When Robin and Shay McArthur look back on 30 years of operating Peninsula Title Co., Inc., they are certain they couldn’t have been successful without the help of area real estate agents, lenders and attorneys.
Serving as owner and vice president, respectively, the two are better known as the mother-daughter duo who work side-by-side, offering full residential closings, refinancing services, for sale by owner services and commercial title services in the Hampton Roads area.
Shay calls herself her mother’s second in command. She joined Peninsula Title Co., Inc. in 1994, six years after Robin began the business after serving as a legal secretary for a real estate attorney in Newport News.
In 1988, Robin co-founded Peninsula Title Co., Inc. with Allen Tanner, who now primarily handles the for-sale-by-owner side of the business.
Robin says she got into the real estate business because it is fast-paced, she enjoys meeting nice people and it feels good to help somebody buy or sell a house.
“Our slogan is, ‘Where we treat you like family,’” she says, adding she never makes promises she can’t keep to clients.
Shay says employees at Peninsula Title Co., Inc., including herself and Robin, try to be available for clients as much as possible, often doing closings late at night or on weekends to be accommodating.
“We stay busy from the time we get here until the time we go,” Robin says.
Business at Peninsula Title Co., Inc. hasn’t always been smooth sailing. In November 2008, in the midst of the financial crash, the office, located on J. Clyde Morris Boulevard, burned to the ground, causing Robin and Shay to lose everything—computers, paperwork and the office in which they operated.
Through the help of other title companies, lenders and real estate agents, they were eventually able to get back on their feet and celebrated 30 years of operating Peninsula Title Co., Inc. on May 1.
“You find out how kind and gracious people are when you’ve lost everything,” Robin says.
Today, Peninsula Title Co., Inc.’s business comes primarily through word of mouth, as clients share with their friends the successes they’ve had working with Robin and Shay.
When they aren’t working, Shay and Robin say they like spending time with family, Robin’s two dogs and Shay’s two-year old daughter. The two were both born and raised in Newport News and are happy to call it home.
“I think we have been so lucky, so very lucky,” Robin says. “I personally have been one of the luckiest in this business.”
TO THE POINT:
Peninsula Title Co.
Contact: Robin McArthur, owner/president
Phone: 757-595-2536
Address: 11835 Fishing Point Dr., Ste. 204, Newport News, VA 23606
I was so proud to read this article as I have been working with Robin since the 80s. Is it possible to get my hands on a copy of this article as it is truly a keeper??