Modernizing the world’s property records.
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Foreign-held wind and solar leases cover 6.3 million U.S. farm acres, but landowners retain title. University of Illinois researchers found 99% of the acreage is associated with investors from 10 countries in North America, Europe, and Australia.
farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/20…
Philadelphia’s 2026 deed-fraud reports have nearly matched last year’s full-year total.
The city’s Department of Records has received 152 reports so far this year, compared with 159 in all of 2025. Records Commissioner James Leonard cautioned that easier reporting and outreach may be driving the increase, and that courts ultimately determine whether fraud occurred.
nbcphiladelphia.com/news/loc…
NEW: AI tools are accelerating deed-theft schemes.
Scammers can now scan property records, fabricate documents and notary stamps, and pose as owners during video identity checks. The FBI received more than 12,000 real-estate fraud complaints in 2025, up from just over 9,000 in each of the prior two years.
news.bloomberglaw.com/artifi…
NEW: Massachusetts woman sentenced to 22 months in $60 million commercial real estate loan fraud scheme. Prosecutors say Jeannette Norman and co-conspirators used false rent rolls and forged leases to obtain or seek $60.1 million, causing $18.2 million in losses. Norman was ordered to pay $18.2 million in restitution.
justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/longm…
NEW: Kentucky woman sentenced to 10 years for forging two family members’ signatures on property deeds and filing them with the county clerk to put the property in her own name. Rebecca Ratliff was also required to sign deeds returning the property to its rightful owners.
wymt.com/2026/10/01/woman-se…
NEW: Senate panel advances foreign-farmland disclosure overhaul.
The Agriculture Committee voted 12-11 to advance the 2026 farm bill. The measure would expand reporting for foreign interests in U.S. agricultural land and let USDA place liens on land tied to unpaid disclosure penalties. It now heads toward full Senate consideration.
agriculture.senate.gov/agric…
A lender alleges a Baltimore real-estate fraud ring cost it more than $14 million. The federal lawsuit says the group used shell companies to buy homes for about $40,000 to $50,000, then resell them to related entities at prices up to 300% higher without disclosing the relationship.
The lender says it made about 91 loans before payments stopped and properties entered foreclosure.
thebanner.com/economy/real-e…
STUDY: Seller impersonation fraud attempts are surging.
A 2026 survey of title professionals found 59% of firms reported at least one attempt in the prior calendar year, up from 28% in 2024.
Vacant land remained the top target, and one in four firms reporting an attempt also reported a paid claim.
alta.org/business-operations…
Arizona’s expanded foreign-adversary land law takes effect today.
SB 1683 broadens the state prohibition to cover leases, concessions, options and other current or future interests in real property. It lowers the substantial-interest threshold from 30% to 15% and allows courts to order divestment of prohibited interests.
The law also restricts covered foreign adversaries from operating or accessing specified surveillance, communications, sensor and autonomous equipment on Arizona real estate.
azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/2r/l…
New Jersey’s State Commission of Investigation warns that deed fraud complaints are increasing and recommends stronger seller and notary identity checks, uniform property alerts, voluntary title freezes and faster relief for victims.
nj.gov/sci/documents/Final%2…
SCAM ALERT: Baldwin County, Alabama, says fraudulent emails are targeting property owners and professionals with active Planning Commission cases. The messages may use real case numbers and property details to support bogus payment demands. The county says it never requests wire transfers.
fox10tv.com/2026/09/06/baldw…
The Harris County Attorney's Office files two lawsuits alleging a multi-property deed-fraud scheme that left more than a dozen families seeking to reclaim their homes.
One suit alleges defendants forged a warranty deed by impersonating a family member. Some disputed properties were later sold to buyers unaware of the alleged ownership problems.
abc13.com/post/family-hopes-…
NEW: Miami-Dade deputies arrested a 73-year-old man accused of exploiting a woman with severe dementia in an effort to take ownership of half her townhome. Investigators say he also collected about $17,600 in rent from her tenant. He faces exploitation, first-degree grand theft, and organized fraud charges.
NEW: A House bill would stop the federal government from taking farmland through eminent domain if another workable site is available.
“The Not In My Barnyard Act protects America’s producers and ensures our working land is dedicated to feeding the country." - Rep. Glenn Thompson
STUDY: China-linked agricultural land transactions were disproportionately located in U.S. counties containing military interest points, a peer-reviewed analysis found.
Researchers examined 38,722 foreign transactions reported from 1996 through 2024. Excluding the Smithfield acquisition, 43.7% of 71 China-linked transactions occurred in military-interest counties, compared with 11.3% of all foreign transactions.
journals.plos.org/plosone/ar…
