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Title Fraud & Consumer Notification Service

Title Fraud & Consumer Notification Service

“TITLE FRAUD”, MORE ACCURATELY KNOWN AS “DEED FRAUD” – RISK LEVELS AND SAFEGUARDS   Notwithstanding the seemingly non-stop ads warning of “title fraud” the actual instances of fraud related to real estate nationally are very low. Locally, in my 35 years as Register of Deeds I am aware of only one case of a fraudulent deed being recorded and in that case the fraud was discovered before the fraudster received the proceeds of the sale. I am not aware of any forged mortgages being recorded. In the rare event fraud does occur on the national level it usually happens with specific types of property and under specific circumstances. I will go into detail regarding those circumstances below but first I would like to explain the concept of “title” verses “deed”. Without getting too deep in the legal weeds, “Title” is a legal concept, not a document.  “Title” is the means whereby the owner of land has just possession of property via the union of all the elements that constitute ownership. A “deed” is the physical document that transfers “title” to a new owner. Deeds are what get recorded at the Registry of Deeds to evidence a transfer of title. When a fraud occurs, someone forges the signature of the current owner of a property (and likely also forges the notary public acknowledgment as well) on a deed and records the forged document at the Registry of Deeds.  Because the deed is forged it is not a valid transfer of “title” and no one else, notwithstanding the recording of the deed, has “title” to property. The original owner has not...
Fall 2024 Holiday Schedule

Fall 2024 Holiday Schedule

October 14, 2024 (Monday) – Closed All Day in Observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day November 11, 2024 (Monday) – Closed All Day in Observance of Veterans Day November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) – Closing at Noon November 28, 2024 (Thursday)- Closed All Day In observance of Thanksgiving November 29, 2024 (Friday)- OPEN All...
September 2024 Registry Recording Statistics

September 2024 Registry Recording Statistics

JOHN F. MEADE, REGISTER OF DEEDS  REPORT OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2024 SALES VOLUME & VALUE RISE! Barnstable County Register of Deeds, John F. Meade, reports that the volume of real estate sales in September 2024 was up 2% from September 2023 volume and the total value of sales was up 14.4% from the previous year.  The median individual property sale value was up 3.8% from the previous year.  There was a 0.5% increase in the volume of mortgage activity from September 2023 levels. Year to Date: Volume of Sales is up 0.1%; Total Value of Sales is up 6.6%; Individual Sales Value is up 5.7%; Mortgage Volume is down 3.6%. Register Meade reports that there were 471 deeds recorded at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds in September 2024 with stated sales values above $50,000.00 representing a stated value of $481,173,422.00 in county-wide real estate sales. Based on all property sales valued above $50,000.00, the median sale price of property in Barnstable County in September 2024 was $675,000.00. There were 659 mortgages recorded with values above $50,000.00 in September 2024 with a total value of $303,674,275.00.  The median mortgage amount, commercial, residential or other, was $370,000.00. By way of comparison, there were 462 deeds recorded at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds in September 2023 with stated sales values above $50,000.00 representing a stated value of $420,696,135.00 in county-wide real estate sales. Based on all property sales valued above $50,000.00, the median sale price of property in Barnstable County in September 2023 was $650,000.00. There were 565 mortgages recorded with values above $50,000.00...
Homestead Exemption Increased to $1 million.

Homestead Exemption Increased to $1 million.

Due to language contained in the recently passed Affordable Homes Act, all declared estates of homestead filed and recorded with the registry of deeds in the county where the land lies will now provide protection of up to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000). This is double the prior exemption amount established in 2011. Individuals or couples with declarations of homestead on record prior to the new law DO NOT need to refile, as the new exemption amount will apply to all homesteads filed prior to its...
August 2024 Registry Recording Statistics

August 2024 Registry Recording Statistics

JOHN F. MEADE, REGISTER OF DEEDS  REPORT OF BARNSTABLE COUNTY REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2024 SALES VOLUME & VALUE EDGE UP! Barnstable County Register of Deeds, John F. Meade, reports that the volume of real estate sales in August 2024 was up 2.6% from August 2023 volume and the total value of sales was down 2.8% from the previous year.  The median individual property sale value was up 0.8% from the previous year.  There was a 1% decrease in the volume of mortgage activity from August 2023 levels. Year to Date: Volume of Sales is down 0.2%; Total Value of Sales is up 5.5%; Individual Sales Value is up 6.6%; Mortgage Volume is down 5.7%.  Register Meade reports that there were 477 deeds recorded at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds in August 2024 with stated sales values above $50,000.00 representing a stated value of $404,294,228.00 in county-wide real estate sales. Based on all property sales valued above $50,000.00, the median sale price of property in Barnstable County in August 2024 was $635,000.00. There were 664 mortgages recorded with values above $50,000.00 in August 2024 with a total value of $412,477,583.00.  The median mortgage amount, commercial, residential or other, was $383,600.00. By way of comparison, there were 465 deeds recorded at the Barnstable Registry of Deeds in August 2023 with stated sales values above $50,000.00 representing a stated value of $415,867,764.00 in county-wide real estate sales. Based on all property sales valued above $50,000.00, the median sale price of property in Barnstable County in August 2023 was $630,000.00. There were 671 mortgages recorded with values above...