Be Aware—My Email Was Hacked Recently

My email was hacked recently, so if you get an email with a request for a Dropbox document or a business document, do not open it.

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In this day and age of high technology, we have access to a lot of information at the touch of our fingertips. Because of this, we’re facing new kinds of crimes relating to fraud, misrepresentation, and theft. 

You may have received an unusual email from me recently asking you to open a Dropbox document or some kind of business document. The truth is, my email was hacked, and the hacker’s purpose was an elaborate scheme to steal the closing proceeds of the seller. The hacker made changes to my email address and the client’s email address. They also made changes to the signature information at the bottom of my emails—you have to hunt to find it. Another thing they changed was the last two digits of my cell phone number. 

Due to the efforts of figuring this out very quickly and the attorney and both banks cooperating, we were able to foil their scheme to steal these funds. About five days after this started, the client received all of their proceeds back. 

That’s the good news. The bad news is that you’ve been receiving a lot of strange emails from me. I know this is an aggravation and inconvenience, and I want to apologize to you for that. I also want you to be aware that if you get a request for a Dropbox document or a business document, do not open it. Delete the email.

I know this is an aggravation and inconvenience, and I want to apologize to you for that.

If you pay attention to the email address, you’ll notice that the hacker is sending everything out under an Aol.com account, which I don’t even have. Also, my real cell phone number is (704) 252-1089. The false cell phone number the hacker gave out actually belongs to another person who’s been very nice and helpful in resolving this issue. 

We’ve changed the passwords of many of our accounts multiple time since this was discovered in order to prevent these hackers from gaining any access to our information. If you receive an email from me, check the address it’s coming from—mine is angie@teamatr.com. In addition to my authentic cell phone number listed above, you can also reach me at (704) 872-6443. 

We’re working with expert technical advisors about how to handle situations like this in the future, and both banks that were involved are doing the same. We’ve been very appreciative of their help. 

In the meantime, we’re looking at other options to increase security, including possibly changing our email address, so we will notify you if we do decide to change that. Thanks once again for your patience and understanding. 

If you have any more questions, give me a call or shoot me an email. We’d be glad to help you! 

Being a Competitive Buyer: Part 2

Today, we’re continuing our previous discussion on how best to compete as a buyer in our market.

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Today we’ll be covering the second half of our discussion on being a competitive buyer in today’s real estate market. 

Last time, we focused on how you as a buyer can influence a seller in taking your offer. Today, we’ll be further covering this topic. 

First of all, consider the amount of money you have available for an earnest money deposit. Earnest money will show the seller you are a serious, interested buyer. The more you put down, the better. Increasing the “normal” amount will boost your offer in the eyes of the seller.

Next, think about the due diligence fee, which is money to be paid up front. Understanding our North Carolina contracts will help you be aware as a buyer. 

Having professional help at every step will make a world of difference.

Due diligence money is another way to influence the seller. However, it becomes nonrefundable once the due diligence period expires.  

Also, don’t forget the North Carolina Offer to Purchase and Contract, which outlines the commitment you and the seller are both making within the transaction. 

Ultimately, though, the best way you can be competitive in the market is to work closely with a real estate professional who will be able to support you through the process all the way through closing. 

Having professional help at every step will make a world of difference.

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

4 Tips for Homebuyers in Today's Competitive Market

Today I have four tips to help you get a leg up in today’s competitive market.

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Things are jumping in the real estate market in our county, just like many areas of the country. It’s important that you understand what you need to do in order to be competitive as a buyer in order to purchase a home.

First, you need to make sure you are pre-qualified. Get with a lender and get that letter that proves that you are able to purchase the home you’re interested in. Every seller wants to see that letter. The lender will also cover closing costs, interest rates, and how long it’s going to take to close on the home you intend to purchase. 

Next, you need to know the top dollar that you’re willing to pay, in case you have to spend that amount in order to get the home that you want. Especially in a competitive market, you may find yourself in a multiple offer situation, so be prepared. When you speak with a lender, you’ll be able to determine a comfortable range from which you can make an offer.

Don’t start your offer so low that you offend the seller.

Additionally, don’t start so low in your offer that you offend the seller. It’s critical to the seller that you’re a cooperative buyer. Both you and the seller will have access to comparable homes in your area, so make sure that you understand the market and know what homes are actually selling for. 

Remember that if you’re asking for closing costs, that amount comes out of the seller’s pocket. It affects their net bottom line. With that in mind, you may need to increase the amount in your offer to cover those closing costs. That way, you have that taken care of and there’s less stress to the seller.

With these tips, you should be able to get a leg up against the competition when you put in an offer on the home of your dreams. If you have any further questions or you’re looking to buy or sell a home, please give me a call. I’d be happy to help!