The decisions that prospective buyers face during a home search carry real consequences, both personal and financial. Inventory shifts, home prices change and affordability and interest rates vary. The market can’t be fully condensed in numbers alone, and the clients we serve do not just need more information or more data. They need informed, prepared professionals who know how to apply it.

Clients rely on a Realtor’s honest leadership and guidance to keep them grounded when their home search gets stressful or unpredictable. Our judgment and experience bring prospective buyers the clarity that online platforms cannot, especially as they enter the current balancing market after several years of waiting.

Capable agents know that market knowledge matters most when they can turn it into useful financial terms fit for the buyer. That can look different for every path, from negotiating a lower purchase price to securing a credit toward closing costs or repairs that would otherwise come out of their pocket. Sometimes, the most helpful thing we can advise as professionals is to walk away from the deal.

Property information is easier to access and home transactions are moving faster than ever. Buyers can even complete much of the purchase process without meeting every person face to face. While this seems convenient, the technology and platforms that we use every day can open the door to real estate schemes that pose a threat not only to prospective buyers but also to us as property owners and industry professionals.

A home transaction already has many moving parts. Add large sums of money, the pressure of decision making and the urgency of securing a home before a deadline, and scammers have an ideal environment to take advantage of consumers.

Criminals may list vacant land using accurate property details but a fake owner. A routine document request may also come from an email impersonating a Realtor or property owner. Scammers know clients trust the professionals guiding them, which is why they imitate us online with the goal of gathering sensitive information.

These schemes are increasingly more sophisticated and can appear normal at first glance to the average consumer, but vigilant Realtors who know the ins and outs of a transaction question what seems fishy and ask for more verification when something does not add up. In cases of deed fraud, that extra layer of professional oversight can protect someone’s money and their ownership of the property itself.

One of my clients thought he was buying the vacant parcel next to his property for $375,000. Everything looked legitimate, until the day we were scheduled to close, when I and the title company uncovered impersonation fraud. We caught it in time, but the experience showed just how quickly a transaction can become a massive loss and the important role a professional can play in preventing it.

Arizona Realtors have seen and experienced these risks. It’s why we took the issue to the Capitol as an association and advocated for stronger deed fraud consequences that protect consumers and the industry.

Someone who knowingly records a forged or fraudulent claim against real property will now face a class 5 felony under SB 1479 instead of a misdemeanor. The law also adds identity checks that make fraudulent filings harder to perpetrate. By Jan. 1, 2027, county assessors must offer voluntary alerts when they receive notice of a change in property ownership or an owner’s mailing address. That early notice is key because deed fraud can quickly cause serious, costly damage.

Realtors can put these protections into practice for the benefit of their clients. By doing so, clients can learn more about their county’s own alert system and how to enroll to receive alerts about unexpected changes to their property.

The association backed other legislation this session that clients will feel directly. Property owners will now have a clearer process for addressing unlawful occupants, while buyers will receive a more complete understanding of HOA costs before closing.

Arizona Realtors serve buyers, sellers and property owners across Arizona communities. As president, helping nearly 52,000 Association members stay informed and giving them a shared voice so they can provide the best service possible is an honor and a responsibility that I am proud to carry.

Lisa Paffrath is the 2026 President of the Arizona Association of REALTORS®. She has more than 20 years of real estate experience and currently serves as the broker and owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Grand View North located in Flagstaff and Williams.