This is for Georgia however your state might have the same program.
You may have heard of title or deed fraud, this can help, as you know it’s important to stay informed about activity related to your property.
Georgia’s Filing Activity Notification System (FANS) is a free service that can send you an email or text notification when certain property-related documents are filed in Georgia.
Sign up here: Georgia Filing Activity Notification System (FANS)
or https://fans.gsccca.org/
Signing up is quick, easy, and can give you added peace of mind.
Tip, have your tax bill handy since some of the information will be required.
PS, you should also check with your county for any program they offer.
Yah, I live in Dare Co in North Carolina. They have a simple alert notification if any activity starts with your house. Then you can run, not walk, to the county court house to “Nip it in the Bud” as Barney Fife used to say!
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One thing that is also ‘free’ is to take out a HELOC on your home. If your home is paid off, it’s easier for them to steal your deed, but it’s my understanding that if there is HELOC, even if it isn’t used, it’s still attached to the deed, which makes it harder for someone to steal it
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Yes, a HELOC does place a lien on your title, for the max credit limit of the HELOC, no matter how much you actually borrow. HELOC credit limit could be $100k, you only borrow $10k, lien is still for $100k. That should be the same if you never use the HELOC. But are people disciplined enough to never use it? Also, some lenders may charge annual maintenance fees for a HELOC or may charge an inactivity fee if it goes unused for very long.
So, it could work, but it’s not necessarily a cheap or safe way to protect your title.
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I live in Cherokee County, Georgia. The Deed and Title office do a good job of catching these things, as I was told by a Lt. on Cherokee Sheriff’s Department during a fraud prevention lecture. I signed up my property through Georgia (plate, owner’s name, etc.). This system returns any activity matching the data I input. Cost is nothing, except a few minutes of your time, which is an excellent investment to keeping what’s your property from thieves. Also, a trip to your county’s deed and title office never hurts to get their ideas as well: that’s where I got the links to enroll my property.
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Thanks, this cause me to do more research.
A HELOC may make your property a less attractive target because the lender’s lien creates an additional obstacle, but it does not eliminate the risk of title fraud or identity-based HELOC fraud. The biggest consequence is usually not losing the home permanently, but rather dealing with unauthorized debt, legal expenses, credit damage, and the time required to clear your title and financial records
Resource: Borrowing Against Your Title to Ward Off Deed Theft: A Smart Idea? - Deeds.com
Opening a HELOC opens a new window for the bad guys
If a criminal steals your identity, they may attempt to:
Check your county recorder’s office for your county. My county in TN has it.