Rip-off alert! Final week, Stephanie Kees, Teller County clerk & recorder, issued a warning to property house owners in regards to the improve in mortgage and property fraud throughout the nation.
The premise is that an individual can file fraudulent deeds, mortgages or different liens in opposition to a property with out the proprietor’s information or consent.
In consequence, Kees’ workplace, which information deeds and a myriad of different paperwork, is offering a free safeguard mechanism to house owners.
The property proprietor shall be notified when actual property possession switch paperwork, with actual names of the Grantor(s) or Grantee(s), have been recorded in Kees’ workplace. This may present an early warning system that enables the property proprietor to behave in the event that they imagine fraudulent exercise has occurred with their property.
“We’re being proactive in notifying clients when a deed or different submitting is made in opposition to their property,” Kees acknowledged within the launch. “Whereas our workplace is required by regulation to document the doc when it’s introduced, we subsequently attain out to the present proprietor on document to tell them of the transaction made by one other individual.”
As soon as notified, the proprietor can affirm if the submitting is professional or if it’s a fraudulent try by somebody to grab possession or trigger different points with the property.
For property house owners, Kees suggests steps to take to stop fraud:
Examine with the workplace no less than annually to confirm no deeds or mortgages have been recorded in your property with out your consent.
Confirm with the assessor’s and treasurer’s workplaces that they’ve the proper mailing tackle for you or the one that ought to obtain notices about your property.
Contact the identical workplaces in case you cease receiving your property notifications and tax payments.
In case your property is vacant, test it typically to verify it’s not occupied illegally. Ask somebody you belief to take care of your property if you’re going to be away for an extended time frame.
When a member of the family passes away and another person inherits the property, be sure to replace the deed with the brand new proprietor’s title.
Focus on together with your trusted members of the family earlier than making any choices that have an effect on possession of your property, equivalent to including or eradicating somebody from a deed or taking out a brand new mortgage, reverse mortgage, or second mortgage. For those who really feel it prudent, it’s possible you’ll need to seek the advice of a lawyer.
For extra data, please contact the Recording Division at 719-689-2951 ext. 3, or electronic mail [email protected].
