Buying property in the U.S. as an Australian involves more than just browsing listings and signing contracts. Protecting yourself from risks like identity theft, financial fraud, and communication issues with agents or lenders is essential. These problems often occur due to unsafe online practices during the buying process.
This guide will walk you through the key steps to keep your property investment safe and secure.
Top 3 Digital Must-Haves for Safe Property Investment
If you plan to invest in a U.S. property, using the right tools and strategies to protect your investment is important. Here are four essential digital tools that can help you make your property investment safe and secure:
Activate Two-Factor Authentication for All Key Accounts
Password breaches are more common when the same login details are reused across different platforms, such as banking portals, property websites, or email accounts. However, two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security.
Enabling 2FA on all accounts connected to your property purchase is essential for secure transactions abroad. Some accounts that need protection include escrow portals, Australian and U.S. bank accounts, cloud storage, and email platforms.
You should use an authenticator app like Authy, Aegis, or Google Authenticator. These apps generate time-based one-time codes (TOTP) that do not depend on mobile networks or SMS, reducing the risk of interception.
SMS-based 2FA should be avoided, especially when travelling. SIM swapping and roaming issues can delay or expose your login process to vulnerabilities. To prevent being locked out of critical accounts, securely back up your authentication keys using an encrypted password manager.
Choose a Reliable Connectivity Setup
Buying property across borders often involves last-minute tasks like confirming wire transfers, reviewing contracts, or joining online notarisation sessions. Using public Wi-Fi during any of these activities can pose serious data risks.
Threats such as packet sniffing, session hijacking, or unsecured DNS queries can compromise sensitive information. Public Wi-Fi also tends to have slower speeds, making it unreliable for essential tasks.
If you’re an Australian buyer travelling during the property purchase process, it’s essential to have your mobile internet set up. Before leaving home, ensure you have an eSIM-compatible device and install a regional or global data plan.
For example, if you’re travelling through Bangkok or staying in Southeast Asia, an eSIM Thailand plan can provide quick and reliable connectivity without needing a physical SIM card.
To ensure your mobile internet setup is secure and efficient, follow these steps:
- Choose a reliable eSIM provider: Look for providers that offer multiple country profiles and allow seamless switching between U.S. and Australian coverage.
- Use a secure hotspot connection: Tether your phone’s internet connection to a secured device, such as a laptop, for sensitive tasks like online banking or document signing. Avoid accessing sensitive apps directly on a phone connected to unknown networks.
Following these steps secures your data and avoids the frustrations of poor data access.
Authenticate Documents With Trusted Digital Notary Services
You’ll often need notarised documents like power of attorney forms or closing disclosures when buying property in the U.S. from Australia. Sending paperwork across borders can be slow and sometimes risky.
A better solution is remote online notarization (RON), which allows you to verify and sign legal documents through a secure video call. To do this safely, use trusted platforms like Notarize or DocuSign Notary to verify your identity with government-issued IDs and create tamper-proof audit trails for added security.
Here are tips to stay secure during the process:
- Check with your U.S. closing agent or attorney: Confirm whether they accept digital notarisation. Some states still have restrictions.
- Avoid free PDF editors or emailing scanned documents: These methods are less secure and might not be the safest option for processing documents.
- Use a VPN for extra protection: You’ll benefit from added security, especially if you’re connecting from public Wi-Fi or mobile networks.
- Store notarised documents in encrypted cloud storage: Tresorit or Sync are good options for safe and easy access across time zones.
Remote notarisation can save time, but using secure platforms that meet legal standards is essential. Always confirm compliance before uploading sensitive documents.
Vital Tools for Safe, Remote Investing
Remote property deals move quickly, and mistakes can be costly. To avoid problems, preparing the right digital tools before starting is essential.
Make sure you have secure access and verified communication in place. Every tool should help reduce risks, not create new ones. A proper setup makes the process smoother and keeps your investment safe.
