Real estate investors are used to thinking about location, property values, and market timing. But now there’s a new threat quietly draining millions from portfolios across the country: cybersecurity mistakes.
From phishing scams that trick you into wiring funds to the wrong account, to ransomware attacks locking down smart building systems—cybercrime is no longer a far-off tech problem. It’s here. And it’s targeting your investments.
The $87,000 Click
Take Dana Marshall, a Florida investor who lost $87,000 in a single day after clicking on what appeared to be a routine invoice email. It wasn’t. Hackers had spoofed her property manager’s identity and intercepted her communications.
“Everything looked normal,” Dana says. “Same layout, same email chain. But the wiring info was fake—and the money was gone.”
She’s not alone. A recent IBM report found the average cost of a cyberattack in the real estate sector hit $4.3 million in 2024—and that number’s climbing.
Why Real Estate Is a Prime Target
Real estate is rich with sensitive data:
- Wiring instructions
- Lease and title documents
- Personal tenant info
- Smart home access credentials
And unlike banks or tech firms, many investors and small firms don’t have cybersecurity protocols in place.
“Cybercriminals love real estate because the money moves fast and the defenses are weak,” says Jake R. Holmes, a cybersecurity expert who consults with commercial brokers and property managers.
“One fake email and your entire closing deal is toast.”
5 Common Cybersecurity Mistakes Costing Investors Big
- 🔓 Using the same password across multiple logins
- 📨 Trusting email for wiring instructions—without verification
- 🖥️ Storing sensitive files on unencrypted or shared devices
- 📡 Using public Wi-Fi to access banking or property data
- ❌ Skipping 2FA (two-factor authentication) because it’s “too annoying”
Most of these can be fixed with tools that cost less than a coffee per month.
Don’t Be the Next Victim
Smart investors insure their properties, hire CPAs, and study markets. But many are leaving their digital doors wide open—and hackers know it.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re handling deals over email, cloud platforms, or e-signatures, it’s time to treat cybersecurity like your next property upgrade. It’s cheaper to prevent a breach than recover from one.
Trealtorr’s Take:
Let’s be honest: real estate folks aren’t tech geeks. But in 2025, ignoring cybersecurity is like buying a luxury penthouse… and leaving the front door unlocked. You’ve worked hard for your properties—protect them like they’re worth it.