Chicago Homesellers Will Need To Be Fingerprinted
To help combat real estate fraud the city of Chicago is requiring starting June 1st that homesellers provide a fingerprint.
With rampant fraud occurring in the city, this is not a bad idea. But being a libertarian, the idea of a government official taking my fingerprint disturbs me. I would like to see that these fingerprints be destroyed after a period of time.
Fingerprinting is something we often associate with crime. So the fact that Cook County home sellers will soon have to provide a thumb print left some people shocked.
“I wouldn’t like that at all. I don’t think that’s necessary,” said Chicagoan Donald Hayes.
“I don’t know what I think about that. Not very good, I think, said Jenny Armstrong of Lake Villa.
The new law, which is set to go into effect June 1, 2009, will force anyone selling property in Cook County to provide a thumbprint from their right hand. via CBS2 Chicago



Comment by Tony Sena on 14 March 2009:
This is just crazy! Being a former Police Officer, I’m all about getting somebody’s fingerprints, but this is just crazy!
Comment by Sean on 15 March 2009:
Are you kidding me! WOW! I can’t imagine selling my house and having to provide fingerprints. That’s Just wrong!
Comment by Curtis Van Carter on 15 March 2009:
In California they have been requiring a thumb print for notarizing a deed of trust for about 4 years and just upped the requirement to any document regarding real estate this year. I don’t remember the stats, but it eliminated the vast majority of fraud as to those seller something they didn’t have the right to. The other commenters may be right about the civil rights part of this, but being a notary, there have never been a complaint!
Comment by David Pylyp on 15 March 2009:
Incredible! Yet I can see the benefits and the elimination of fraud and people stealing properties (and equity)through paper fraud.
I can see it spreading to other markets very quickly.
David Pylyp
Http://Davidpylyp.com
Pingback by Should we also be finger printing Toronto Home Sellers? « West Toronto Real Estate on 15 March 2009:
[...] we also be finger printing Toronto Home Sellers? By dpylyp Chicago Home sellers will need to be finger printed To help combat real estate fraud the city of Chicago is requiring starting June 1st that [...]
Comment by Michael on 16 March 2009:
The socialist Big brother on the march and there’s no one in Washington to stop them.
Pingback by Chicago homesellers will need to be fingerprinted! - INGunOwners on 16 March 2009:
[...] homesellers will need to be fingerprinted! Simply Amazing! Chicago Homesellers Will Need To Be Fingerprinted : The Real Estate Bloggers To help combat real estate fraud the city of Chicago is requiring starting June 1st that [...]
Comment by Tracy Kittinger on 16 March 2009:
I was a Notary in California until two years ago. We were required to take the thumbprint of anyone having us notarize their paperwork. In case of fraud in the future to prove they are who they say they are. Especially when signing a deed to sell property. I am surprised they don’t ask it in every state.
Tracy Kittinger
Comment by Dan V. on 16 March 2009:
Wait a dad blamed minute!
Rezko is in jail. Obummer is in Washington.
What’s the problem Richie??
Who might commit real estate fraud?
Comment by Don on 16 March 2009:
Will someone please explain to me how exactly fingerprinting will stop fraud. Someone…anyone. As a real estate professional I see no correlation, and certainly no benefit whatsoever and to be quite honest I think it’s time that we the people forced our public officials into providing a urinalysis every three days.
Our elected officials are absolutely incompetant.
Comment by Portland Real Estate on 17 March 2009:
I agree, the idea of having my fingerprints forced out of me does not make me very happy. Though, when I worked at a school district for a time, I was more than happy to give my prints to them. I can understand being fingerprinted to protect the students, but just to sell a house?
Comment by Chickasaw Warrior on 17 March 2009:
I think it’s time to start demanding a few things of a our politicians. WE hired them with our votes & we pay their salaries so they work for US.
If they want the job so badly, then they’ll have to submit to fingerprinting, retina scanning, relentless background checks, cameras in their offices & cars, & tape recordings of every single phone call or in-person conversation they conduct.
I bet THAT would have stopped a whole lot of corruption right in its tracks.
Comment by Ivan Crago Missoula Realtor on 21 March 2009:
I can see how this could be needed. We generally take people at their word when they say they own a home and want to list it. I would think that most honest people shouldn’t have a problem with it if we know what happens to that information after the transaction is closed and everyones’s happy.
Comment by CNS on 6 October 2009:
If you want to learn more about the new laws, hit up my website. It has all of the actual requirements.
Not all home owners who sell will have be fingerprinted.
Read all of the actual facts on my site.
Take care.