Real Estate Deeds Made Easy Since 1997
Some years back, the state of Georgia, under the Georgia Code (GA § 44-2-43), made stealing houses by recording fraudulent or counterfeit real estate deeds a felony, incurring 1-10 years in prison. Witnesses who help perpetrate Georgia deed fraud are subject to the same potential penalties. Georgia is not alone in its resolve. The FBI …
Continue reading “Real Estate Law Enforcement: Catching Up to Deed Fraudsters”
Quitclaim deeds show up commonly in fraudulent real estate transactions. This type of deed fraud can impact elderly people, buyers purchasing real estate from strangers without warranty, renters who are paying someone who is not a legitimate owner, and anyone involved who might buy, sell, or own property. Here, we examine how it happens and …
Continue reading “The Quitclaim Deed and Fraudulent Real Estate Transactions”
The Register of Deeds of Shelby County, Tennessee recently took to a live television newscast to warn the public about scammers scouring funeral listings and obituaries. They’re looking for dead people whose homes they can steal. They forge deeds. They record bogus title transfers. Once they have control over their ill-gotten homes, criminals sell them, …
Continue reading “Register of Deeds Blasts Crooks Who Steal Homes Out From Under Owners’ Funerals”
After Florida passed HB 1419 to deal with deed fraud in the state, Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes announced a new requirement for filing a property deed. As of August 2023 and onward, you’ll need a government-produced photo ID if you expect to file a deed in Lee County. Why specifically there? Because Lee County, …
St. Johns County, which includes St. Augustine Beach, has plenty of attractive real estate. Just beware the trickster who holds a deed for ransom. One of the seniors who lives in St. Johns sounded the alarm. Some shady firm told her to pay $20K to get her title back. It’s a trend in which local …
Delaware County (“Delco” to the locals) is home to more than a half-million residents, making it Pennsylvania’s 5th most populated county. It borders the southwest edge of Philadelphia. It’s a little bit country, a little bit urban. It includes scenic Ridley Creek State Park. Several universities stand at least partly within it: Cheyney, Villanova, and …
Continue reading “Deed Records Go Digital: Getting Up to Speed in Delaware County, PA”
We all know about porch pirates… but look out for title pirates. They’ll take your whole porch. Title piracy is deed fraud. It happens when someone uses a deed to deliberately take over someone else’s real estate. It’s an unusual crime, but according to the National Association of REALTORS® (which cites FBI figures), it’s been …
Continue reading “Ahoy There, Matey! Look Out for the Title Pirates”
Know Before You Owe is a set of mortgage guides from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). It shows home loan seekers the steps they need to take to open and handle a mortgage account. It provides detailed information on interest rates, and explains how to find comparable deals on loans, too. This makes perfect …
Michael B., a real estate broker, has changed his mind. He’s now pleading guilty in a felony fraud case involving deed theft. In Florida, fraudulent real estate schemes are not unusual. But when a real estate broker in active status is pursued for deed fraud, that’s the kind of case that stands out. Yes, you read …
Continue reading “Deed-Stealing Florida Broker Pleads GUILTY”
Snohomish County Washington is now offering a valuable service for property owners – the Recorded Document Notification System. This free, voluntary system is designed to alert you whenever a document containing your name or tax parcel number is officially recorded.