As we enter the final weeks of 2025, we have an opportunity to look back at the overall real estate market and the title insurance industry. With the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates this year, mortgage rates have decreased 鈥� but nowhere near the lower rates seen in 2021. We also saw home price increases continue to slow down in many markets¹. In September, American Land Title Association² reported that title insurance premiums increased, but paid title claims had also increased when compared to the same time last year. Here are a few areas that contributed to title claims in 2025.

Scams

First, fraud scams continue to be an expansive and expensive thorn in our industry鈥檚 side. With scammers leveraging social engineering and devices to manipulate, influence, and deceive, they continue to prey on what they see as a lucrative market and a quick payday. From impersonations to falsifying documents, scammers are negatively impacting those who are legitimately trying to sell property, buy property, refinance, or just trying to enjoy their property in peace. As an industry in recent years, in my opinion, it appears there has been an increase in the number of submitted title claim notices involving lawsuits challenging the validity and veracity of recorded real property instruments or the authority of a person to execute documents on behalf of a person or entity in the chain of title. We suggest that you and your office continue to be on guard and mindful of the many fraud schemes impacting your community and communities nationwide, as the use of these schemes is not slowing down.

Lender and its foreclosure

Also, we鈥檝e seen an increase in lender claim submissions in connection with preparing to foreclose. Most lenders obtain foreclosure title search reports before starting the foreclosure process. These reports identify matters that are to be addressed before or during the foreclosure process. Title matters include areas such as delinquent back taxes, lack of recorded release, satisfaction or cancellation of a mortgage / deed of trust / security deed, a person鈥檚 ownership interest that has not been conveyed; or, if an owner is divorced or deceased, no recorded information on how the property was dealt with. Also, there are such issues as homestead and marital rights that may impact the enforceability of a mortgage on the property. For example, in some states, if the property is titled in one spouse鈥檚 name but the mortgage is not executed by both spouses and a disclaimer of interest is not executed, there may be a title issue with the mortgage. Just like reading a fascinating book, the county land record tells the story of the property鈥檚 title. Thus, if there is missing information in the record that imparts constructive notice to others, such as breaks in the chain of title and unsatisfied liens, the story is not complete.

Legal Right of Access

In addition, the department saw issues involving a lack of legal right of access. On occasion, an incorrect presumption was made that an abutting road, appearing on a map or survey, provides a legal right of access to the property. It is unclear whether one county also found the matter to be a growing problem and thus instituted an ordinance in 2024. The ordinance requires that 鈥渁ny instrument recorded in the Official Records of Highlands County, Florida, which grants, conveys, or transfers fee simple ownership in and to real property shall be accompanied by an affidavit or affidavits verifying the roadway status related to the real property.鈥� If the roadway is not a public road, a dedicated right-of-way, or created by a recorded easement, by court order, or other statutory means, then this may result in a title claim seeking to establish the legal right of access over the private road. As part of the transaction, the property鈥檚 right of legal access ought to be reviewed, analyzed and determined.

Missing from the Title Search and Title Commitment Requirements Not Addressed

Lastly, this year some claims involved either a title searcher missing a recorded document; or a search and examined document impacting the real property that was not included on the title insurance products or was included but not addressed in connection with the transaction. Examples include missed easements, missed and valid use restrictions involving the property, and unreleased partial claims mortgages, revolving line of credit mortgages, or similar mortgages that are either incorrectly presumed to have been included with another mortgage or incorrect reliance on unverified information given by the debtor without obtaining written confirmation directly from the lender. To help avoid these issues, provide the title searcher and examiner with the correct information on the property involved and the full names of the parties in the transaction so the best title search results are provided. Also, trust in your own due diligence and not rely solely on information provided to you by a party.

Conclusion

Even though this is not an exhaustive list, it is no surprise that all the above title claim areas can be prevented through your efforts and diligence.

We appreciate our partnership with our title agents. You are on the front lines every day. As skilled title professionals, we know that buyers, sellers, and lenders value your role in protecting their investment and the American Dream of homeownership.

Resources:

¹ Ashley Harrison and Angelica Leicht. November 5, 2025. Housing Market Predictions For 2025: When Will Home Prices Drop?

²American Land Title Association. ALTA Reports Q2 2025 Market Share and Title Insurance Premium Volume.  .

³ Highlands County, Florida Clerk of Courts. Roadway Status Affidavit at Property Transfer.  

