Brian We're on WNYC.

So here's a New York City problem that a member of city council is trying to lead a solution to.

It's deed theft.

It's a pervasive issue in the city's housing

market, but one that's often overlooked in no small part because it strikes mostly more vulnerable

people and because it's kind of confusing. So I'll do my best to explain a little bit. Then we'll

talk to the council member and invite your questions and to

help us report this story if you've been a victim of deed theft or know anybody who has or maybe

you're even a lawyer who's working to fight it on an individual basis. Now, deed theft is essentially

a scam where real estate investors steal ownership of a home on paper without the

real homeowners knowledge. They'll identify recently deceased homeowners who didn't leave a will

and track down like far-flung heirs to the property, convincing them, sometimes through fraud,

to sell their shares.

Then these predatory buyers can evict the existing residents, who might be family members,

and sell the property, often doubling or tripling their investments.

To give an example, say you've been living with your grandmother who passed away,

and you assume that the house now belongs to you.

Someone might knock on your door and say, I've tracked down your second and third cousins and bought their shares of the house. So now I own part of your home and I want to sell.

You have to move out.

It's also important to note that these schemes do disproportionately affect

communities of color. So it's also creating a situation where black homeowners are being

stripped in yet another way, when you look at history, yet another way of a path towards

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