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Cyber Security When Buying a Home

Cyber Security when buying a homeYou see a ton of real estate articles about advice on home buying.  The best way to search for homes, how to write an offer,  how to deal with home inspection issues…… but today we are going to talk about cyber security when buying a home. 

This is an ultra important topic.  For many home buying consumers this is not something they have to worry about on a daily basis so not much thought is given to cyber security during a real estate transaction.

Securing your vital data and information is important in any business.  When you are involved in purchasing a home there can be a lot of shuffling of document with some of your most vital information.

Information You Need to Protect From Cyber Criminals

Because real estate transactions is fast moving it is easy to forget about cyber security basics. 

But, it is important to think about cyber security when buying a home.

There are going to be three parties you are going to be dealing with in a real estate transaction that may be asking for sensitive information when you buy a home.  That is your real estate agent, mortgage originator and the tile/closing company.

Here is a list of items/documents you will want to consider carefully when it comes to cyber security when purchasing a home:

  1. Bank Account Information.  This includes checking and savings but also retirement accounts and investment accounts.
  2. Copies of Checks.  Checks contain your routing number and account number.
  3. Social Security Numbers and Birth Dates.  A lot of havoc can be wreaked with just those two pieces of information by cyber criminals.
  4. Credit Card Accounts and Other Lines of Credit.  Your statement will have account numbers for cyber criminals to access.
  5. W2’s, 1099’s Tax Forms etc…  will all contain sensitive information.
  6. Loan Applications are also packed full of your sensitive information as well.
  7. Closing Documents may contain account numbers and social security numbers.
  8. Your Drivers License or other ID.

Basically, peruse any documents that may contain your SSN and or account numbers and make sure that they are delivered in a secure manner.  Or, if need be block out the sensitive data with a black magic marker.

Cyber Security Scams Home Buyers Need to Be Aware Of

Recently there has been a cyber scam attacking home buyers that was serious enough for the federal trade commission to issue a warning.

Scammers phish email accounts of real estate agents and title/closing companies to gather information on an upcoming real estate closings.  Then they assume the identity of the agent or closing agents identity by email and ask you to wire the closing funds to a certain account.

Of course the money is then sent to an offshore account that cannot be traced. 

6 Tips Improve Real Estate Cyber Security

Cyber security when buying a homeThe first way to prevent cyber theft is to realize an unencrypted email is like sending a postcard.  Anybody can pick up the card and read it along its journey to it’s final destination.

So how do you deal with sensitive documents.

Never Send Information of Documents Thru Email that are Not Encrypted

If you email or document is not encrypted don’t send any sensitive information.  An encrypted document or email is password protected will require a password.

Black Out or Cover The Sensitive Information

If you are quickly sending a copy of a check or a bank statement to verify the amount just black out the information with a magic marker or cover the area with piece of paper that hold the area of the information you are trying to protect.. 

Drop Off the Documents in Person

Dropping off the documents in person or having your real estate agent or mortgage originator pick up any sensitive document will certainly ensure the documents get to the right person.

Upload to Secure Websites Only

Most of your sensitive data and information will be between you and your mortgage originator.  As explained by John Marroni of New Fed Mortgage you can securely upload your documents into their website. 

How can you tell if your connection is secure?  Your URL in the address bar will start with an https instead of http.

Https is communication that is agreed on between the two computers that scrambles the code.  Only the two computers have the key to unscramble the code.

Pass Sensitive Information Over the Phone

Pass on sensitive info like SSN or passwords over the phone instead of the body of an email.  For example, when I send an encrypted email, I always pass on the password over the phone.

Be Wary Of Any Request By Email for Sensitive Information

Email servers and clients can be compromised by cyber criminals.  Never respond to an email request for information that you were not informed of prior to the email.   If you do receive a request verify with the person who sent the email that they indeed send the request.

Final Thoughts on Cyber Security When Buying  Home

Protecting your information from cyber thieves starts with you.  Don’t be afraid to ask how your sensitive data is handled or how you should handle it with your real estate agent, mortgage broker and title company.  It is ultimately your responsibility.

The mortgage process is probably the most document intensive part of buying a home and the shuffle of documents is probably not something your used to.  Just take a few minutes visually scan a document to see if their is data on their you don’t want getting in to the hands of cyber criminals before shooting off an email.

If there is sensitive data do not send it in an unencrypted email or text for that matter.  Find an alternative that does not expose your data to the invisible prying eyes on the internet.

  • Jason Polancich   Protect Your Self From Cyber Criminals During Your Purchase
  • Paul Sian  Real Estate Scams to Be Wary Of
  • Bill Gassett Top Real estate Scams
  • Washington Post  How to Protect Your Data During A Real Estate Transaction
  • Kevin Vitali Rental Scams on Craigslist

Cyber Security When Buying a Home, was provided by Kevin Vitali of EXIT Group One Real Estate of Tewksbury MA. If you would like to sell or buy a home give me a call at 978-360-0422 and let’s get the process started.

