Protecting Your Identity During Your Home Purchase

During a home purchase, you share your most sensitive personal information with multiple parties. Learn how to protect yourself before, during, and after closing.

Protecting Your Identity During Your Home Purchase

Your Identity Is at Risk During Closing

A real estate transaction requires you to hand over Social Security numbers, bank account details, tax returns, and pay stubs to multiple parties. This page explains who has your data, how to protect it, and what to do after closing to guard against identity theft.

Why Real Estate Makes You Vulnerable

A home purchase is one of the most information-intensive transactions you will ever complete. Here is why it creates unique identity theft risks:

You share your SSN, bank statements, tax returns, and pay stubs with multiple parties

Your information passes through agents, lenders, title companies, and insurance companies

Emails containing sensitive documents can be intercepted by criminals

Public records (deed recording) put your name and address in searchable databases

Who Has Your Information

During a typical home purchase, your sensitive personal and financial data is shared with all of these parties:

You (The Buyer)

SSN, bank accounts, tax returns, pay stubs, ID

Real Estate Agent

Mortgage Lender & Underwriter

Title Company / Settlement Agent

Home Inspector

Insurance Company

Appraiser

County Recorder’s Office

How to Protect Yourself

Take these steps before and during your transaction to minimize identity theft risk:

Use Encrypted Email or Secure Portals

Never send sensitive documents through plain email. Ask your lender and title company to use their secure upload portals instead.

Ask About Data Security Practices

Before sharing personal information, ask each party how they store, protect, and eventually dispose of your data.

Ask About ALTA Best Practices Pillar 3

ALTA Best Practices Pillar 3 specifically addresses Privacy and Information Security. Ask your title company if they follow it.

Use a Dedicated Email Address

Create a separate email account for your real estate transaction. This limits exposure if your everyday email is compromised.

Set Up Credit Monitoring

Enable credit monitoring with all three bureaus during the transaction period so you are alerted immediately to any unauthorized activity.

Freeze Your Credit After Closing

Once you close, you will not need new credit for a while. Freezing your credit prevents anyone from opening accounts in your name.

Shred Physical Documents

Shred any physical documents you do not need to keep, such as extra copies of bank statements, pay stubs, or pre-approval letters.

Use a VPN on Public WiFi

If you access financial accounts or transaction portals on public WiFi, always use a VPN to encrypt your connection.

After-Closing Identity Checklist

Your personal information does not become less valuable after closing. Stay vigilant:

Monitor your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com (free weekly from all 3 bureaus)

Set up fraud alerts with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion

Watch for unauthorized accounts opened in your name

Monitor your property records at your county recorder’s office for unauthorized changes

Keep all closing documents in a secure, locked location (fireproof safe or safe deposit box)

Red Flags During Your Transaction

If you encounter any of these during your transaction, stop and verify before proceeding:

Anyone asking you to send personal information via unencrypted email

Requests for your SSN by phone from someone you did not call

“Urgent” requests to wire money or share information without verification

Unfamiliar parties requesting access to your financial documents

ALTA Member Spotlight

First American Title

Nation's leading provider of title insurance, settlement services, and risk solutions for real estate transactions.

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Protecting Your Identity During Your Home Purchase