Tips For Preventing Title And Mortgage Fraud

The purchase of a condominium is often the first foray into home ownership for many Canadians. Gaining a toehold in Canada's hottest housing markets is no easy feat; it is the product of good investment decisions, scrimping and saving, and often requires financial assistance from family.

As real estate values have skyrocketed in the past five years, especially in Canada's major cities, so too have cases of mortgage fraud. In fact, mortgage fraud has recently gained national media exposure from a series of news reports by the CBC. Picture this scenario: you have just returned to your Toronto condo after a lengthy sabbatical only to discover that your key doesn't fit in your front door. You are then met by complete strangers, who believe themselves to be the rightful owner of your condo and have the legal documentation to prove it.