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Security | Local Home Buyers USA
Security is a product — not a checkbox.

Security

In real estate, the highest-cost attacks aren’t exotic exploits — they’re identity fraud, phishing, and wire redirection. That’s why our security program is built around the threats that actually impact sellers, with layered controls, verification-first workflows, and continuous improvement.

What this page is: a transparent view of how we reduce risk, protect information, and help sellers stay safe.
What it isn’t: a consumer “security platform” with live threat dashboards or account monitoring. We keep this page educational and policy-driven by design — because publishing operational specifics can increase attack surface.

This page complements our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. No system is 100% immune to risk, but we design for resilience and continuous improvement.

Defense-in-depth Clear reporting path Fraud prevention
Our posture

Practical security that matches real-world risk

We prioritize defenses against the threats that cause real damage in this space: impersonation, phishing, deed fraud signals, and payment diversion. We also build for reliability — access control, auditability, and operational resiliency.

What “World-Class” Means Here

We don’t do security theatre. We define scope, publish principles, and build defenses that match the threats that matter most in real estate.

World-class security, built for real estate

In many industries, “security pages” are generic legal text. In real estate, that’s not enough — because fraud happens in human workflows: emails, documents, signatures, and payment instructions.

  • Fraud-first design — defenses against phishing, impersonation, deed fraud signals, and payment diversion
  • Verification by default — “trust, then verify” using known contact methods
  • Least privilege + minimization — restrict access and reduce exposure

How we compare to “tech giant” security centers

A security center at a company like Google or Microsoft can include live service status dashboards, active account alerts, and published security research — built for global consumer platforms with millions of authenticated accounts.

  • Our Security Center is educational + workflow-focused for the scams that harm sellers most.
  • The interactive tools run locally in your browser — they do not monitor accounts.
  • We share principles, but avoid publishing sensitive implementation details.

Bottom line: we aim to be world-class for the threats that matter in this industry, and honest about what we do and do not provide.

Our security commitments

We commit to operating by these principles:

  • Reduce risk, not just document it — controls and human-proof workflows matter.
  • Build guardrails for real estate fraud — identity, impersonation, and payment diversion are priority risks.
  • Minimize exposure — collect and retain data with intention, not habit.
  • Respond decisively — triage, contain, remediate, and prevent recurrence.
  • Stay honest about scope — no security theatre, no overpromises.
Trust boundary

Security reduces risk — it does not eliminate it

This page provides security information and educational tools. It does not create a guarantee that unauthorized access will never occur. No online service can eliminate all risk. Our goal is to reduce the likelihood and impact of incidents through layered safeguards and continuous improvement.

Security controls we use

A defense-in-depth approach: layered controls that reduce the chance of an incident and reduce impact if something slips through. For safety, we do not publish detailed configurations.

Access control

We restrict internal access to sensitive data based on job function (least privilege) and review access as roles change.

  • Role-based access and separation of duties
  • Strong authentication practices and access hygiene
  • Access review and revocation workflows

Data handling

We minimize the data we collect, store it only as long as needed for legitimate purposes, and apply safeguards throughout the lifecycle.

  • Data minimization and retention discipline
  • Secure processing and storage safeguards
  • Vendor + integration governance

Transport security and platform hardening

We use secure transport protections (encryption in transit) and apply secure configuration practices to reduce attack surface. We continuously improve based on internal reviews, vendor guidance, and emerging threats.

We intentionally avoid listing vendor-specific implementations, headers, or configurations on this page.

Anti-fraud protections

Real estate attracts fraud. We focus on identity verification, document integrity, and payment safety — and we teach sellers the “stop and verify” rule.

Phishing & impersonation

Fraudsters may pretend to be a company rep, title company, or buyer to redirect you or extract sensitive info.

  • Verify the sender and domain before clicking links
  • Treat urgent “act now” requests as suspicious
  • Confirm sensitive requests by calling a known number

Wire and payment redirection

One of the highest-risk scenarios is fraudulent instructions to redirect funds. Always validate payment instructions using a trusted channel.

