State Expands E-Government On-Line Services for Housing - California - Brief Article

Information Superhighways Newsletter, August, 2001

The Davis Administration announced expansion of e-government services available to on-line customers for escrow openings and title searches of mobile homes, manufactured homes, and commercial coaches.

This new on-line government-to-business service will allow escrow companies, lenders and title companies to conduct important business with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) instantly, 24x7.

"By improving our e-government on-line capabilities, we are reaching out to make it easier for people to do business with their government," said California Business, Transportation and Housing Secretary, Maria Contreras-Sweet.

Arun Baheti, the State's Director of e-Government, added, "This project is an example of how government can use information technology to make state services and programs more accessible, and reflects the Governor's vision for improved customer service. California is delivering on the Governor's promise of using the Web to improve the experience of all citizens with government -- at the DMV, enrolling children in Healthy Families, or helping businesses."

The new HCD on-line services offer one-stop title search and escrow opening capabilities. Customers will be able to create immediate moratoriums on title records during the sale of a unit.

HCD's Web site will also enable customers to perform title searches on mobile homes, manufactured homes, or commercial coaches.

Last year, the department launched a highly successful on-line registration renewal service for mobile homes, manufactured home, and commercial coaches. The department's automated process allows individual homeowners and other customers to renew their registration, instantly. Customers receive their registration card in the mail within just a few days.