Tag: property fraud
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Behind Their Backs: The Pain of Finding Out About Malicious Deed Transfers
From time to time, we talk about deed theft here. But what actually happens, from the deed holder’s point of view? Here’s what it’s like — and how to protect your deed.
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Seniors Under Pressure: Could Someone You Love Sign a Deed Away?
It’s an all-too-common story. You’re caring for your parent, who’s a deed holder. And when you’re not looking, another person persuades the senior to sign over the deed. Who puts pressure on elders to give away their homes? It could be a renter. Maybe an acquaintance or relative. Maybe a health assistant or handy person. …
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Can I Take Another Person Off My Deed Without Telling Them?
The question of the day is: I need to take someone off my house deed. Can I do it without calling anyone’s attention to this? Spoiler alert: No. Nor can one owner create a new deed that doesn’t include the other co-owner in order to extinguish that other person’s ownership. No one gives up their…
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Blockchain for Real Estate: It’s Coming.
If you’ve ever bought a house, condo, or co-op, you’ll know it’s a major process. Many joyful buys took a good deal of trudging through weeks of stressful communication challenges. The journey was loaded with people, paperwork, and fees. Why do we put ourselves through it? Because getting into the market is a key wealth-building…
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Texas Warranty Deed Forgery Plot Thickens
More Houston-area deed fraud victims are speaking out. The alleged perpetrator has already been charged with a first-degree felony of forgery, fraudulent document execution, and theft greater than $300,000, in connection with warranty deeds worth some $15 million. He would forge property owners’ signatures. Then he’d go buy their properties at a deep discount. Investigators…
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Heirs, Protect the Seniors in Your Life From Deed Theft
A 91-year-old Floridian recently sent a payment to his insurer. Then the agent called to say the company wouldn’t be able to renew the homeowner’s policy. The deed had been transferred. The home was now legally owned by another person. Some days later, from his bedroom, this shocked and disoriented senior heard three people come…