Quick Answer
Home deed protection refers to steps homeowners can take to monitor and safeguard their property records from unauthorized changes, forged deeds, or fraudulent filings. Because deed records are public and changes can occur without immediate notice, home deed protection focuses on early detection so issues can be addressed before they lead to financial loss or ownership disputes.
Table of Contents
Home deed protection has become increasingly important as property fraud and deed manipulation continue to rise across the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that criminals are exploiting public land records by filing forged deeds or impersonating property owners, sometimes transferring ownership before the real owner is aware of the fraud.
Industry research conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that deed and title fraud most often affects properties that are not actively monitored, including vacant homes, second homes, and inherited properties. These findings highlight why home deed protection is less about preventing filings from happening and more about ensuring homeowners are alerted quickly when something changes.
Why You Need Home Deed Protection
Because everyone who owns a home is vulnerable. Read that again. Think this isn’t the case?
- A young couple in Boulder, CO, recently forged 14 quit claim deeds totaling $2,875,000 in property value unbeknownst to the actual owners
- Mortgage holders in 14 states were forced into forbearance when Wells Fargo paused their mortgage payments without consent
- A couple in Newport Beach, CA, presented false documents and filed fake deeds for 3 homes totaling $5.9 million
Some municipalities including the Clerk-Recorders office in Orange County, CA, now offer courtesy notices alerting to any transactions dealing with real property, however, the physical alert will be mailed to the original property owner’s address within 48 hours meaning this after-the-fact system could be too late to save your property.
The Key to Property Fraud Protection is to Be Proactive
According to DomiDocs® and HomeLock™ Founder & CEO, William McKenna, “Just monitoring your title for changes only provides 50% coverage and is only triggered after the fraud or error has occurred. It’s an archaic, manual system, that’s basically like leaving a briefcase full of money at the bottom of your driveway. Our HomeLock™ system is built to catch fraud and errors, before, during, and right after the occurrence giving you the most accurate, early warning, and comprehensive protection available today.” HomeLock™ scans and monitors 200+ data points including:
- fraud detection for land, lot, and parcel
- daily property address monitoring
- MLS listing websites
- property rental websites
- social media websites
- purchase and sale websites
In comparison, simple home title and deed monitoring services only alert you to a problem after the fact and they don’t account for any errors made.
Homelock™ is the Most Comprehensive Property Fraud Protection System
If heaven forbid something does go wrong with your property, HomeLock™ also provides fraud resolution services. Our dedicated HomeLock™ Fraud Protection team will assist you with up to 2 hours of resolution services annually including research on alerts found, resolution information for various sites, and in-house attorney fees. HomeLock™ membership includes $25,000 in legal services for fraud defense and a Cyber Insurance Policy offering $1 million in coverage.
Homelock™ is the #1 Rated Property Fraud Protection System
The primary company focus of HomeLock™ is to provide proactive property fraud protection with title and deed monitoring. Only HomeLock™ has:
- an early warning protection system that alerts before, during, and immediately after fraud or errors
- a secondary focus on residential property home management
- provides a 7-year title scan history report
HomeLock™ is rated 5/5 with both Google and the Better Business Bureau so you know you’re in good hands.
Take Control of Your Homeownership Journey with DomiDocs®
Managing your home shouldn’t be stressful. DomiDocs® empowers homeowners with innovative technology, expert guidance, and unparalleled organization—all within a secure, cloud-based platform. From protecting your property and finances to streamlining essential tasks, our tools help you save time, reduce expenses, mitigate costly risks, and maximize your home’s value.
Explore the DomiDocs® suite of solutions:
- Homeowner Enablement Platform® – A centralized, digital hub for organizing documents, tracking home value, and managing property details effortlessly.
- HomeLock™ – Protects your home from fraud and title theft with 24/7 monitoring and instant alerts.
- TrueValueIndex® – Provides real-time insights into your home’s value to help you make informed financial decisions.
- propRtax® – Identifies potential property tax savings and ensures you’re not overpaying.
- Documenting for Disaster® – Securely stores critical homeownership documents, ensuring quick access before and after a disaster.
Join the home management revolution today and experience the confidence that comes with having everything you need in one place.
FAQ
What Is Home Deed Protection?
Home deed protection is the practice of monitoring and safeguarding property ownership records to help detect unauthorized deed changes, forged documents, or fraudulent filings.
Why Is Home Deed Protection Important?
Home deed protection is important because deed records are public and can be altered without direct notification to the owner, allowing fraud to go unnoticed until significant damage has occurred.
How Does Home Deed Protection Help Prevent Fraud?
Home deed protection helps by identifying unusual or unauthorized activity in public records early, giving homeowners time to investigate and correct errors before ownership rights are affected.
Who Is Most at Risk Without Home Deed Protection?
Homeowners who own vacant properties, rental homes, second residences, or inherited property are often more vulnerable without home deed protection because changes may go unnoticed for longer periods.
Can Home Deed Protection Stop Deed Fraud Completely?
Home deed protection cannot prevent someone from attempting fraud, but it can significantly reduce harm by alerting homeowners quickly so corrective action can be taken.
How Can Homeowners Strengthen Their Home Deed Protection?
Homeowners can strengthen home deed protection by regularly reviewing public records, keeping ownership documents organized, and using monitoring tools like HomeLock™, powered by DomiDocs®, to receive alerts when property records change.
Is Home Title Lock Necessary?
Whether home title lock is necessary depends on how actively a homeowner monitors their property records. Because deed and title records are public and changes can occur without direct notification, many homeowners use home deed protection tools to gain visibility into ownership activity and catch unauthorized changes early, especially for vacant, rental, inherited, or second properties.
How Much Does Home Title Lock Cost?
The cost of home title lock services varies by provider and plan structure. HomeLock™, powered by DomiDocs®, offers both monthly and annual subscription options, allowing homeowners to choose the level of monitoring that best fits their needs. Current pricing and plan details are available directly through HomeLock™, where homeowners can compare options before signing up.
What Happens If Someone Steals the Deed to Your House?
If someone steals the deed to your house through fraud or forgery, they may attempt to transfer ownership, take out loans, or sell the property without your consent. Even if the transfer is ultimately reversed, resolving deed theft often requires legal action, document corrections, and time-consuming record cleanup. Early detection through home deed protection can reduce the impact by allowing homeowners to respond before the fraud escalates.