How Can Homeowners Protect Themselves From Home Title Theft and Deed Fraud?

Home title theft and deed fraud are serious issues that can have devastating consequences for homeowners. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from these crimes.

Monitor Your Credit Report: One of the most important things you can do is regularly monitor your credit report for any suspicious activity. If someone has stolen your identity or taken out a loan in your name, it will show up on your credit report. It’s also a good idea to check with the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) at least once a year to make sure all of the information they have on file about you is accurate and up-to-date.

Be Aware of Who Has Access To Your Personal Information: You should also be aware of who has access to your personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, etc., as this could potentially be used by criminals in order to commit home title theft or deed fraud. Be sure not to share this type of sensitive data with anyone unless absolutely necessary.

Enhanced Homeowner’s Title Insurance Policy: Investing in an enhanced title insurance policy may provide additional protection against fraudulent deeds if someone attempts to steal your home’s title without authorization or otherwise commits deed fraud while transferring ownership rights from one party to another during a real estate transaction. This type of policy typically covers legal fees associated with defending against fraudulent claims as well as any losses resulting from them being successful in their attempt at stealing the property’s title away from its rightful owner(s). It is important to note that this kind of coverage does not guarantee complete protection, but it can help reduce the risk and financial burden should you ever become a victim of home title theft or deed fraud.

Secure Your Home Documents: Make sure that all documents related to owning, managing, maintaining, selling or buying properties are stored securely – either digitally or physically – so that no unauthorized individuals can gain access them easily. This is especially important for those documents directly or indirectly involving transfers between parties involved in real estate transactions (e.g., closing statements).

Stay Vigilant: Lastly, stay vigilant for any suspicious activity around homes owned by yourself or family members which could indicate potential attempts at committing home title theft and deed fraud (e.g., strangers taking pictures outside the house; people asking questions about ownership status; etc.). If anything appears off then contact local law enforcement immediately so they can investigate further before any damage is done.

Homeowners should take the necessary steps to protect their home title and assets from theft or fraud by staying informed, utilizing a reputable title insurance agent, and monitoring their home titles regularly. To learn more about how to do this effectively, let’s explore what title monitoring is.