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Real Estate Crime Reporting Taken to New Levels

By
Real Estate Agent with Dirt Road Real Estate SA676002000

Some residential home sellers and residential home buyers may not be aware of The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCn). This agency has rules specific to real estate crime and has just published new rules effective 3/1/26.

WHY THE NEW RULE?

This new crime rule is two fold:

  1. Prevent money laundering
  2. Increase transparency within real estate transactions

WHAT AND WHO DOES THIS NEW RULE AFFECT?

These new FinCn rules affect mostly residential real estate and vacant land purchased vacant lots only when used for residential homes. This new rule affects three specific criteria:

#1 - Transfer of residential property

#2 - A non-financed transaction that includes:

  • Cash Hard
  • Money Loans Private/Seller Loans (Owner Carry)

#3 - Transfer is to a legal entity or trust

NOTE: Residential property is defined as:

  • Home
  • Condos
  • Townhouses
  • Vacant Lots for Residential Use

As mentioned earlier this rule become effective March 1, 2026 and reporting by Escrow and Title takes place if any of the above criteria are met

WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO RESIDENTIAL HOME SELLERS?

  • New disclosure forms 
  • Additional forms to be determined

WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO RESIDENTIAL HOME BUYERS?

  • Details of the trust or LLC entity as to ownership and control must be provided
  • Personal information of those individuals.

Title and Escrow firms will collect this information and report collected information to FinCN.

A FUTURE PREDICTION

My sense is in the future vacant land sellers and vacant land buyers will probably see a similar rule especially with foreign sellers and buyers.

So residential home sellers and residential home buyers don't be surprised by these new FinCn Rules, just be prepared ahead of time to reduce your frustration and stress levels. 

P.S. Please consider checking out my Facebook business page, The Grit and Gratitude Agent that will focus on the Dirt Roads in Mohave County as well local real estate, lots of dirt or vacant land parcels as some of the local attractions.

#LetsGetBackToRealConversations #WeDoThingsDifferently #BuyerEducation #RealEstateGuidance #LandOfferPocess #ArizonaRealEstate  #TheHelpfulAgent #GoldenValleyAZHomesAndLand #KingmanHomesAndLand

Leanne M Smith, The Grit and Gratitude Agent Who Goes the Extra Mile Because Life Begins Where the Pavement Ends.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.com

Any reproduction of Leanne M Smith’s blog for use by any AI or GAI, distribution or reproduction including but not limited to electronic newsletters e.g. PDF’s Internet sites or physical products e.g. newspapers, CDs without prior written permission and consent by me, Leanne M. Smith (Leanne Hoagland-Smith) is strictly prohibited. 

Posted by

Leanne M. Smith, MS, GRI, rCRMS

2018 KGVAR Rookie Realtor of the Year-55+
219.508.2859 MST
Life Begins Where the Pavement Ends
Connect with me on LinkedIn:
http://www.linkedin.com/in/leannehoaglandsmith

Comments(22)

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GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore
Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ
Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

good post with great information. Thanks for sharing it. Bill

Have a fantastic week!

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

Feb 05, 2026 11:26 AM
Leanne Smith

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy this weekend as well. 

Feb 06, 2026 07:30 AM
Patricia Feager
Referral Specialist - DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Licensed to April 2027

Leanne Smith - this is very important information. I appreciate you sharing what's new in AZ. This is one more good reason why homeowners need to hire a licensed real estate Broker and not sell For Sale by Owner. 

Feb 05, 2026 11:50 AM
Leanne Smith

Professional real estate agents do their best to keep up with what is happening within the local to national markets including new financial rules. This knowledge helps to ease stress and frustration. Thank you and good morning Patricia Feager 

Feb 06, 2026 07:31 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Leanne and great information to share with us here in the Rain.  We can all learn from each other here.

Feb 05, 2026 12:08 PM
Leanne Smith

Isn't that the truth learning from each other? Years ago in my graduate studies I learned that 70% of all learning is informal, meaning we learn from each other and our own experiences.  Thank you and good morning Will Hamm 

Feb 06, 2026 07:24 AM
Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner
Denver, CO
Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Leanne, I heard about this late last year, and then asked my title company for more info.  Good stuff to know.

Feb 05, 2026 12:55 PM
Leanne Smith

One of my good real estate friends also confirmed she heard about it last year and was surprised by the announced enforcement date of 3/1/2026. Thanks for taking the time to comment as well. Good morning to you, Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner 

Feb 06, 2026 07:23 AM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

In California, there is a new form that automatically attaches to our Residential Purchase Agreement forms bundler that is named Federal Reporting Requirement Purchase Addendum. Thank goodness, it is only a one page form.

Feb 05, 2026 05:55 PM
Leanne Smith

So far no form here in AZ, but we shall see. Thank you John Juarez and a sunny good morning to you. Enjoy your weekend. 

Feb 06, 2026 07:22 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Leanne- excellent information to share with us. Thank you,

Feb 05, 2026 05:57 PM
Leanne Smith

Thank you Kathy Streib and good morning. 

Feb 06, 2026 07:21 AM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

so real estate crime goes beyond title theft!!! I still love the Matthew Cox, Title Lock ads where the thief advertises for the cure! 

Feb 06, 2026 01:37 AM
Leanne Smith

Yes I have seen that ad. So it appears there is money laundering in real estate.  Though this word of "transparency" is often a smoke screen, IMHO.

