Call us now · 424-283-5530Common real estate scams
Nine patterns that show up again and again. If what you are hearing matches one of these, slow down and check before you sign or send anything.
Criminals impersonate real estate agents by email or phone to trick you into wiring closing cost funds into a fraudulent account.
How to protect yourself: understand the closing process and verify any request for funds directly with your realtor before you pay.
Predatory lenders convince homeowners to refinance again and again, charging high fees each time while draining the equity. Seniors face an elevated risk, and aggressive unsolicited marketing is the usual red flag.
How to protect yourself: work only with lenders you already know and sought out yourself.
Scammers target financially distressed homeowners, claim a government affiliation and charge large upfront fees for promises to reduce payments. Per the FTC, victims lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
How to protect yourself: contact your lender directly. Legitimate help does not demand money upfront.
Fraudsters promise to purchase a home facing foreclosure and allow you to stay on as a renter with a buyback option. They extract the equity and disappear with the title.
How to protect yourself: consult your lender, a HUD counsellor or someone you trust before signing anything.
Unqualified inspectors hide real problems with the property so a sale can go through.
How to protect yourself: vet the inspector beforehand and be there in person to observe the inspection.
Approximately 5.2 million renters lost money to fake listings, and one third of them lost over $1,000.
How to protect yourself: always visit the property in person before you pay anything.
The Better Business Bureau received around 13,000 complaints in a single year, from inflated final bills to belongings held until you pay.
How to protect yourself: obtain licences, get multiple in-person quotes, and avoid large advance deposits.
Criminals transfer ownership out of your name without your consent.
How to protect yourself: monitor your property records, your bills and your credit score for suspicious activity.
A no strings attached loan switches to a higher rate with undisclosed fees at signing.
How to protect yourself: review every closing document, and use a secure portal to exchange them.
| How the math actually works | |
|---|---|
| Market value of your home | $400,000 |
| What the wholesaler offers you | $230,000 |
| What they sell your contract for | $250,000 |
| Their profit, from your pocket | $20,000 |
Red flags when talking with a homebuyer
Three signals that the person across the table is not the one actually buying your house.
Lack of proper documentation
Request proof of funds. A wholesaler cannot provide it, because they are not the ones purchasing the property.
Pressure to act
Urgency language such as “act now” or “lose the opportunity forever” is a signal of potential fraud, not a real deadline.
Too good to be true
A promise of a week-long turnaround paired with a 30 to 60 day contract period means the buyer needs that time to find an investor while your property stays tied up.
How to sell your house without getting pick-pocketed
SleeveUp Homes is a direct buyer. Our background in real estate and construction means we can assess costs accurately, which is how we make some of the highest investor offers in Southern California — with closings as quick as 7 days, no closing costs and no agent fees.
Fill in the form with the address and a few details about the property.
We come out once to inspect the home, at a time that works for you.
We talk through every number in the offer openly before you sign anything.
You choose the closing date and we work to your timeline.
Or call us now · 424-283-5530