Could this be real? What's the catch?

**Monty Craig** · 11th April 12, 07:46 PM

I saw this on Facebook, and it looks real, but I am skeptical... Can anyone give me the lowdown?

http://www.highlandtitles.com

Lord Monty Craig...

**Jackson** · 11th April 12, 08:48 PM

Hmmmm, interesting. I wonder how many times they sell each plot, land fraud is not exactly something new.

Jackson

**auld argonian** · 11th April 12, 08:49 PM

We have a few Lairds here...I'm sure that they will enlighten you....once upon a time, Sgt. Preston of the Northwest Mounted Police offered us a slice of the Yukon in about the same way...

Best

AA

**unixken** · 11th April 12, 09:28 PM

As far as American citizens are concerned, the best discussion on this subject I've seen is this:
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/usa/usnob.htm

No government of the U.S. can grant a title of nobility...

No individual with a title of nobility can hold public office...

Individuals petitioning for U.S. citizenship must surrender any pre-existing titles of nobility...

Anyone performing a legal name change through the courts, hoping to change their first name to "King", "Duke", "Sir" or similar, must convince a judge that it isn't to intended to falsely pass one's self off as some sort of nobility...

Any title which requires allegiance to a foreign power could result in revocation of U.S. citizenship...

Other countries, will, of course, have different laws and conditions.

**Big Mikey** · 11th April 12, 11:46 PM

It appears to be one of a number of "estate" offers that raise money for their upkeep or for charity. They should be checked into before your purchase but I have found that the ones I have looked at are alright.They are a fun gift for yourself, family or friends. I don't know if they are still available but at one time you could purchase stars, craters on the moon and assorted other properties.

Laird Michael Cawthra of Lochaber

**unixken** · 11th April 12, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by Big Mikey

I don't know if they are still available but at one time you could purchase stars, craters on the moon and assorted other properties.

http://www.lunarregistry.com/land/

**Downunder Kilt** · 12th April 12, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mikey

It appears to be one of a number of "estate" offers that raise money for their upkeep or for charity. They should be checked into before your purchase but I have found that the ones I have looked at are alright.They are a fun gift for yourself, family or friends. I don't know if they are still available but at one time you could purchase stars, craters on the moon and assorted other properties.

Laird Michael Cawthra of Lochaber

They are exactly what Big Mikey said, a bit of fun. "She that must be obeyed" purchased side by side plots for us both for Christmas. You get a nice parchment "title deed" and some other paperwork to help you change your name legally(If you are that way inclined). Also a couple of colour photo's and a fridge magnet.
Great gift for someone who is into things Scottish. Main thing is not to take it all too seriously

**The Wizard of BC** · 12th April 12, 12:54 AM

My wife gave me one of these as a Birthday gift one year. I have the certificate and the deed. I also have the little card giving me rights to fish in the adjoining river any time I want.

My 1ft. X 1ft. Scottish Fishing Estate is near the ones offered here. I have threatend to visit, find my estate, and take a pic with one of those little David Winter castles sitting promanently on the ant hill.

Until then I have my Laird certificate hanging on the wall of my kilt shop. A fun and thoughtful gift. Worth exactly what was paid for it.

Not to be taken seriously and certainly not granting the title of Lord. Laird, maybe by the loosest definition of the word which means simply land owner.

See my signature block.

**HenryT** · 12th April 12, 03:29 AM

I came across this site:

http://www.scots-titles.com/

which states it wishes to expose such sites, it seems to give a rundown of such.

**ForresterModern** · 12th April 12, 03:32 AM

I recieved not one but two different "properties" in Scotland this past Christmas, one from my elder son and one from my wife and younger son. Each is at most a couple square feet or surface area, one in a wooded glade on a "castle" property that was partially destroyed by fire a few years ago and undergoing renovation, the other on a hillside with no permanent buildings (they erected a small stone cairn of sorts to make it appear so) but which supposedly overlooks the valley above Stirling Castle. The first comes with fishing rights and hiking rights to a portion of the property and a free guided tour of the estate, with proper advance notice and appointment. Both came with an array of impressive paperwork, photos, postcards, applications for title documents, even precise GPS coordinates of your "property", and the repeated statement that ownership of "property" in the UK entitled one to call themselves Laird and/or Lady of the referenced property (you and a few hundred others). Both seem to suggest that your purchase is also helping to preserve Scotland's natural beauty by leaving the property in its natural and unimproved state in perpetuity with your purchase.

These are at least the 5th or sixth such opportunities I have come across and I am sure there are others available and in the offing. From what little reading I have done they are fundraisers, some for legitimate foundations for the upkeep and restoration of aging and/or decrepid properties, others simply ways of making a few quid by playing on gullible outlanders desires for grandeur. My understanding is that in the UK it is possible to sell "rights" to small parcels of real estate without actually selling that real estate (something about inability to legally register land transfer on parcels of land below a certain size), i.e., it is like a renewable longterm lease (another something about longterm leases not being allowed to be more than 99 years or so), while the seller retains true ownership of the property but simply has to abide by the agreement to allow visitation, etc..., whatever the package says, and they are so far all a bit different by my review. Most require the property to remain undisturbed and unimproved, although some do allow for additional donation to plant a tree somewhere on the property---just not necessarily on your portion.

As others have said, worth about the value of the paper it is printed on. And the intangible value of the feeling of being one of the UK's "landed gentry".

Yours truly,

Laird of Dunans Castle, Laird of Bandrum Estate