’ve had multiple success stories where fraud attempts were thwarted because of our internal processes and our agents’ diligence.”
Wire fraud also remains a top concern.
“It’s hard to stay one step ahead of these criminals because they adapt just as quickly as we do,” Kightlinger said. “But Stewart is committed to keeping our agents and customers protected with robust fraud prevention measures.”
Even through encounters with fraudsters, market fluctuations and other difficulties, Kightlinger said taking on the role of chief underwriting counsel for Stewart Title is both an honor and an opportunity.
“I’m very excited about the future,” she said. “Underwriting is a pillar of Stewart’s mission to become the premier title services company, and I’m proud to be part of a leadership team that is so dedicated to this goal.
“We will continue to evolve, innovate, and provide the highest level of underwriting expertise. I look forward to working with our teams, agents, and partners to ensure we remain at the forefront of the industry.”