Reid McCullough
Regional Counsel
GIT Florida Title Services
Ask Reid McCullough what makes him stand out in the real estate profession and he might jokingly reply, “My height!” but the winning combination of his legal prowess, attention to detail and humanitarianism is what really makes this attorney shine. As the regional counsel for GIT Florida Title Services, he supports a range of clients, from first-time buyers to developers to mortgage bankers, all of whom rely on his expertise in title law to help fulfill their real estate goals. “I spent years poring over the fine print in statutes, contracts and mortgages, and I have a sincere drive to help people,” he explains. “Put the two together and you get an energetic nerd who loves coaching people through difficult transactions!”
And just like some of those transactions, the road to McCullough’s career was paved with some professional challenges that prompted him to transition to real estate. His work as a litigator handling divorce, paternity and business lawsuits left him feeling unfulfilled, so he decided to pursue an alternative that would allow him to both leverage his degree and give back to others. His background in residential and commercial construction through countless hours of service with Habitat for Humanity helped steer him in the right direction. “I’m truly motivated by the opportunity to help people,” McCullough says, “and I know that I’m strengthening one of the state’s core industries through my work in real estate. I’m a Florida native, so I’m proud that my career allows me to contribute to our state’s prosperity.”
McCullough excels in personalizing the client experience and implementing systems that better ensure the smooth execution of each transaction. To this end, he created templates for Florida property transactions in GIT’s parent database to facilitate requests that demand quick turnaround. In addition, he regularly updates examiners and underwriters on Florida law and personally reviews their products to ensure legal compliance. These strategies, he says, make it easier to accommodate a demanding workload. McCullough’s contribution to real estate law is now binding precedent: in 2015 he appealed the requirements for a successor lender to foreclose on a Palm Beach County homeowner, and the court’s decision in his favor remains the most current law on the subject in the Fourth District.
A member of the Florida Land Title Association and Florida Home Builders Association as well as his local Real Estate Investors Association and Mortgage Bankers Association, McCullough also continues to actively engage with The Florida Bar Association. In addition, he gives career talks at area schools and still builds homes with Habitat for Humanity, and was named “Habitat Builder of the Year” by the University of Florida’s Habitat for Humanity Chapter. His pro bono hours with the university’s Levin College of Law legal aid clinic earned him an award for “Outstanding Pro Bono Service.” When describing what motivates the unquestionable dedication he demonstrates to both his career and service, McCullough fondly recalls words of wisdom that his father imparted to him: “At the end of the day, I try to live by the best advice my dad has ever given me: ‘be happy, be self-sufficient and be graceful.’”