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FILING APPEALS.
>>> IMAGINE THAT THIS HAPPENED
TO YOU.
WITH A KNOCK AT THE DOOR, YOU
DISCOVER THAT YOU NO LONGER OWN
THE HOME WHERE YOU LIVE.
>> LOCAL 2 INVESTIGATIONS FOUND
THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE
HOUSTON AREA.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JAIZ --
JACE LARSON SHOWS YOU THE LEGAL
LOOPHOLE.
>> Reporter: OSCAR AND JOE
MARTIN RECENTLY REKINDLED THEIR
HIGH SCHOOL LOVE.
40 YEARS LATER.
>> JUST GOT MARRIED.
>> Reporter: THE TWO BOUGHT THIS
DUPLEX ON HOUSTON'S SOUTH SIDE,
AN INCOME PROPERTY ON THE LEFT
AND THEIR HOME ON THE RIGHT.
>> I WAS JUST IN DISBELIEVE.
I -- DISBELIEF.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT T. OWNER
CAME AND KNOCKED ON OUR DOOR AND
SHE SAID SHE OWNED THIS
PROPERTY.
>> Reporter: THEY DISCOVERED
THEY DIDN'T OWN THE HOUSE THEY
PAID FOR.
>> DID YOU THINK THERE WAS A
GOOD CHANCE YOU WOULD LOSE THIS
HOUSE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Reporter: TURNS OUT, A MAN
NAMED DWAYNE JORDAN HAD A FAKE
DEED RECORDED AT THE COUNTY
CLERK'S OFFICE.
THAT DEED SHOWED THAT HE OWNED
THE PROPERTY.
WITHOUT A CLUE, THE MARTINS
BOUGHT THE HOUSE, EVEN THOUGH
THE PERSON THEY PAID HAD NO
RIGHT TO SELL IT.
>> ONE DAY YOU'RE THINKING THAT,
I'VE GOT THE AMERICAN DREAM.
AND THE NEXT DAY YOU'RE
THINKING, I COULD BE HOMELESS.
>> IT HAPPENS RATHER
FREQUENTLY -- RATHER FREQUENTLY.
>> Reporter: VALERIE TURNER SAYS
IT'S A GROWING PROBLEM.
SHE BUSTS LAND THIEVES.
>> THERE ARE SOME VERY NICE
HOUSES THAT HAVE HAD POWER
OUTAGED DEEDS -- FORGED DEEDS IT
AND COULD REALLY HAPPEN TO
ANYONE.
>> Reporter: AND IT HAS.
COURT RECORDS SHOW JORDAN STOLE
FROM NEARLY 30 PEOPLE.
HE GOT A 30-YEAR PRISON
SENTENCE.
THIS DUDE WAS INVOLVED IN 24
PROPERTIES AND THIS DEFENDANT'S
CASE IS NO NEW IT DOESN'T GO TO
COURT UNTIL APRIL.
SO WHY WOULD A CROOK DO THIS?
MONEY.
BECAUSE THE CROOK NEVER PAID FOR
THE LAND, ANY CASH HE GETS FROM
THE BUYER IS JUST MONEY IN HIS
POCKET.
HOW EASY IS IT FOR THESE PEOPLE
TO STEAL LAND?
>> UNFORTUNATELY IT'S VERY EASY.
>> Reporter: EASY BECAUSE CROOKS
CAN FINAL ANONYMOUSLY.
STATE LAW PROHIBITS CLERKS FOR
ASKING FROM IDENTIFICATION.
LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT.
I CAN WALK IN AND SAY I JUST
BOUGHT THIS HOUSE.
HERE'S A DOCUMENT AND NEVER HAVE
TO SHOW ANY IDENTIFICATION.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> YOU HAVE TO SHOW I.D. TO BUY
A SIX-PACK OF BEER AT A SEVEN-11
OR BUY COLD MEDICINE, BUT YOU'RE
DOING A MULTI-HUNDRED THOUSAND
TRANSACTION.
>> Reporter: THIS IS THE ONLY
DECENTER IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
A SIGN SAYING FILING A FAKE
DOCUMENT IS ILLEGAL.
>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S -- THAT'S ALL
WE'RE ALLOWED TO DO.
>> Reporter: LAWMAKERS COULD
ALLOW CLERKS TO KEEP A COPY OF
SOMEONE'S I.D., KNOWING WHO
FILED THE FAKE DEED WILL MAKE
GOING AFTER THE CRIMINALS WHO
STEAL FROM PEOPLE LIKE THE
MARTINS MUCH EASIER.
PROTECT YOURSELF WHENEVER YOU
BUY PROPERTY BY BUYING TITLE
INSURANCE.
TITLE INSURANCE PAID OFF THE
ACTUAL OWNER OF THE MARTIN'S
PROPERTY AND NOW THEY LEGALLY
OWN IT.
YOU ALSO CAN CHECK TO SEE IF
SOMEONE HAS FILED A FRAUDULENT
DEED ON YOUR PROPERTY.
I'M SHOWING YOU HOW TO DO THAT
AT CLICK2HOUSTON.COM.
IF YOU HAVE A STORY IDEA,
SOMETHING FOR ME TO