T
itle fraud, or deed theft, occurs when someone illegally transfers a property’s title without the owner’s consent. A 2025 NAR survey found that 60 % of real‑estate leaders have seen title‑fraud cases in the past year. Only 12 % of these involve owner‑occupied homes; 62 % target vacant land, and just 16 % involve detached single‑family houses.
Vacant parcels are especially attractive because they are often unmonitored, especially when owners live out of state or the property is part of an estate or investment company. In a 2018 Florida case, fraudsters forged quit‑claim deeds and powers of attorney to seize 44 homes—18 of which were estate properties—then rented, sold, or occupied them before being caught.
Seller‑impersonation scams use forged documents, fake IDs, or falsified corporate papers to create a false ownership record. Scammers search county land records, match the owner’s name, and then list the property with an MLS agent. The sale usually involves a cash buyer, a remote closing arranged by the fraudster, and a quick transfer of funds. By the time the real owner discovers the theft, months or years may have passed.
CertifID’s 2023 survey shows that 54 % of real‑estate professionals have faced at least one impersonation attempt in six months, and 17 % of title companies reported sending money to wrong accounts last year—half of those incidents recurred.
To counter these threats, NAR leaders favor:
* Electronic notification systems (83 %) that alert owners when a filing occurs; states such as Arizona, California, Florida, and others already use them.
* Title‑freeze systems (61 %) that block unauthorized transfers, modeled after credit freezes; Arizona, Indiana, and South Carolina have adopted them.
* Local recorder stop‑gates (60 %) that flag suspicious filings for review; Michigan, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington have implemented this.
Until these measures become widespread, real‑estate professionals must educate clients, spot red flags, and recommend fraud‑prevention tools. Video resources, new‑member training, and consumer guides are effective. According to CertifID’s 2025 Wire Fraud Report, 35 % of buyers expect agents to discuss wire and title fraud, and 80 % would choose an agent who demonstrates strong fraud‑prevention practices—even paying more for that security.
For more on preventing vacant‑land scams, see NAR’s “Window to the Law” video.
Resources for clients:
* Consumer Guide: Understanding & Protecting Yourself From Title Fraud
* NAR Legal Affairs Vacant Land Scams Tip Sheet.
