Preventing Deed Fraud: Twice-Sold Property

[Nazar Trilisky]

How can a buyer protect themselves from a seller who sells a property twice?

Recording a deed is not required by law, so a seller can write two deeds for the same property to two separate buyers, collect the money, and disappear.  Even if the deeds are recorded, there is a time lag to record them.

Is there a way to check for deeds that are not recorded with the clerk?

[Wayne Brooks]

No. Recorded first gets title...the other person has to chase the seller.