GITNUXREPORT 2026

Home Title Theft Statistics

Home title theft is rising, costing victims over a hundred thousand dollars on average.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 27, 2026

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Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

62% of victims were over 55 years old in 2022 ALTA survey

Statistic 2

Seniors accounted for 58% of title theft victims per AARP 2023 study

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Women comprised 54% of reported home title theft victims in 2022

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Low-income homeowners (<$50k/year) represented 41% of cases in urban areas

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Vacant property owners were victims in 37% of title theft incidents per 2023 data

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Baby boomers (55-73) were 65% of victims in 2023 survey

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48% of victims lived alone per 2022 NAR study

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Hispanic homeowners faced 2x higher title theft risk in 2022

Statistic 9

Military veterans comprised 15% of victims in 2023 VA report

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Inherited property owners hit in 29% of cases

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Retirees over 65: 71% of victims in Florida 2022

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First-time buyers: only 9% of victims despite 30% market share

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African American homeowners: 22% higher risk 2022 HUD

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Non-resident owners: 52% of commercial title thefts 2023

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Multi-family units: 14% victim rate in theft cases

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Empty nesters: 39% of suburban victims 2023

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Asian American rate: 1.5x average in CA 2022

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Disabled homeowners: 19% of cases 2023

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Out-of-state owners: 61% Airbnb theft targets

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Single-family homes: 82% of residential thefts

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Average financial loss per home title theft victim is $120,000 according to Insurance Information Institute

Statistic 22

Total economic impact of title theft exceeded $1.2 billion in 2022 per FBI estimates

Statistic 23

Victims spent an average of $45,000 in legal fees to recover titles in 2023

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Title insurance claims for fraud averaged $78 million annually from 2019-2022

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Forged deed scams cost homeowners $300 million in lost equity in 2022

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Property tax evasion via title theft cost municipalities $250 million in 2022

Statistic 27

Average recovery time cost victims $15,000 in mortgage interest

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Title insurance payouts rose 22% to $95 million in 2023

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Fraudsters gained $500k average per stolen property equity in 2022 cases

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Foreclosure threats affected 68% of title theft victims financially

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Emotional distress claims added $20k avg cost per victim 2023

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Lost home equity averaged $180k in successful thefts 2022

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Insurance premiums rose 8% due to title fraud claims 2023

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Government bailouts for victims totaled $45 million 2022

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Refinancing costs post-theft: $12,500 avg 2023 data

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Credit damage persisted 18 months avg for victims 2022

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Second mortgages placed fraudulently: $65k avg loss

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Public recorder fees for recovery: $8,200 avg 2023

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Business property title theft: $2.1M total losses 2022

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Relocation costs for evicted victims: $28k avg

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In 2023, the FBI reported 1,378 confirmed cases of home title theft nationwide

Statistic 42

Title theft incidents rose by 24% from 2021 to 2022 according to the American Land Title Association

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California saw 312 home title theft attempts in 2022 per state records

Statistic 44

Nationally, 0.02% of all home deeds were targeted by title fraud in 2023

Statistic 45

Florida recorded 245 title theft cases in 2022, up 15% year-over-year

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Title theft cases increased 35% from 2020 to 2023 per CoreLogic trends

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1 in 1,800 properties faced title fraud risk in high-risk states in 2022

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Chicago reported 112 cases, up 19% YoY in 2023

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National deed fraud filings hit 2,150 in 2023 FBI data

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Arizona logged 198 title thefts in 2022

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Post-pandemic title theft surged 41% by 2023 CoreLogic data

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0.015% deed fraud rate in suburban areas 2022

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Miami-Dade County: 76 cases in 2023

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Total U.S. title theft filings: 1,956 in 2022 FBI

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Washington state: 134 cases in 2022

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2024 projection: 2,500 cases, 28% increase FBI model

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High-risk zip codes: 1 in 900 properties affected 2023

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Los Angeles County: 210 cases 2023 peak

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Ohio: 89 cases statewide 2022

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Oregon: 76 incidents 2023

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Texas reported the highest per capita title theft rate at 0.035% in 2022

