The Truth About Title Monitoring—and What Homeowners Really Need to Know
When it comes to protecting your home, many homeowners see ads for services that claim they can “lock” your title or monitor it 24/7 to prevent fraud. According to a MoneyTalksNews article, the reality is more nuanced and often much less dramatic than advertised.
Here’s What You Should Know
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Title monitoring can alert you, but it doesn’t truly “lock” your title. Services like “Home Title Lock” claim to prevent title fraud by monitoring databases and notifying you when something changes. But as the article explains, they only notify after a change has occurred, so they don’t stop fraud from happening.
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Title fraud is real, but relatively rare for owner-occupied homes. Experts estimate that theft of property titles occurs in the thousands each year, but compared to other forms of fraud, it remains low. Many cases involve vacant or non-owner occupied properties.
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Those most at risk are properties with little oversight. Fraudsters tend to target vacant land, second homes, or properties where the owner is less likely to be monitoring mailings or records.
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You may already have protection through title insurance. Much of the risk is covered by a standard homeowner’s title insurance policy, including forgery and impersonation of the owner. Many owners believe monitoring services are necessary, but the existing policy often has broader coverage than expected.
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Free safeguards exist and are very effective. Rather than paying monthly for services, consider taking simple actions: checking your mail for unexpected notifications, monitoring your mortgage/tax accounts, reviewing your credit report, and signing up for free document-recorded alerts if available in your county.
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If fraud does occur, the cleanup is costly. Resolving a fraudulent deed or improper transfer can cost thousands of dollars and take months. It’s better to stay alert than assume someone else will catch it.
How I Can Help
As your real estate partner, here’s how I’ll support you:
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I can connect you with trusted title professionals who can answer detailed questions about monitoring services or deed alerts.
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If you’re buying or selling, I’ll coordinate with title and escrow companies to ensure everything is recorded properly and you’re protected through the transaction.
If you’d like to review your home’s title status, discuss whether any monitoring service is truly worthwhile in your case, or simply talk through options ahead of a sale or purchase, let’s connect. I’m here to guide you, protect your investment, and simplify the process every step of the way.
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Let's talk! I’ve proudly served the Greater Richmond area as a full-time Realtor for more than 19 years, and I’ve called Virginia home for over 25.
My goal is simple: to help you reach yours.
Jason Burke
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