Weekend Homes & Shoreline Living in Connecticut - with David Mayhew

  How Wire Fraud Is Affecting the Real Estate Industry Buying or selling a home is often the largest financial transaction most people ever make — and it’s increasingly under attack by sophisticated online criminals. Wire fraud has become one of the most serious and fast-growing threats in real estate, costing buyers, sellers, and agents millions of dollars each year. The Bottom Line  I know. It's unusual to start an article with the bottom line, but this subject is too important. The bottom line (according to me) is:  if the recipient will accept a personal check or bank check send one. Avoid sending a wire if at all possible. Here's why:  What Is Wire Fraud in Real Estate? Wire fraud in real estate typically happens when a criminal impersonates a trusted party — such as a real estate agent, title company, or attorney — to trick someone into sending money to a fraudulent bank account. These scams often target the buyer’s down payment or closing funds, but can ...

Should You Wait for a Lower Interest Rate? One of the most common questions I hear from buyers is, “Should I wait for interest rates to go down before I buy?” It’s a fair question — after all, everyone wants the best possible deal. But here’s the perspective I always share: You’re buying a house — but you only “rent” your interest rate. What does that mean? When you buy a home, you’re locking in your property, your neighborhood, your lifestyle — the place you’ll live and make memories. But your mortgage rate? That’s temporary. You can always refinance when rates go lower. Waiting for the “perfect” rate can backfire. While you wait, prices may continue to rise, and you could lose out on the right home in the right location. And if rates don’t drop — or worse, if they go up — you’ll have missed your chance to lock in before costs climb higher. Here’s the simple truth: If you find a home you love and it fits your budget today, that’s the time to move forward. You can change y...