How Easy/Hard to Steal a House
I have two goals for this post:
- Increase awareness of the issue
- Find ways to decrease the chances of this happening
Note: I'm not an attorney. Just an investor.
Several weeks ago I read a post on FB about someone who got their house stolen . . . as in a form or result of ID theft. Unfortunately, I don't have the details.
When I read it, it struck a nerve. For approx. 15 years I have always wondered how relatively easy or not complicated it is to steal property. Honestly, I'm shocked it is not more common.
The next thing I did is to speak to two attornies and one title guy. I'm still looking to speak w/ more such functions.
Do you want to guess what was the attorney's first answer? talk to the title.
Guess what title says . . . you got it . . . talk to an attorney.
LOL would be sarcstic.
The first att. I spoke to had no clue. She kept getting back to how I should protect my identity from theft. When I told her that ID theft has nothing to do w/ property theft and that you don't need a SSN to steal a house . . . she kept circling back to ID theft and protecting it. I was not impressed . . . at all.
The second att. was more helpful. First, he acknowledged it is rather not complicated to do/accomplish. Then he said that in the past counties would have (free or for cost) a mechanism that lets the owner know and seek approval before ANY changes are made to the title. BTW, while this is a good protection layer it is far from perfect.
The title guy had no answer. And said about the county he knows well that they have no such notification service.
In the past, someone told me he adds on the deed something like "call Jim Smith at ### or email at @@@ for any changes". At the time I thought it was a great idea. But I don't think anyone regularly reads the deed.
Either title or one of the attornies said that the notary should review the deed before signing. After many hundreds of notarizations, I doubt any notary does so (I could be wrong).
Like protecting our house from break-in I guess we cannot have it 100% protected but if we add bars, alarm, lights, patrol, etc. it will make it harder/less attractive for someone to break-in.
Do you have any good ways we, owners, can have better protection of our title/properties? I'll take "better" than what we have today or more difficult than what we have now.
So what's your solution, suggestion, idea?