Real Estate Services in the following areas: Northeast Massachusetts, Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Metrowest. Including the following communities and the surrounding area- Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Groveland, Haverhill, Lowell, Melrose, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, North Andover, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Wilmington, Westford

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in: Buying a House, First Time Home Buyer Tagged: cyber criminal, cyber security, email, internet

Real Estate Photography- Commitment to Excellence

I just wrote a blog post on Active Rain, Real Estate Photography- Using Multiple Flashes.   The post was written to help educate other real estate agents about techniques that are being used to create superb real estate images for home sellers. I thought thought the article was useful to home sellers.  Not that you care about the details of how it is done, but more importantly what some agents will do to help sell your home.  Some of my real estate friends across the country will go to great lengths to create top notch photographs of their clients home.  If they can’t, some will hire a professional photographer.  Unfortunately there are still too many agents out there that don’t get it and will use a cell phone to do the photography of your home.

Good Real Estate Photography Sells Homes

Today’s home buyers are very internet savvy and they are making determinations about your home based on the information and the real estate photography they see online.  Poor photography can deter showings on your home.  An otherwise good listing can be hindered by a poor online presentation.  Superior real estate images can draw buyers in and creates extra showings for your home.  Remember all it takes is one buyer, but it is a numbers game.  Showings= Offers  and Lots Showing= Multiple Offers. A good thing to remember as a home seller is your first showings are online.

How Does Good Real Estate Photography Sell Homes?

My commitment to my home seller clients is to employ the best possible techniques to create superior images of your home.  A well presented listing, through real estate photography can:

  1. Capture an internet home buyer’s attention.
  2. Increase the number of showings.
  3. Speed up the sale.
  4. Make the sale go smoother.
  5. Sell your house for more money.

I went to school for photography and worked for 10 years in the industry photographing portraits as well as  doing commercial photography.  I have brought my photography and advertising skills to my real estate career.  I photograph my own listings and all of my acquired skills to present your home as best as I can.  When photographing a listing I use almost $4,000 worth of photography equipment geared towards real estate and also edit in the most up to date versions of Adobe Photoshop and Photomatix. If you are thinking of selling your home and would like a marketing presentation of what will get your home sold for top dollar and for the least amount of hassle, call me at 978-360-0422. Good Real Estate Photography Sells Homes

Posted in: Real Estate Photography, Selling a House Tagged: images, internet, photography, Real Estate

Interactive Floor Plans Help Get Your House SOLD!!

Interactive floor plans are just one of the tools I use to market a sellers home.  Most of my moderately priced to expensive listings get an interactive floor plan to be used on the MLS, property websites and more…. as another virtual tool to help get your home sold in today’s real estate market.

What are the benefits of an Interactive Floor Plan

  1. Provides the potential home buyer with a true sense of the space that your home offers that cannot be felt from photos alone
  2. Links provided to photos of your home showing the angle they were taken from.
  3. Allows potential home buyers to move and size furniture.
  4. Links directly from the Massachusetts MLS.
  5. Its a unique tool that many agents do not utilize.

Watch the video on Interactive Floor Plans

 

 

An interactive floor plan can set your listing apart from the competition.  It is a great listing tool to help get your house sold.  So many buyer’s are using the internet to shop for their new home.  What they want is information, so give it to them.

If you would like to know more about a full online presentation of your home and how it can help you sell your house for more money, contact Kevin Vitali at 978-360-0422

 

Posted in: Home Marketing, Real Estate Photography, Selling a House Tagged: floor plans, internet, Marketing, MLS, photography, Selling a House

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Kevin Vitali

KEVIN VITALI


Kevin Vitali- Massachusetts REALTOR EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates
191 S. Main Street
Middleton, MA 01949 cell phone: (978) 360-0422 office phone: (781) 929-1010

CONTACT ME

Kevin Vitali- Massachusetts Realtor Serving Essex County and Northern Middlesex County Massachusetts

KEVIN VITALI

978-360-0422
kevin@kevinvitali.com

Kevin Vitali- Massachusetts REALTOR
Real Broker MA, LLC
90 Canal Street
Boston, MA 02114
cell phone: (978) 360-0422
office phone: (855) 450-0442

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Massachusetts Real Estate

 

Real Estate Services in the following areas:
Northeast Massachusetts, Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Metrowest including the following communities and the surrounding area including
Amesbury, Andover, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut. Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Littleton, Lowell, Melrose, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, North Reading, Reading, Salisbury, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, West Newbury, Westford

Disclaimer

No information on this website is to be construed as legal advice.  The information is either generalized or state-specific. If you are seeking information for legal purposes please consult an attorney.

© 2023 · Kevin Vitali · Tewksbury Real Estate

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