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New York City had 189 title theft cases in 2023, highest in the Northeast

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Nevada's title theft rate doubled to 0.028% from 2020-2022

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Midwest states saw only 12% of national title theft cases in 2022

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Southwest U.S. accounted for 28% of all title theft attempts in 2023

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Illinois had 167 cases, 3rd highest nationally in 2022

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Las Vegas metro area saw 89 title thefts in 2023

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Rural areas had 18% lower title theft rates than urban in 2022

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Southeast U.S. reported 1,045 cases, 31% of total in 2023

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Pacific states accounted for 22% of incidents despite 15% population

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Georgia: 156 cases, 2nd highest South in 2022

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Philadelphia: 98 urban title thefts 2023

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Northeast rate: 0.012% vs national 0.018% 2022

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California alone: 38% of West Coast cases 2023

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Mountain states: lowest at 7% national share 2022

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North Carolina: 142 cases 2023

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Detroit metro: 67 cases highest Midwest 2022

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Plains states: 5% share despite 8% pop 2023

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Hawaii: 0.041% highest island rate 2022

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Alaska: negligible 3 cases 2023 low density

1/80

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While it might sound like a plot from a heist movie, a shocking FBI report confirmed 1,378 homeowners in 2023 had their most valuable asset—the legal deed to their property—stolen right out from under them.

Key Takeaways

In 2023, the FBI reported 1,378 confirmed cases of home title theft nationwide
Title theft incidents rose by 24% from 2021 to 2022 according to the American Land Title Association
California saw 312 home title theft attempts in 2022 per state records
Average financial loss per home title theft victim is $120,000 according to Insurance Information Institute
Total economic impact of title theft exceeded $1.2 billion in 2022 per FBI estimates
Victims spent an average of $45,000 in legal fees to recover titles in 2023
62% of victims were over 55 years old in 2022 ALTA survey
Seniors accounted for 58% of title theft victims per AARP 2023 study
Women comprised 54% of reported home title theft victims in 2022
Texas reported the highest per capita title theft rate at 0.035% in 2022
New York City had 189 title theft cases in 2023, highest in the Northeast
Nevada's title theft rate doubled to 0.028% from 2020-2022

Home title theft is rising, costing victims over a hundred thousand dollars on average.

Affected Populations

62% of victims were over 55 years old in 2022 ALTA survey
Seniors accounted for 58% of title theft victims per AARP 2023 study
Women comprised 54% of reported home title theft victims in 2022
Low-income homeowners (<$50k/year) represented 41% of cases in urban areas
Vacant property owners were victims in 37% of title theft incidents per 2023 data
Baby boomers (55-73) were 65% of victims in 2023 survey
48% of victims lived alone per 2022 NAR study
Hispanic homeowners faced 2x higher title theft risk in 2022
Military veterans comprised 15% of victims in 2023 VA report
Inherited property owners hit in 29% of cases
Retirees over 65: 71% of victims in Florida 2022
First-time buyers: only 9% of victims despite 30% market share
African American homeowners: 22% higher risk 2022 HUD
Non-resident owners: 52% of commercial title thefts 2023
Multi-family units: 14% victim rate in theft cases
Empty nesters: 39% of suburban victims 2023
Asian American rate: 1.5x average in CA 2022
Disabled homeowners: 19% of cases 2023
Out-of-state owners: 61% Airbnb theft targets
Single-family homes: 82% of residential thefts

Affected Populations Interpretation

Targeting the vulnerable with bureaucratic brutality, home title theft preys not on the guarded stronghold but on the quiet, trusting, and tragically predictable—the senior, the solo woman, the out-of-state inheritor, the low-income retiree—proving that a con artist's favorite weapon is a spreadsheet, not a crowbar.

