Deed fraud is on the rise in Metro Atlanta, with unsuspecting residents losing their homes and life savings to criminals.
Old Fourth Ward homeowner Linda Willis was a recent victim, and now she’s hoping to raise awareness about the increase of deed fraud. Linda purchased her home in Old Fourth Ward in July 1990. The area itself, along Ralph McGill Boulevard, is a popular, historical part of town. Linda says she’d faithfully paid her mortgage for 30 years, and had no intentions of selling the property.
In November 2021, Linda came home to find a bulldozer in her front yard. Within a matter of minutes, her beloved house was gone. The crane operator told her that he’d been hired by a company who’d recently purchased the home from another woman. In an interview with WSB-TV, Linda told investigative reporters that a woman filed fraudulent documents in the Fulton County Probate Court on February 24, 2021. The woman asked the Court to appoint her deceased mother (also named Linda Willis) as administrator over Linda Willis’ home in Old Fourth Ward. Linda had no idea that all this had happened until the bulldozer showed up at her house.
“This is a sad day. After 30 years of paying a mortgage, it has become dangerous to be a senior and own gentrified urban property,” Linda told reporters.
Metro Atlanta is seeing an increase in deed fraud, especially in areas of gentrification like the Old Fourth Ward. The criminals typically target homes where the mortgage has been paid off, so they don’t have to deal with a bank or other financial institution. They look for homeowners with very common names. The criminals also target homes that appear to be empty or are boarded up. (Linda’s home was partially boarded up in early 2021, due to fire damage.)
There are ways, however, that homeowners can protect their homes from deed fraud and theft:
- Register your property with the fraud registry in your local municipality.
- Install a doorbell camera so you can watch for anyone who is trespassing or appears to be casing the property. You can also keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles.
- Take out an owner’s title insurance policy.
- Retitle your property if you have a common name.
- Run a title search to make sure your property is titled correctly.
- After checking how it could affect your credit, take out a HELOC.
- Record a protective title affidavit to declare your intentions of not selling your property.
If you become the victim of deed fraud or theft, you should file a police a police report immediately. You should also reach out to an experienced real estate attorney who will advocate on your behalf and prevent the thieves from attempting to re-sell the property.
Have Questions? Contact Brian M. Douglas & Associates’ Real Estate Team
If you, or someone you know, is facing a legal dispute related to a real estate or property issue, please contact the experienced real estate attorneys at Brian M. Douglas & Associates. We serve the entire Atlanta area. You can reach us by calling (770) 933-9009 or by visiting our website.
1) does she have title insurance to protect her rights?
2) How could the buyer tear anything down without first doing all the required environmental inspections? did they even have a permit?
What is the outcome for Linda? Is she being compensated by everyone involved (even the bulldozer operator should have known better than to demo without a permit)
Hello Jody! Give us a call 770-933-9009.