Don’t fall victim to deed fraud: Alachua County Property Appraiser’s office relaunches service to monitor property ownership changes

Press release from Alachua County Property Appraiser

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office has relaunched its free property monitoring service, now called Title Alert.

This office has mailed a notification regarding this service to all eligible real property parcels in Alachua County. This updated service, previously known as Property Watch, offers subscribers automated notifications when there are any recorded changes in property ownership.

It is now available to everyone, not just property owners, and offers added protection against potential fraudulent property transactions. However, those who own a confidential parcel must verify their identity in person at the Property Appraiser’s office by providing a valid driver’s license or ID to register for this service. To register for Title Alert, visit the Property Appraiser’s website at www.acpafl.org.

During the registration process, you must provide the Prop. ID for the property being monitored and a contact method (phone number or email). Prop. ID numbers can be found on our website by performing a property search using the owner’s name, property address, or parcel number.

Once registered, subscribers can choose how to receive alerts—via phone call, text, email, or postal mail. Postal mail alerts will be delayed due to the manual process involved. The system will continuously monitor the property for changes in ownership, and subscribers will be notified immediately if any changes occur.

If a property owner makes an ownership change, they will receive a confirmation, and no further action is necessary.

However, if they did not initiate the change, they are encouraged to contact the Property Appraiser’s Office immediately.

“The Title Alert service is part of our ongoing commitment to protect property owners and residents in Alachua County,” Property Appraiser Ayesha Solomon said. “If you were previously registered for Property Watch, you don’t need to re-register. You will be automatically enrolled in the new service. Property ownership updates will be available on our website within 24 to 48 hours.”

Title Alert may help protect against fraudulent property transactions but is not a substitute for a formal title search.

Ownership records are updated based on deeds filed with the Alachua County Official Records. The Property Appraiser’s Office cannot determine if a deed is fraudulent. However, this service may provide an added layer of security. If fraud is suspected, it should be reported to local law enforcement.