03/11/2026
🧾 New FinCEN Reporting Guidelines (2026 Update)
Mandatory Nationwide Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule (Effective March 1 2026)
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This is the biggest current change impacting lawyers, title companies, and real estate professionals.
✔️ When reporting is required:
➡️ A Real Estate Report must be filed when ALL of the following apply:
• Residential real property is transferred
• The transaction is not financed by a bank or institutional lender (seller take-back financing is not included here)
• The buyer is a legal entity (LLC, corporation) or trust — not an individual
• No exemption applies 
The rule aims to prevent money laundering through anonymous cash real-estate purchases. 💸
➡️ What counts as residential real property
• 1–4 family homes
• Condos / co-ops
• Land intended for residential construction
• Mixed-use properties with residential components 
➡️ Who is responsible for the filing fee?
• The buyer is responsible for the $189.00 FinCen filing fee, unless otherwise specified/noted in the Agreement of Sale.
➡️ Who must file
The “reporting person” is typically:
• Settlement agent/Title Company
• Closing attorney
➡️ Filing deadline
• Filing of this report is due prior to closing.
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‼️Email Addresses and Phone Numbers for both buyers and sellers will now be required so that Dominion Title can start the FinCen Report and send the same to each party to complete.‼️
‼️NO transaction, that falls under these guidelines, will be closed until this report is filed and we have received the clear to close.‼️
If you have any questions, please call our office at 856-455-1008.