Title fraud isn’t just something you hear about on the news anymore—it’s happening in real neighborhoods to real people. In fact, a few doors down from our home, someone tried to take over a vacant property after the owner passed away. The family hadn’t yet stepped in, and within days, squatters moved in, trying to claim the home. It was unsettling—and it raised a big question:
“How do I protect my property from title fraud?”
It’s a great question. Title fraud occurs when someone illegally claims ownership of a property and attempts to sell or transfer it—often without the true owner even knowing. The most vulnerable properties are vacant, unencumbered homes—often inherited or owned outright.
Scammers search for homes without existing liens or mortgages, especially those that are sitting vacant. They may use forged documents, fake IDs, or even shady notaries to file quitclaim deeds, transferring ownership fraudulently. Sometimes, these criminals even go through legitimate title companies—leaving unsuspecting buyers and sellers in a legal mess.
There are a few key steps to help protect your property:
Sign up for title monitoring services. Some companies offer alerts if a change is made to your deed or ownership record.
Monitor your county assessor’s site. In Maricopa County, for example, you can get notified when property tax details or ownership information changes.
Keep your credit monitored. While title fraud won’t always show up on your credit report, other suspicious activity might.
Stay involved—especially if you inherit a property. The sooner the family steps in, the less time scammers have to act.
Here’s something many people don’t realize: putting a lien on your property through a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) can help deter fraud.
Why? Because fraudsters typically go after unencumbered properties—ones without any active loans or liens. If your home has a HELOC on it, even if you haven’t pulled any money from it, it creates a legal and financial record that must be addressed before a sale or transfer can occur. It’s an extra layer of protection.
I sat down with my wife Rachel, a correspondent lender, to break this down further. She explained how HELOCs can serve different purposes depending on your situation:
Homeowners like us who open a HELOC for peace of mind and never pull from it
Investors who use equity to purchase their next property
Clients paying off high-interest debt, rolling loans and credit cards into one lower-interest monthly payment
Many HELOCs offer interest-only payments for the first 10 years and no prepayment penalties. And because rates adjust with prime, your payments can go down when the Fed lowers rates.
Rachel also shared the difference between correspondent lenders, brokers, and banks. Correspondent lenders, like her team at Bison Ventures, work with over 50 investors, helping clients choose the right product while guiding them from application to funding. It’s like having a mortgage matchmaker on your side.
If you own a home—especially one that’s paid off or inherited—don’t overlook title protection. And if you’re considering a HELOC, think beyond the typical uses. It’s not just a financial tool—it’s a strategic move that could help safeguard one of your most valuable assets.
🎥 Watch the full video here to hear more insights and real-life stories.
Need help exploring HELOC options or title protection strategies?
Reach out to our team at Capstone Realty Professionals—we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
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