04/22/2023
Scam alert! Just wanted to let you know that a buyer I sold a lot to in 2020 contacted me today because someone has listed their lot for sale without their knowledge or permission. I have reported it to the MLS as an incorrect listing so hopefully the MLS will remove it.
As I did some digging for them online, I found that a company in Texas had actually recently recorded an affidavit claiming the owner had entered into a purchase agreement with them and then that company listed the lot with an online flat rate listing brokerage called List with Freedom.com. The owner has never signed such a document or desired to list his property.
Please be aware that this kind of thing happens more frequently than you would suspect, particularly if you don't have any kind of mortgage or lien on the property, i.e. you bought the property with cash. My husband even had it happen to him a couple years ago with some property he owns. We were only alerted to it by someone who notified us that the property was listed for sale. That is how this owner also became aware of it. This owner's brother, who also purchased a lot in the same community, checked the county records and believes they have also done the same with his lot but his has not been listed so he wouldn't have known without checking.
I'd be more than happy to help guide you on how to check your own property record history online and I recommend you do it periodically. We have caught many incorrect things and been able to correct them. The recorder's office does not check every document they are asked to record for accuracy, so be aware that they are not the gatekeeper to safeguard against improper liens or transfers. We check the records periodically now, ever since we became aware of how easy it is to file fraudulent liens or just have things get missed such as reconveyances of liens for paid off loans or mortgages, etc.
Please check your property's records. If you'd like some help, feel free to reach out to me. Please know that Utah County is often behind in showing documents that have been recorded so you may want to check now and again in a few weeks.
https://www.utahcounty.gov/LandRecords/