Let’s talk about your closing attorney. The job of that organization is to search the title to a property to make sure you get a clean title, and to handle funds transfers at settlement. They can do other things, but buyers, you are hiring an escrow agent. That’s their main job. Nobody and I mean nobody should have access to your social security number, your banking account numbers, your investment account numbers, how much you have in savings and checking, how much you have in your WALLET, except your lender and your attorney. And don’t tell THEM how much you have in your wallet. That’s not even THEIR business. Let’s talk about that a minute.

I probably talk about wire fraud ten times or more during a real estate event, because it is a very real threat and I want my clients to understand that. I NEVER have possession of a paper, a text or an email, that has my clients’ social security number or any account numbers. Why? Because that means I have information in my office or on my phone or in the ‘cloud’ that could be snooped or stolen or hacked, yes even if locked, that I do not not not want and do not want getting out. I tell my clients to go TO the attorney’s office to give them their information, and if they can’t do it in person, call the attorney directly.

What about the account number for loan payoff? Well, the attorney will handle that. That’s part of settling funds. They will find out who holds the mortgage and off they go. If they need something, go there and give it to them. Or call them. If they call you and you don’t recognize the voice, excuse yourself from the call and then call them back. That way, you know you’re talking to the right person. Even they have to be extremely careful because hackers do, and will, hijack the information and the money. Attorneys work in conjunction with title companies to be sure that everything adds up, and that wiring numbers and amounts are the same and that your money is not stolen. Together, these two agencies make sure your money goes to the lender, or wherever it is supposed to go, and not to some hacker across the globe.

All along the way, the people who are ENTITLED to your personal information in order to get you to closing, have secure systems with extra security, to thwart hackers. But hackers never and I mean NEVER give up. So, just don’t email your information. Don’t text it either. Think like a hacker: If you want to know what the attorney knows, whose email would YOU hack? And if hackers think your real estate agent gets that info, whose email would they also go after? RIGHT. So just be careful.

And by the way, appreciate the behind the scenes efforts that the closing attorneys’ staff and title companies’ staff put forth to protect your interests. These are hardworking people and the title folks never even see your face.

Have a great day today. Give me a call or email if you want to talk real estate.

Brenda Briggs

Coldwell Banker Advantage, Wake Forest NC

919-210-6113