How to protect your home from Title Theft

By May Jackson

May Jackson is licensed in 2 states. She started working with Mortgage Lending and moved to the Real Estate transactions in 2010.

From Halloween through mid-February, scammers are busier than ever, and one of their biggest targets right now isn’t your credit card or your bank account. It’s your home. Title theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes nationwide, and it’s catching homeowners completely off guard.

Property records are public, so anyone can look up what you paid for your home and estimate how much equity you’ve built. Scammers take that information, forge a deed, fake your signature, add a counterfeit notary seal, and record it with the county. On paper, it looks like they now own your property.

You keep making your mortgage payments, but legally, the home may no longer be yours. Many people don’t find out until they’re notified about a loan they never took out or see a foreclosure notice on their door.

Title theft is growing across the country. High property values make homeowners in this state prime targets. Scammers know there’s money in equity, and they use online access to public records to identify homes worth stealing. Some even use fake identities or create shell companies to sell or refinance properties they don’t own. This kind of fraud can go unnoticed for months, which makes prevention critical.

Title insurance doesn’t protect you after the fact. Many people assume title insurance covers any fraud, but it only applies to issues that existed before you purchased your home. Once a scammer records a forged deed, title insurance won’t undo the transfer. You would have to go through a lengthy and expensive legal process to prove the fraud and reclaim ownership. That’s why prevention and monitoring are key.

Check if your county offers a property alert system. Several counties now provide free property monitoring services. These systems send you an alert if anyone records a new document under your name or property address. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay ahead of potential fraud, and it gives you a chance to act before scammers move forward with loans or sales.

Watch for warning signs that something isn’t right. If your mortgage statements suddenly stop arriving, or you receive mail addressed to someone else at your home, don’t ignore it. Letters from lenders or notices about loans you didn’t apply for are red flags. Small clues like these are often the first signs of title fraud, and catching them early could prevent major loss.

Work only with verified professionals. Always check credentials when you work with real estate agents, lenders, title officers, or notaries. Fraudsters often pose as professionals to make their scams look legitimate. Make sure to confirm licenses, and never rush into signing documents without reviewing them carefully.

Title theft is real, and it can happen to anyone. But taking a few proactive steps can protect your biggest investment. Start by checking if your county offers property alerts, and talk to a trusted title company about what other options are available.

If you’d like guidance on how to secure your title or who to contact locally, feel free to call or text me at 303-335-9209 or email me at mayjacks@kw.com. I’ll point you in the right direction so your home stays in your name where it belongs.