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Imagine you’re a homebuyer who has just wired tens of thousands of dollars for the down payment on a home. You think everything is OK until the title company tells you they never received your money and you discover the wiring instructions you received were fraudulent. You’ve likely sent your down payment directly to a cybercriminal. Unfortunately, this is a situation more and more buyers find themselves in as hackers and scammers — often from outside the U.S. — attempt to steal money changing hands in a real estate sale. Here’s how it works. A scammer will hack into the email address of someone associated with the real estate transaction, e.g., the real estate agent or title representative. The scammer …

When most people first think about buying a home, they are likely not considering the insurance implications. However, insurance plays an important role in the purchase process. Here are some facts about insurance you’ll want to be aware of as you buy a home. Homeowners Insurance It’s important to remember not all homes qualify for insurance. Because of a property’s location and claims history, affordable coverage may not be available for the house you’d like to buy. Before making a purchase, talk to an insurance professional about whether you’re able to secure adequate coverage at a price you can afford. Also make sure to talk about what is included under the policy, including whether there is enough coverage to rebuild …