Online Safety Tips for REALTORS®
Louisiana Realtors • October 23, 2018
Technology is changing the way we do just about everything in our lives, especially from a business perspective. The convenience of the connectivity that the internet provides makes our professional performance more efficient, agile, and thorough; but it’s not without its risks. With more and more prospecting, organization, and transactional operations moving in a digital direction, it is very important to be aware of online dangers, and how to avoid them. Here are a few tips to keep you and your clients safe.
Protect Your Wireless Router
One of the simplest and most common points of entry to your data is your office’s wireless router. Be sure to change the router’s password from the factory’s default one. This will help to prevent someone from gaining access to your network, installing malicious software, tracking your key strokes, and stealing sensitive information.
Be Aware of Phishing Attempts
Not all digital attacks occur from behind the scenes of a firewall. Many times information can be accessed, or access can be granted without a single line of code. Phishing is the practice of sending what appears to be a legitimate email from a reputable company (like a bank), asking for information like passwords, account numbers, etc. When you respond to these requests or click on any attached links, you are providing all of the information and access needed to compromise your data and/or your network. If you suspect that an email may not be a legitimate inquiry, contact the company’s main support line before you respond.
Mobile Devices Are Also Susceptible
More work is being done on mobile devices than ever before. The capabilities of phones and tablets have made it easier to work while on the go. However, the information that is shared, sent, and stored on these devices can also be compromised without the proper precautions. Be sure to encrypt all of your inbound and outbound data. This prevents anyone but the intended recipient from being able to use the information. This can be easily be done on iPhone and Android devices. It’s also a good idea to avoid using unsecured wireless networks while you are out and about.
Week three of the Regular Session kept real estate issues in the conversation, even as lawmakers continued to focus heavily on workforce, tax and insurance policy. On the property tax front, measures to reshape assessments and exemptions, including proposals for a new blight rehabilitation exemption and additional relief for seniors, remain parked in the House Ways and Means Committee as stakeholders work through fiscal and local government concerns. These bills matter because they will influence long-term carrying costs, redevelopment incentives and how tax burdens are shared across residential and commercial property. Homestead related legislation, including parish level authority to increase the exemption amount, is also in the queue, signaling that the broader structure of Louisiana’s homestead system is officially on the table, not just the dollar figure. For homeowners and buyers, this debate goes directly to affordability. For local governments, it raises revenue stability and service delivery questions. There also has been movement on several identical pieces of legislation that would instruct parish assessors to develop a process for homeowners to permanently register for the homestead exemption for the duration that they own and live on the property. We are actively tracking legislation that will directly shape how investor activity and non-traditional transactions are recognized and regulated in Louisiana’s real estate market. This includes HB 468 by Troy Hebert , a key component of the Louisiana REALTORS® legislative package that targets the wholesale of residential real estate, which was heard in the House Commerce Committee on Monday. The bill is currently positioned for a floor vote early next week. As drafted, HB 468 represents a major step in the right direction for consumer protection in Louisiana, advancing needed guardrails through potential disclosure, registration, and practice standards that could redefine how assignment contracts and “off-market” transactions intersect with licensed brokerage activity. In parallel, HB 292 by Delisha Boyd passed the House on final reading, 86-3, and is on its way to the Senate. Together, these measures represent a coordinated policy effort to bring greater structure and transparency to emerging transaction models, while preserving the integrity of the traditional brokerage framework. Finally, the broader policy backdrop remains important: the Governor continues to push income tax changes and cost of living relief, while business and industry groups are prioritizing insurance, workforce and energy — each a key driver of long run housing demand and investment. As these debates evolve, we’ll keep you updated on what moves, what stalls and what it all means for your clients, your pipeline and private property rights across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Tax Questions & Updates for 2026 Webinar Recording Now Available
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide that explains the concept of home staging, offers DIY staging tips and missteps and shares the latest NAR member sentiment on how staging can help buyers better visualize the property as their future home and potentially net sellers a higher price. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Staging Your House for a Sale Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate Are You Ready to Invest in Real Estate? Thinking of Selling? 7 Factors to Consider How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for the next consumer guide, which discusses home mortgage options that allow buyers to fold in renovation costs.