  • Never trust last-minute “updated wire instructions” via email alone
  • Confirm instructions by calling the title company using a known number
  • Ask about verification steps before sending funds

Identity verification and document integrity

We may use verification steps to confirm identity, ownership, and authorization — especially when fraud indicators are present. This can include matching information, requesting supporting documentation, and validating with third-party sources where appropriate.

We request only what’s needed to protect legitimate sellers and support compliant closings.

Incident response

If something goes wrong, we act fast: triage, containment, remediation, and prevention of recurrence — with transparency consistent with law and obligations.

Triage

We quickly determine scope, impact, and severity to prioritize response.

Containment

We isolate the issue, revoke access if necessary, and prevent further exposure.

Remediation

We fix root causes and strengthen controls to reduce recurrence.

Notification and transparency

If we determine a security incident materially affects personal information, we will notify impacted individuals consistent with applicable law and our obligations. We also use lessons learned to improve.

Security Center

Interactive checklist + safety score. This runs locally in your browser (client-side) to help sellers follow safe practices.

Seller checklist

Use this before you share info or send funds

These steps reduce the most common fraud risks. Toggle what you’ve verified and we’ll generate a personalized safety summary.

I verified the person/company using a known phone number Not a number from an email, text, or “urgent” message.
I confirmed the sender’s domain and link destination Looks correct and matches official communications.
I used strong passwords + avoided sharing one-time codes Never share verification codes, even with “support.”
I will verify any wire instructions by phone before sending funds Especially for last-minute changes or “urgent” requests.
I’m comfortable with the documents I’m signing I reviewed key terms and asked questions where needed.

This Security Center is educational. It doesn’t replace advice from your title company, attorney, or financial institution.

Safety score
What it means

    Personalized safety summary

    Generated from your toggles above (local + client-side).

    Fraud Risk Simulator

    A realistic “what-if” tool. Flip common scenarios and watch how risk changes. Runs locally in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.

    Stop & verify

    Most real estate fraud succeeds because it creates urgency

    If someone pressures you to act fast — especially around identity, documents, or payment instructions — pause. Verify using a trusted channel and a known number.

    Scenario inputs

    This models common risk factors. It’s not a guarantee — it’s a practical decision aid designed for real estate transactions.

    “Updated wire instructions” arrived last-minute by email/text High-risk pattern used in wire diversion attacks.
    The sender domain/number is unfamiliar or slightly “off” Look for subtle misspellings, new numbers, or mismatched names.
    The message contains urgency, threats, or pressure “Today only”, “close in 30 minutes”, “legal action if you don’t…”
    You were asked to send a code, ID photo, or login link One-time codes should never be shared. Ever.
    You verified everything via a known number (trusted channel) This dramatically reduces risk.

    Tip: use this simulator to train VAs and acquisitions reps on what “red flags” look like.

    Risk output

    Summary + recommended next steps. If risk is elevated, the best move is to pause and verify.

    Fraud risk level
    Why

      Recommended actions (copy-ready)

      Rule

      The one rule that prevents most losses

      If payment instructions change, do not proceed until you verify by calling the title company using a known number. Email alone is not verification.

      Report a security concern

      If you think you’ve received a suspicious message, saw a fake profile, or believe your information may be at risk, report it promptly.

      What to include in your report

      Please include (when safe): screenshots, sender info, URLs, phone numbers used, and a short description of what happened. Do not send sensitive account credentials or one-time codes.

      • Include the channel (email/text/phone/website) and timeline
      • Attach evidence (screenshots/headers) when possible
      • Do not send passwords or verification codes

      Use official contact methods published on our main website. Avoid replying to suspicious messages directly.

      Security FAQs

      Fast clarity on common questions.

      Do you store payment or banking information?
      We design our processes to minimize sensitive data collection. Transaction funds and closing instructions are typically handled through established, verified third-party closing processes. Always verify instructions using known, trusted contact details.
      What should I do if I get a suspicious email or text?
      Don’t click links or share codes. Independently contact us using official contact details from our website. If possible, keep screenshots and sender info so we can investigate.
      Do you have a bug bounty program?
      If you believe you found a security vulnerability, please report it responsibly with details to help reproduce it. Do not publicly disclose sensitive vulnerabilities before we have a chance to investigate and remediate.