04/29/2026
As a real estate professionals, we need to talk to you about something important.
This isn't a market update or a listing. This is us, as someone who works in this industry every day, looking out for you and the people you love.
It's called deed fraud, and it's targeting homeowners in our community right now.
Here's what happens: A criminal gets your personal information, forges your signature on a deed transfer, and files it at the county recorder's office. No guns. No break-in. Just paperwork. And suddenly, on paper, your home belongs to someone else. They can borrow against it. They can sell it. By the time you find out, you're looking at a long, expensive legal battle to get it back.
The #1 target? Homes with no mortgage.
The moment you pay off your home, that proud, hard-earned milestone, you also lose the one thing that was quietly protecting you: a lender watching your title. No bank. No alerts. No one checking. Free and clear is exactly what these criminals look for.
Seniors, inherited properties, paid-off family homes, these are the most common victims.
As someone who helps people buy and protect their homes for a living, this matters deeply to us. So here's what I want every homeowner to know:
4 things you can do to protect your home today:
1. Search for your county's free deed alert program
Many counties will email or text you the moment anything is recorded against your property. Search "[your county] property fraud alert", it takes about 5 minutes to sign up and it's completely free.
2. Talk to your lender about a home equity line (HELOC)
You don't have to use it. Even an unused HELOC places a lien on your title, which creates a legal barrier that makes fraudulent transfers much harder to pull off quietly.
3. Own a business? Ask a real estate attorney about recording a lien
A legitimate lien from your business entity against your property is a real layer of protection. It's worth a conversation with a local real estate attorney.
4. Check your own deed once a year
Your county recorder's website is public and free. Look up your name. See what's filed. Know what's there. I'd rather you spend 10 minutes on this than spend years fighting to get your home back.
Protecting your home doesn't stop at closing. If you ever have questions about your title, your deed, or anything related to your property, our door is open. That's what we're here for.
Please share this with anyone who owns a home, especially those who've paid theirs off.