Chain of Title

Chain of Title follows three Florida residents who uncover widespread fraud in the U.S. mortgage industry during the 2008 financial crisis. These individuals - Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak - begin investigating foreclosure documents after facing their own housing struggles. What starts as personal research evolves into a movement as they build networks of homeowners and create websites to share their findings. Their investigation reveals that major banks and mortgage companies filed falsified documents to claim ownership of homes and execute foreclosures on a massive scale. The book traces their transformation from ordinary citizens into fraud researchers and activist leaders who take on powerful financial institutions. Through interviews, court documents, and extensive research, Dayen reconstructs their journey and its impact on the national conversation about foreclosures. The narrative illustrates how civilian whistleblowers can expose systemic corruption, while examining the human cost of the foreclosure crisis that reshaped American communities. Beyond documenting financial fraud, the book raises questions about accountability in the banking system and the power of grassroots activism.

Readers describe Chain of Title as a detailed investigation of the 2008 foreclosure crisis through the stories of three main individuals who fought back against fraudulent banking practices. Readers highlight: - Clear explanations of complex financial concepts - The human element that makes technical material accessible - Research depth and extensive documentation - Focus on everyday people rather than politicians/bankers Common criticisms: - Occasional repetition of points - Length and density of legal/technical details - Some readers wanted more coverage of policy solutions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (236 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (108 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Reads like a thriller while explaining the mortgage crisis better than any news coverage" -Goodreads reviewer "Important but frustrating - shows how regular citizens can fight back but also how the system remains broken" -Amazon reviewer "Should be required reading for anyone working in real estate or banking" -LibraryThing review

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🔗 The book won the Ida and Studs Terkel Prize in 2017, which honors writers who share the spirit of these two legendary authors in highlighting stories of ordinary Americans. 📊 While the book focuses on three main foreclosure victims turned activists, it documents how nearly 6 million Americans lost their homes during the 2008 housing crisis. 🏦 Author David Dayen uncovered that banks were routinely fabricating mortgage documentation, a practice known as "robo-signing," which involved the creation of thousands of false documents daily. 👥 The main subjects of the book—Lisa Epstein, Michael Redman, and Lynn Szymoniak—were all ordinary citizens with no prior activism experience who became nationally recognized housing advocates. 📝 The research for Chain of Title involved reviewing over 150,000 documents and conducting more than 100 interviews over a four-year period.