http://darbyview.com/blog/archive_202609/sort_entrydatetime-desc/  The risk of fraud in real estate is especially high stakes. One of the biggest threats is wire fraud. This is when a fraudster impersonates someone involved in a real estate transaction and convinces you to send your closing funds to the wrong bank account.The consequences can be devastating. A successful fraudster can potentially take someone's life savings in a matter of minutes, and once that money is wired away, recovering it is unlikely.According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans reported more than $20.8 billion in losses from internet crime in 2025. Real estate related complaints accounted for more than $275 million in reported losses, up significantly from approximately $174 million in 2024. The FBI also received more than 22,000 complaints involving artificial intelligence, with reported losses exceeding $893 million. Those numbers should get our attention.The threat is changingEveryone with an email address or phone number has probably encountered phishing attempts. We have all seen the suspicious email, the strange text message, or the phone call that just doesn't feel right. Real estate adds another layer because so much money changes hands in a very short period of time.Our office has even been contacted by "people" attempting to list properties they don't actually own. Thankfully, so far, these situations have been relatively easy for us to identify because it's very rare that we list a property for anyone that we can't meet in person.But the technology is changing. The FBI has warned that criminals are using artificial intelligence to make fraud more believable and easier to carry out at scale. AI can be used to create convincing messages, impersonate people, generate fake documents and even clone voices.Imagine receiving a phone call from someone you have been working with throughout a transaction. You recognize their voice. They know the property address. They know the closing date. They know exactly how much money is supposed to be wired. Except it isn't actually them. That's where this gets really concerning.So what do we do about it?We have a step by step system in our office for reducing the risk of fraud. But the short version is surprisingly simple: when large amounts of money are involved, choose verification over convenience.I know we are all busy. I understand that picking up the phone is easier than driving across town. Email is easier than meeting someone in person. Texting is easier than having a conversation face to face.But this is real estate. You are not ordering something from Amazon. You are taking ownership of a slice of the earth. That deserves a little extra caution!When it comes to wire instructions, for example, I would much rather see someone pick up a physical copy, verify the information directly with the title company and independently confirm where the money is going than simply click a link in an email because it was convenient.The FBI's own data shows that wire transfers and ACH transactions are among the common ways money is lost through cyber enabled fraud. The FBI also has a Financial Fraud Kill Chain specifically designed to work with financial institutions to try to freeze fraudulent transfers, which is one reason reporting a suspected fraud immediately is so important.Convenience isn't always your friendWe live in a world where convenience is king. We want everything faster, easier and more automated. And most of the time, that's great. But when you are buying or selling a property, there are certain moments when being a little inconvenient is actually a good thing.Meet in person. Talk face to face. Verify the phone number independently. Don't rely solely on the contact information contained in an email. Pick up the physical wire instructions. Call the title company using a phone number you already know is legitimate. And if something changes at the last minute, slow down. It's unlikely that anything in a legitimate transaction needs to change so urgently that you can't take a few extra minutes to verify it.Urgency is one of a fraudster's best tools.A legitimate transaction can wait a few extra minutes for you to verify something. Your life savings may not get a second chance.I'll get off my soapbox now.I realize some of these practices sound old fashioned. In a world of digital signatures, video calls, online closings and instant communication, meeting someone face to face or physically picking up a document can feel unnecessary.But I would rather be inconvenienced for an afternoon than lose my life savings in an afternoon.Technology isn't going away, and neither is fraud. In fact, as artificial intelligence continues to improve, we should expect fraudsters to become better at impersonating the people and businesses we trust.The answer isn't to stop using technology. The answer is to know where technology creates risk and know when to slow down.When you're dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars, a few extra steps aren't an inconvenience. They're part of protecting the transaction.And that's something worth taking seriously. http://darbyview.com/blog/4/ai-real-estate-fraud-is-getting-smarter/ Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:30:13 -0500 We had the privilege of being part of a closing that was about so much more than buying and selling a house.A family had owned a once beautiful home on a large piece of acreage for several generations. They wanted to preserve the surrounding land while selling the home and a small portion of the property separately.Our team was able to help make that happen. We represented the family through zoning changes, attended city zoning meetings, coordinated the lot split, and helped navigate the process from beginning to end.The home was eventually purchased by an amazing investor who completely transformed it into something special. We then had the privilege of listing that home for the investor, helping with design and layout decisions along the way to maximize the return on their investment.It was a full-circle experience, and one we’re grateful to have been part of.So many people think we only help buy or sell real estate. But that word "help" is a pretty broad term.Sometimes it means dividing a lot. Sometimes it means presenting in a zoning meeting. Sometimes it means helping you figure out who to call or what steps to take next.Most often, it means helping you see what a property could become.Whatever the real estate need, we’re here to help. http://darbyview.com/blog/3/before-&-after/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 03:17:49 -0500