How to evaluate a home buyer and avoid closing scams

A home sale involves important documents and money. Before acting on an offer or a message about closing, take time to verify who is involved and what you are being asked to do.

Know who is making the offer

Ask for the buyer’s legal name, contact details, and the name of the person who will coordinate the transaction. Read the agreement and confirm that the party described there matches your understanding.

If someone claims to be a licensed real estate professional, check that claim with the Maryland Real Estate Commission’s consumer resources. Do not treat a logo, badge, or impressive transaction count as verification by itself.

Read the written terms

Understand the proposed price, deposit, contingencies, closing date, and who pays the stated costs. Ask about language you do not understand. A qualified professional who represents your interests can help you review the agreement.

Be cautious about pressure to sign immediately, requests to leave documents blank, or explanations that conflict with the written terms. You should be able to ask questions and keep copies.

Verify payment instructions independently

Fraudulent emails can impersonate people involved in a closing. Before following wiring instructions or a last-minute change, call the intended recipient using a trusted number you established independently—not a number supplied in the suspicious message.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s closing-scam guidance explains how to verify closing instructions. Ask your title or settlement professional how they verify payment instructions.

Keep your records organized

• Save the offer, agreement, and amendments.
• Maintain independently verified contact details for the people involved.
• Review statements and instructions carefully before sending money or signing.
• Ask for an explanation of unexpected changes.

Take concerns seriously

If something does not match what you agreed to, pause and verify it before proceeding. If you suspect fraud, contact the appropriate financial institution and authorities promptly using independently obtained contact information.

Our team is available to explain who we are and how our property review and offer process works. A request for an offer does not require you to sign a purchase agreement.

Keep your comparison focused on verifiable details

A polished website is a starting point, not the whole decision. Know who you are communicating with, read the proposed agreement, and ask how the transaction will be handled. Verify important contact information independently when you need to confirm a person or organization.

Keep written records of the questions you ask and the answers you receive. If a proposed term does not match what you understood from a conversation, ask for clarification before moving ahead. Involve the people and qualified advisers you trust when an agreement or request is unfamiliar.

Use the first conversation to set expectations

Ask who will review the property, who will explain the offer, and who will coordinate the closing steps. Ask how changes to price, costs, or timing would be discussed. A clear process should make those responsibilities easier to understand.

You can meet our team, read about our process, and ask us about the details that matter to your home. Review feedback at its source and take the time you need to understand the option in front of you.