Our website uses cookies to ensure a great experience. We also use third party cookies. To find out more about the cookies on our web site, please read our privacy policy. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of cookies. Continue

How can we help you?

Request a quote today! Click here

FinCEN

Information about the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Real Estate Reporting Requirement and how Southern Title will submit the required reporting forms on your transactions.

What is FinCEN?

FinCEN stands for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Its mission is to combat money laundering, prevent terrorist financing and detect and deter financial crimes.

What is the Real Estate Report?

The Real Estate Report is a form issued by FinCEN for the purpose of reporting information on transfers of certain residential real estate that are a high risk for illicit finance, as required by 31 CFR 1031.320. For more information, please refer to the FinCEN website.

  • Updated FinCEN FAQs can be found here.

When is the Real Estate Report required and how will Southern Title let me know if I need to report my transaction?

Starting March 1, 2026, settlement providers must file a FinCEN Real Estate Report to the U.S. Department of the Treasury when a residential property is transferred without a loan extended by a financial institution subject to anti-money laundering (AML) program requirements and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) reporting obligations, and the buyer is an entity or a trust. This rule applies in all states and to many no-cost transfers. It is a common report with nearly one million filed each year.

Southern Title will handle this report for you through a secure service. After you send us a contract, if you are an entity or trust purchasing residential real estate and the transfer is non-financed, we will contact you to confirm your information. You will receive an email invitation with a secure link to a short online form. The system protects your information and guides you step by step through the process. Depending on your specific terms, It could take as little as five minutes to complete the online form. Addressing this questionnaire promptly helps prevent closing delays.

Please check out these updated FAQs for more information or email Southern Title’s FinCEN Team at [email protected].

For a PDF version of these updated FAQs, please click here.