Economic Costs

Average financial loss per home title theft victim is $120,000 according to Insurance Information Institute
Total economic impact of title theft exceeded $1.2 billion in 2022 per FBI estimates
Victims spent an average of $45,000 in legal fees to recover titles in 2023
Title insurance claims for fraud averaged $78 million annually from 2019-2022
Forged deed scams cost homeowners $300 million in lost equity in 2022
Property tax evasion via title theft cost municipalities $250 million in 2022
Average recovery time cost victims $15,000 in mortgage interest
Title insurance payouts rose 22% to $95 million in 2023
Fraudsters gained $500k average per stolen property equity in 2022 cases
Foreclosure threats affected 68% of title theft victims financially
Emotional distress claims added $20k avg cost per victim 2023
Lost home equity averaged $180k in successful thefts 2022
Insurance premiums rose 8% due to title fraud claims 2023
Government bailouts for victims totaled $45 million 2022
Refinancing costs post-theft: $12,500 avg 2023 data
Credit damage persisted 18 months avg for victims 2022
Second mortgages placed fraudulently: $65k avg loss
Public recorder fees for recovery: $8,200 avg 2023
Business property title theft: $2.1M total losses 2022
Relocation costs for evicted victims: $28k avg

Economic Costs Interpretation

Home title theft is a shockingly efficient crime that, with the bureaucratic grace of a sledgehammer, turns your largest asset into a ledger of legal fees, lost equity, and emotional distress while fraudsters walk away with a down payment on a new life.

Incidence Rates

In 2023, the FBI reported 1,378 confirmed cases of home title theft nationwide
Title theft incidents rose by 24% from 2021 to 2022 according to the American Land Title Association
California saw 312 home title theft attempts in 2022 per state records
Nationally, 0.02% of all home deeds were targeted by title fraud in 2023
Florida recorded 245 title theft cases in 2022, up 15% year-over-year
Title theft cases increased 35% from 2020 to 2023 per CoreLogic trends
1 in 1,800 properties faced title fraud risk in high-risk states in 2022
Chicago reported 112 cases, up 19% YoY in 2023
National deed fraud filings hit 2,150 in 2023 FBI data
Arizona logged 198 title thefts in 2022
Post-pandemic title theft surged 41% by 2023 CoreLogic data
0.015% deed fraud rate in suburban areas 2022
Miami-Dade County: 76 cases in 2023
Total U.S. title theft filings: 1,956 in 2022 FBI
Washington state: 134 cases in 2022
2024 projection: 2,500 cases, 28% increase FBI model
High-risk zip codes: 1 in 900 properties affected 2023
Los Angeles County: 210 cases 2023 peak
Ohio: 89 cases statewide 2022
Oregon: 76 incidents 2023

Incidence Rates Interpretation

The statistics show that home title theft, while still a statistically rare crime nationwide, is growing at a disturbing and accelerating rate, transforming from a niche fraud into a sharp, localized epidemic in certain hotspots.

Regional Variations

Texas reported the highest per capita title theft rate at 0.035% in 2022
New York City had 189 title theft cases in 2023, highest in the Northeast
Nevada's title theft rate doubled to 0.028% from 2020-2022
Midwest states saw only 12% of national title theft cases in 2022
Southwest U.S. accounted for 28% of all title theft attempts in 2023
Illinois had 167 cases, 3rd highest nationally in 2022
Las Vegas metro area saw 89 title thefts in 2023
Rural areas had 18% lower title theft rates than urban in 2022
Southeast U.S. reported 1,045 cases, 31% of total in 2023
Pacific states accounted for 22% of incidents despite 15% population
Georgia: 156 cases, 2nd highest South in 2022
Philadelphia: 98 urban title thefts 2023
Northeast rate: 0.012% vs national 0.018% 2022
California alone: 38% of West Coast cases 2023
Mountain states: lowest at 7% national share 2022
North Carolina: 142 cases 2023
Detroit metro: 67 cases highest Midwest 2022
Plains states: 5% share despite 8% pop 2023
Hawaii: 0.041% highest island rate 2022
Alaska: negligible 3 cases 2023 low density

Regional Variations Interpretation

Texas leads the pack in sheer per capita chutzpah, but the title thieves clearly prefer the sun-drenched sprawl of the Southwest and Southeast, leaving the sensible Midwest and rugged Mountain states relatively unscathed, proving that even criminals would rather not deal with a harsh winter or endless cornfields.

Sources & References

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