Feb 06, 2026 07:07 AM
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Setting up new rules for vacant land and particularly absentee owners would be good. We have seen an increase of fraudulent individuals who are trying to get agents to list & sell those owners parcels. 

Feb 06, 2026 04:04 AM
Leanne Smith

Out here in NW AZ, vacant land deed fraud continues to be somewhat prevalent. Agents and title firms are being extra careful with their due diligence. 

Feb 06, 2026 07:05 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Hmm, I have to admit that I do not keep abreast of what is going on with FinCN, but I have always trusted my escrow agent to know what is going on, he definitely stays on top of everything!

Feb 06, 2026 04:43 AM
Leanne Smith

Our escrow agencies out here as well stay on top of things. For me if and when I list a residential property, I will inform the seller of this rule as it may potentially delay closing. 

Feb 06, 2026 06:56 AM
Anne Corbin
Long and Foster - Lake Anna - Spotsylvania, VA
Serving Lake Anna & Central Virginia

It's a crazy world right now. I have had to research suspicious sellers and we try to notify current owners that there is fraud attempts on selling their property. Letting local settlement agents know which properties are being targeted helps. The most recent one is an out of state owner and he was appreciative. I think these innocent owners will remember the names of agents who are diligent.

Feb 06, 2026 08:09 AM
Leanne Smith

Even when we undertake out due diligence, sometimes these thieves are even craftier.  I believe in what you say about innocent owners. Thank you and good morning 

Feb 06, 2026 08:19 AM
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Thank you for sharing, although not all the points are perfectly clear. 

Feb 06, 2026 01:21 PM
Leanne Smith

I took this from the government Q&A.  Given it is the government, things are usually not crystal clear. 

Feb 06, 2026 01:45 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
Southern Utah's Preferred Real Estate Agent.

We are getting a lot fake land sellers here, Leanne. One fraudster was so thorough that he sent a Real I.D. as proof of ownership but something was off in the approach and it was reported and quashed.

Feb 07, 2026 08:26 AM
Leanne Smith

We have had the same issues here on vacant land. Thankfully the real owner noticed his land was for sale. Thanks for adding to this ongoing dialogue.

Feb 07, 2026 05:03 PM
Adam Feinberg
Howard Hanna Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

We are still feeling the pain from FinCen's action from 2016 in NYC (and a few other cities).  We still haven't recovered, but it did expose the degree that there was a lot of money laundering happening in NYC real estate.

Feb 07, 2026 11:56 AM
Leanne Smith

Where there are people especially in large numbers, there is crime.  Thank you Adam Feinberg for sharing your experience with FinCen.

Feb 08, 2026 06:37 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Everyone needs to understand why these changes are being made. The illegal activities must be stopped.

Feb 07, 2026 12:27 PM
Leanne Smith

Unfortunately with the vastness of US statues to state to local, illegal activities still continue. And IMHO that is because evil exists.

Feb 08, 2026 06:36 AM
Dee Toohey

Illegal activities happen everywhere in every part of the world every day. They have always happened and always will. You may catch a few in the big scheme of things. Nothing will stop them all.

This is just more work for our industry. Since banks and financial sectors already report unusual money transfers and deposits, why is our industry being singled out?

Feb 15, 2026 09:01 AM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Leanne Smith 
Yet again - you keep us up to date on what is new and important! Thanks. Lynn

Feb 07, 2026 03:25 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Yeah, I would think that once something becomes a known medium, It can be used in any capacity and I think the real estate is no different in that respect.

Feb 08, 2026 10:13 PM
Leanne Smith

So true, scam and frauds are happening in all industries.  And that is quite sad. Thanks for your comment and enjoy the day.

Feb 09, 2026 11:05 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Leanne Smith this is good information to share.  Lenders and banks all report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCn), especially when financial red flags pop up.

Feb 09, 2026 02:01 PM
Leanne Smith

Yes and for me as far as vacant land only if the property is going to be used to build a home. Out here much of the land is for RV use. 

Feb 09, 2026 02:08 PM
Fred Sweezer Sr. CMI, LLC.
Hud Certified 203K Consultant - Long Beach, CA
HUD 203k Consultant

Thanks for the heads up! Your post is on time.

Feb 11, 2026 02:39 AM
Leanne Smith

My pleasure and good morning to you.

Feb 11, 2026 05:27 AM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Douglas Elliman Las Olas - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Suggest an addition to second chance Carol Williams 

Feb 14, 2026 06:58 AM
Carol Williams

Good morningk Eileen Burns 954.483.3912 
Thanks for the tag. This was Featured last week. 😊

Feb 14, 2026 07:04 AM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912

a little late to the party girls😍

Feb 14, 2026 07:05 AM
Leanne Smith

Good morning Eileen Burns 954.483.3912 and thanks for the recommenation. I attended in person meeting about these new rules. 

Feb 14, 2026 07:20 AM
Dee Toohey
Innovative Realty Solutions Group - Longwood, FL
Broker, ABR, AHWD, CIPS, FMS, ePro

Thanks, Leanne Smith  It was your blog this morning that led me here. Good info as we travel into the future of real estate.

Feb 15, 2026 08:57 AM
Leanne Smith

Good morning and thank you Dee.  Enjoy your week. 

Feb 16, 2026 08:23 AM