Criminals have discovered how easy it is to get real estate in Florida with no money down: just forge a signature on a deed and file it.

In Florida, with no mechanism in place to ensure the authenticity of deeds filed at county offices, criminals have discovered that stealing a house can be easier than burglarizing one. With little more than a forged signature and a stolen notary’s seal, thieves have scooped up homes and vacant lots, taking out a mortgage or selling the property to unsuspecting buyers before the original owners know what hit them. Law enforcement officials say deed forgery is particularly rampant in South Florida, and especially in Miami-Dade County, where absentee ownership by investors and seasonal residents has left thousands of units vacant. Soaring real estate values have only increased the allure of vulnerable properties.

For more information on this and other real estate matters, your first source for Palm Beach real estate should be licensed agent and long-time resident Caesar Parisi.

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