How to avoid real estate scams

Scammers target people who need to sell or are under financial pressure. Here’s how to spot them, and how to protect yourself.

Six scams to watch out for

If what you’re hearing matches one of these, slow down and check before you sign or send anything.

Wire fraud
Criminals pose as agents to trick you into wiring closing funds to a fake account.
Loan flipping
Repeated refinances with high fees each time, slowly draining your equity.
Foreclosure relief
Fake government links and upfront fees for promises to lower your payments.
Equity stripping
They “buy” your home, rent it back to you, then take the equity.
Title or deed fraud
Ownership moved out of your name. Monitor your property records.
Mortgage fraud
A “no strings” loan that switches to a higher rate with hidden fees.

Three signals that the person across the table isn’t actually the one buying your house.

Red flag 1
No proof of funds
Ask for it. A wholesaler can’t provide it, because they aren’t the real buyer.
Red flag 2
Pressure to act now
“Act now” or “lose this forever” is a sign of fraud, not a real deadline.
Red flag 3
Too good to be true
A one-week promise with a 30–60 day contract means they need time to find an investor.

Behind the signs

Many of these buyers are wholesalers. They put your home under contract below market value, then sell that contract to an investor for a profit.

No agents, no showings, no guesswork. Here’s exactly how it works.

01Under 2 minutes
Tell us about your home
Share the address and a few details online or over the phone. No obligation, ever.
02Within 24 hours
Get your cash offer
We review recent sales nearby and send one clear, fair offer with no hidden fees.
03As little as 7 days
Pick your closing date
Accept, choose the date that suits you, and get paid at closing. We handle the paperwork.