PSA: Zoom Scam

A member recently contacted WVMLS to notify us of a scam.

How The Scam Is Initiated

An out of state lead will contact saying they found your information on the web and are looking to purchase real estate in Oregon. They will then ask to meet via Zoom. The link they send is actually Malware.

Other Versions of This Scam

• You may receive an email warning that your Zoom account will be deactivated and it will contain a malicious Zoom link.

• You may receive "Missed a meeting" or "Rejoin" emails which contain the malicious Zoom link.

Although Zoom is the most commonly utilized for this scam be aware that there have been reports of this scam also ran on platforms such as: SnapChat, WhatsApp, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meetings.

Always be vigilant when a lead initiates communication, verify first, and best practice is to host any remote meetups yourself instead of relying on potentially dangerous links from untrusted sources.

CubiCasa Feature Highlight: 3D Floor Plan Products

3D floor plan with materials and furniture

CubiCasa offers 3D Floor Plan Products. With just a standard 5-minute scan, you can obtain either a 3D Video Render or a 3D Floor Plan. All 3D products come with the Fixed Furniture add-on for the 2D floor plan generated from the scan, as well as a quicker turnaround time for your 2D floor plan (12 hours instead of 24 hours). These products also continue to enjoy a 20% discount for WVMLS Members!

Check out the 3D Video Render of the Barbie Dreamhouse below...

https://youtu.be/XpaT6odyMrA?si=HwJNSJgAXH11U8Gr

Or Read More about 3D Floor Plans.

January Statistics: Insights

Have you seen the stats that we recently posted for January?  At first glance, they look a little crazy – maybe even contradictory. 

• Closed sales down 35.9%?

• Months of inventory at 6.4 months, a huge jump of 47.1%

• New listings UP 80.4%

• DOM rose to 90 days from a summer low of <60?

What gives? Are we having a major market correction? Probably not, but let’s unpack why...

Statistics lag behind real-time activity. Closed sales reflect decisions made 30-60 days earlier. Activity in the last part of November and all of December drops precipitously every year across nearly all price points. This predictable “holiday lull” happens when only the most motivated buyers and sellers remain active from Thanksgiving thru New Years Day.

Here are some tips for seeing thru January statistics:

• Give year-over-year comparisons more weight than month to month figures

• Combine months of inventory + new listings with active inventory (which is actually down 4.7% over last year) to balance out the typical “let’s get it on the market after new New Year” surge.

• Remember that Days on Market is an extremely seasonal metric, and the big fall-off in closed sales is more about timing than the market itself

So what’s the real story?  Sales prices are softening slightly, which is decent news for buyers. Overall, our market seems to have corrected modestly in a direction favoring buyers. Now that the Holiday Effect is over, balance is reasserting itself in the valley, signaling better opportunities and stronger outcomes  for our Members and their clients. 

Here’s to a happy and prosperous New Year!