Real Talk
THIS WEEK Could someone sell your home without you knowing? One warning spread fast online this week. It's worth a minute of your time.
The FBI is warning property owners about a sneaky scam. Crooks pretend to be the owner. Then they try to sell the property, or borrow against it.
They don't break in. They just borrow your name.
Here's how it works. They dig up owner info from public records and data brokers. They make fake IDs, a new email and a new phone number. Then they call an agent or a title company and say, "Hi, I'm the owner." You can read the FBI's full warning here.
So who gets picked? Vacant land. Rentals. Homes with little or no mortgage left. Older owners, too. A paid-off home is a big prize. In a 2026 study by the American Land Title Association, 68% of title firms said homes owned free and clear are a common target.
That same study found 59% of title firms saw at least one of these attempts in 2025. In their 2024 study, it was 28%. That's more than double.
Buying? This matters for you too. The FBI says fake sellers often won't meet in person. They push to close fast. Sometimes the price is way below what it should be. If a deal feels too good, slow down.
This is good to know whether you already own or you're still saving for your first place. The good news? A few simple steps make you a much harder target. More on that below.
🤯 INTERESTING FACT How do real owners find out about this scam?
You'd think a call from the bank. Or a letter in the mail.
One owner just drove by his land and saw a for-sale sign on it.
It gets stranger. The FBI says another owner went to pay his property taxes. The clerk told him they'd already been paid. Other owners found out when heavy equipment showed up to get the lot ready for building.
The scary part? The whole deal can happen between the fake owner and the professionals. The real owner may never get one suspicious call.
So don't wait to stumble on a sign. Set up alerts before anything happens.
Inventory is up 6.7% from last year and homes are taking two days less to sell. Here is what that means if you are buying or selling in Arizona right now.
💡 Did You Know I Can Do This? "First-time buyer" doesn't always mean you've never owned a home. HUD counts you as a first-time buyer if you haven't owned a main home in the past three years. There are a few other special cases too.
That can open the door to first-time buyer programs some lenders offer, with low down payment options and friendlier rules. It's worth knowing whether you're renting now, sold years ago, or just helping a grown kid plan ahead.
Wondering if you'd count as a first-time buyer? Reply and ask, or shoot me a text. I'll walk you through it, no pressure.
THE REAL MOVE Put a lock on your name. You can't hide your home from public records. But you can make it hard to steal.
Step one: the FBI suggests checking if your county recorder offers an alert service. If anyone files paperwork on your property, you hear about it. Sign up. It takes a few minutes.
Step two: keep your mailing address current with the county. Especially for land or a rental you don't visit much.
Step three: never wire money based on an email alone.
Buying a home? If you get new instructions for where to send money, stop. Call the title company at a number you already know. Not the one in the email.
And when it's time for a loan, you want someone in your corner. I'm a broker, not a bank. I shop hundreds of lenders to find the one that fits YOU, not the one that fits them. Know someone who owns their home free and clear, or a piece of land they hardly visit? Send this to them.