article thumbnail

FBI warns of home title theft surge

Housing Wire

The Boston division of the FBI is sounding the alarm over a rise in home title theft , aka quit claim deed fraud, a scheme in which scammers forge documents to steal property ownership and cash in on unsuspecting homeowners. Home title theft hinges on forged or fraudulent quit claim deeds. Some counties offer title alert systems.

Title 322
article thumbnail

How title companies are combating wire fraud

Housing Wire

Cyberattacks, particularly wire fraud through business email compromise, remain a major concern for the title industry. We sat down with ALTA CEO Diane Tomb to talk about ways title insurance companies can help their customers avoid falling prey to such attempts. Q: How can title companies help homebuyers avoid wire fraud?

Title 545
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Propy partners with Inspectify to streamline home inspections

Housing Wire

Real estate technology platform Propy is now enabling its users to handle property inspections without leaving its app. The San Francisco -based Propy has formed a partnership with property inspection platform Inspectify , according to a joint announcement on Tuesday.

article thumbnail

Fraud, forgery claims are costliest expenses for title insurers

Housing Wire

Fraud and forgery claims represented more than one-fifth of the total dollars spent by title insurers on claims expenses and losses over the past decade, according to a study conducted by Milliman and commissioned by the American Land Title Association (ALTA). the risk of not purchasing a title insurance policy is far too high.”

Title 479
article thumbnail

Unwrapping what to expect in your home inspection, appraisal and closing

Housing Wire

What’s the difference between a home inspection and an appraisal? Before you get overwhelmed, take comfort that critical milestones of home inspection, appraisal and closing processes are all great ways to get more acquainted with your prospective new home. Home Inspection. Have you budgeted for closing costs?

article thumbnail

A homebuyer’s personal story from the post-Sitzer, post-settlement world

Housing Wire

In writing both offers, Angela and I made sure to fully disclose how I was expecting her to get paid , as well as all of my requests, including a home inspection contingency clause. I grew up in an 1850s farmhouse and was not going to skip an inspection or an appraisal contingency.

article thumbnail

Pending legislation would end home inspection waivers in Massachusetts

Housing Wire

A housing market marked by relatively high interest rates and tight inventory — and punctuated by the practice of home inspection waivers to sweeten offers — are taking a bite out of business for home inspectors, who play a key role in the sales process by ensuring that buyers are not being sold a lemon of a house. and Canada.