Some Inconvenient Truths: Why You Get So Much Junk Mail After Buying a House

Congratulations, you just closed on your new home! You’re enjoying your new space and getting all settled in. But you also notice that your mailbox is filling up with junk mail. Unfortunately, this is very common. The purchase of your home and securing a mortgage loan brings with it the annoyance of almost daily junk mail.

Here's why companies suddenly find your mailbox (and inbox) so appealing:

Your Mortgage Transaction Details are Public Record

When you close on your new home, many pieces of your information become public record. Your Warranty Deed and Deed of Trust get recorded with the county and become public record. Soliciting and marketing companies can see your new address, mortgage lender, loan amount, and sometimes even your email address. These companies target new homeowners aggressively the first few months after closing and flood your mailbox with solicitations.

These phishing marketing mailings can appear so legitimate that you may believe they are coming from your mortgage lender, homeowner’s insurance or warranty company. The letters have things like “Information needed”, “Urgent: Important Mortgage Information”, or “Warranty Expiring” stamped on them. The goal is to trick you with realistic-looking mail to steal confidential personal details or have you purchase unneeded products. Typically, these have fine print on the back or bottom that states the soliciting company, rather than your actual mortgage lender, insurance company, or warranty company is sending you these mailings. If you are unsure if a piece of mail requires your response, contact your lender or insurance agent. Unless the mail is obviously directly from your current lender or other service providers, you can likely trash it.

Many Businesses Purchase New Resident Lists

Some businesses buy mailing lists from direct-mail companies. This enables them to target specific zip codes and neighborhoods to promote their products and services. This is why you’re getting “Welcome to the Neighborhood” from different types of service companies, from local restaurants, stores, renovation services and many more. You may also continue to receive mail for the previous resident of the home. If the former homeowner was on the mailing list for the local hardware store, you might receive that person’s mail, delivered to them OR CURRENT RESIDENT.

Examples / How to identify junk mail targeting new homeowners:

 • Mortgage insurance offers. Mortgage insurance is legitimate protection, but some unscrupulous companies will try to pose as your lender to sell it to you. Ask your lender if you have any questions.

 • Mortgage scams. Scammers may claim that there is an urgent issue or missed payment on your mortgage, asking you to call them immediately. You might receive junk mail that looks like a mortgage bill.

• Home warranty schemes. Junk mail may claim that you are eligible for a home warranty or that you must act now to prevent your current warranty from expiring.

• Title/deed scams. You may receive offers for “records recovery services” to send you a copy of your home deed. Remember that you already received copies of your deed and other important documents at closing. Ignore any notifications about paying to obtain public records you can look up yourself on your county website.

 • Urgent or emotional language. Scammers use phrasing like “final notice,” “return promptly,” or “call immediately” to try to convince you that there’s a time-sensitive problem. This is an attempt to catch you off guard and take advantage of your emotions.

 • Typos or grammatical errors. You should also look for poor graphic design or logos that don’t look quite right.

 • Generic or inaccurate information. Vague wording like “call us about an important issue” likely indicates your mortgage or warranty company isn’t involved. An incorrect closing date, address or loan amount could also be cause for concern. On the flip side, remember that accurate information doesn’t necessarily mean the mail is real, since some details of your purchase are public record.

 • Disclaimers in tiny print. Scam mail often has fine print stating that the mail is not affiliated with your financial institution or that the information is from public records.

• Keep track of your documents. Keeping all documentation from your home purchase and mortgage in one place can make it easier to check potential scam mail against your records.

How to handle junk mail as a new homeowner:

● Look closely at questionable mail. Be cautious if a letter claims there's an issue you haven’t already discussed with your lender.

● Double check with your lender, insurance agent or home warranty company. If you’re not sure if a piece of mail is legitimate, call your lender, insurance agent or home warranty company directly to ask if they sent it. Call their number directly from their website; don't call numbers on any the mail itself.

● Check companies with BBB. If you don't recognize a company on a piece of mail, search for it on BBB.org to see ratings and check whether there are any complaints against it.