Primary Department: Housing and Community Development
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Thao Costis
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for discussion of recommendations to protect Harris County homeowners and government from Deed Fraud.
end
Background and Discussion:
In June 2025, Harris County Commissioners’ Court directed Housing and Community Development (HCD) to coordinate with relevant stakeholders, to develop potential recommendations and implementation strategies to protect homeowners, particularly vulnerable populations, from unauthorized home title fraud.
Since then, HCD staff have worked with experts, to discuss current vulnerabilities across the County’s deed filing system and processes (some of which are a result of existing state law and industry standards) to consider how to deter fraudulent activity, coordinate better with intercounty stakeholders, and understand the impact of recent changes in state law.
At the core of the County’s ability to protect residents from deed fraud or related crimes, the Harris County Clerk’s Office Real Property division works diligently to record all real property or real estate records across a growing and economically diverse region. The Harris County Clerk’s Office has the ministerial duty to accept a document for recording if a statute authorizes, requires, and permits it to be filed.
The working group, facilitated by HCD staff, recommend Harris County Commissioners Court consider multiple actions in the near future.
Expected Impact:
No immediate impact is expected with this item alone. However, in the future Commissioners Court may choose to take action on this issue with budgetary allocations or operational process improvement.
Alternative Options:
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County Strategic Plan Goal: 6. Help residents achieve housing stability.
County Strategic Plan Objective: V: Reduce eviction and foreclosure rates among residents.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): Choose an item.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): V1: Enhance and centralize eviction legal aid and financial assistance programs.
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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6/26/25 |
229 |
Directive HCD to coordinate with relevant stakeholders, to develop potential recommendations and implementation strategies to protect homeowners, particularly vulnerable populations, from unauthorized home title fraud. |
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Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Anticipated Court Date: 10/30/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): 10/30/2025
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Amanda Rocha, Director, Policy & Partnerships, Housing and Community Development
Attachments (if applicable): Recommendation Memo