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The report, released in March, highlighted investment fraud and business email compromise (BEC) fraud as the two most expensive fraud types in 2023, with investment fraud increasing from $3.31 billion in 2022 to $4.57 billion in 2023 鈥� a 38% increase, and BEC logging 21,489 complaints amounting to $2.9 billion in reported losses.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 cyber landscape is threatened by a multitude of malicious actors who have the tools to conduct large-scale fraud schemes, hold our money and data for ransom, and endanger our national security,鈥� the FBI noted in its executive summary. 鈥淭he FBI continues to combat this evolving cyber threat. Our strategy focuses on building strong partnerships with the private sector; removing threats from U.S. networks; pulling back the cloak of anonymity many of these actors hide behind; and hitting cybercriminals where it hurts: their wallets, including their virtual wallets.鈥�

IC3鈥檚 Recovery Asset Team (RAT), established in 2018 to facilitate the freezing of funds involved in cybercrime, was able to initiate the Financial Fraud Kill Chain (FFKC) on 3,008 incidents in 2023, with potential losses of $758.05 million. A monetary hold was placed on $538.39 million, representing a success rate of 71%.

In its report, the FBI emphasized the importance and value of victims reporting cyber incidents to IC3.

鈥淵our reporting is critical for our efforts to pursue adversaries, share intelligence with our partners, and protect your fellow citizens,鈥� the FBI noted. 鈥淐ybersecurity is the ultimate team sport, and we are in this fight together.鈥�

For professionals involved in real estate transactions, RAT is a significant ally, as the organization has developed the deep insight and resources needed to identify, track and convict cyber criminals.

By creating a strong liaison between law enforcement and financial institutions, RAT is able to assist in the identification of potentially fraudulent accounts, stay at the forefront of emerging trends, and foster a symbiotic relationship where information is shared.

New concerns emerge

The IC3 report noted increasing concern for situations where fraudsters prompt victims to send wires directly to third-party payment processors. Funds are quickly dispersed in such cases, making it more difficult to recover the money.

The FBI is also seeing an increase in fraudsters using custodial accounts at financial institutions or cryptocurrency platforms, where the funds are quickly swallowed up.

鈥淲ith these increased tactics of funds going directly to cryptocurrency platforms and third-party payment processors or through a custodial account held at a financial institution, it emphasizes the importance of leveraging two-factor or multi-factor authentication as an additional security layer,鈥� the agency noted. 鈥淧rocedures should be put in place to verify payments and purchase requests outside of email communication and can include direct phone calls but to a known verified number and not relying on information or phone numbers included in the email communication.鈥�

Other best practices include:

• Carefully examining the email address and URL
• Reviewing the wording and spelling in the correspondence
• Refraining from clicking on links requesting you update or verify account information
• Refusing requests to supply login credentials or personal information via email
• Training employees on the red flags of fraud
• Providing staff with ongoing training on how to handle suspected fraud

Wire fraud guidance

As in past years, the FBI reminded real estate professionals involved in wiring funds to put in place strict verification measures should a wire change be requested during the course of a transaction.

In addition, the FBI emphasized the critical need for title agents who are victims of wire fraud to act quickly when the fraud is detected, advising they contact the originating financial institution to request a recall or reversal and a Hold Harmless Letter or Letter of Indemnity.

They also encouraged victims to file a detailed complaint with  providing as much data as possible to broaden the organization鈥檚 ability to track cybercriminals.

Ransomware on the rise

Ransomware incidents were also on the rise in 2023, with 2,825 complaints reported and losses up 74% from $34.3 million to $59.6 million.

In its report, the FBI emphasized that it does not encourage paying the ransom since it will effectively embolden criminals to target more victims.

鈥淧aying the ransom also does not guarantee that an entity鈥檚 files will be recovered,鈥� the FBI reminded. 鈥淩egardless of whether you or your organization decided to pay the ransom, the FBI urges you to report ransomware incidents to the IC3. Doing so provides investigators with the critical information they need to track ransomware attackers, hold them accountable under U.S. law, and prevent future attacks.鈥�

At 星空传媒 星空传媒, we are committed to keeping you updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and providing you and your staff with information and tools to help protect your customers and your agency. SecureMyTransaction from 星空传媒 星空传媒 is an advanced fraud prevention solution built exclusively for independent title professionals. The system helps agents avoid risks posed by wire fraud, identity fraud and vacant property fraud by automating the information you need to move transactions forward with confidence. SecureMyTransaction leverages AI technology that covers and crosschecks:

• Identification
• ID instrument validation (US and 200 countries)
• Bank account validation and ownership
• Payoff and proceeds verification
• OFAC searches (FinCEN included in the OFAC feed)
• 星空传媒 星空传媒 Underwriting alerts

Learn more at  or contact your agency representative to schedule a demo.

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