Arizona Deed Fraud Protection: Free Property Alerts Every Homeowner Should Know About

Most homeowners never think about who could record a document against their property. Deed fraud is uncommon compared with the number of homes in Arizona, but it does happen, and it tends to be discovered late. The good news is that Arizona homeowners now have two free alert tools that can help them hear about suspicious activity sooner. Here is what they are, how they differ, and how to sign up.

What is deed fraud?

Deed fraud happens when someone records documents against a property to transfer ownership or place a loan or lien on it without the true owner's knowledge or consent. It usually involves forged signatures, fake identification or someone impersonating the owner.

In some cases a fraudster poses as the owner, lists the property for sale and tries to close a transaction. In others, a forged deed is recorded with the county. Either way, the owner may not find out until a tax bill, a notice or a neighbor's question tips them off — and unwinding it can take time, money and legal help.

Who should be concerned?

Deed fraud awareness is useful for every property owner, not only people in unusual situations. It applies to:

• Homeowners with a mortgage
• Homeowners who own their property free and clear
• People who have owned their home for decades
• New homeowners
• Owners of vacant land or vacant homes
• Owners of second homes, vacation homes and investment properties

Properties without a mortgage, homes that sit empty for part of the year and land that nobody visits often are frequently mentioned as targets, simply because an owner may be slower to notice something is wrong. That is a reason to be informed, not alarmed.

Arizona's Early Real Estate Sales Alert System (ERAS)

The Early Real Estate Sales Alert System, or ERAS, is a free and voluntary fraud-mitigation tool provided by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE). It is designed to warn a registered owner about a pending sale before that sale closes.

How ERAS works

When an escrow officer enters pending real estate sale information into the system, ERAS checks it against registrations. If the owner name, property address or parcel number matches yours, you receive an alert by the contact method you provided, such as email or text. If you did not authorize the sale, the alert gives you a chance to notify the Department and contact law enforcement before the transaction is finalized.

ADRE notes that ERAS is not a comprehensive registry of every Arizona property and that its data can change. It depends on pending sales being entered into the system, so it should be treated as one helpful layer, not a guarantee.

How to register for ERAS

• Go to the official ADRE registration site at earlyalert.azre.gov.
• Enter the name and contact information of the person who should receive alerts, with at least one contact method.
• Identify what to monitor: a parcel number, a property address, the owner's name, or a combination. At least one is required.
• If the owner has a common name, adding the address or parcel number helps avoid alerts for unrelated sales.

Coconino County Recording Notification Alerts

For Flagstaff and Coconino County property owners, the Coconino County Recorder offers a separate free service called Recording Notification. It monitors documents recorded with the Recorder's office and emails you when a document is recorded under a name or business name that matches your alert.

It only covers documents recorded after you sign up, and you are responsible for keeping your email address current. Alerts come from recorder-noreply@coconino.az.gov, so it is worth adding that address to your safe senders and checking your spam folder.

How to sign up for county alerts

• Visit the Coconino County Recording Notification Alerts page and create an account, selecting the Recording Notification option.
• Click the verification link the county emails you to activate the account.
• Log in, accept the disclaimer, and create alerts for each individual or business name you want monitored. Click Save.

Why register for both?

The two services watch different moments. ERAS can alert you when a pending sale is entered by an escrow officer — before closing. The county service alerts you when a document is actually recorded under your name, which can include deeds, liens and other recordings that never went through a typical sale. ADRE itself encourages owners to register with both their county Recorder and the state system. Signing up for both takes only a few minutes and costs nothing.

Important: what these alerts can and can't do

Neither ERAS nor the county's Recording Notification service prevents deed fraud, and neither stops a fraudulent document from being recorded. They are notification tools. Their value is helping you find out about potentially suspicious activity sooner, so you can act quickly.

If you receive an alert you don't recognize, contact the agency that sent it, and consider speaking with a real estate attorney, your title company and law enforcement. Melissa is a REALTOR®, not an attorney, and this article is general information, not legal advice.

Other simple habits that help

• Open and read mail related to your property, taxes and loans, even if it looks routine.
• Keep your mailing address current with the county assessor, especially for second homes and land.
• Have someone you trust check on vacant property periodically.
• Be cautious about unsolicited offers to buy your property, particularly ones pushing for a fast, remote close.

Related resources

• Seller resources for Flagstaff homeowners
• Selling an inherited home in Arizona
• Probate and estate real estate in Northern Arizona
• Real estate for investors and second-home owners
• What happens on closing day