Buying a home in Hawaii? Learn how Hawaii homebuyers can protect themselves from wire fraud, title fraud, rising HOA fees, special assessments, and risky assumable mortgages.
One wrong wire transfer could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Maggie Marcelli, Assistant Vice President at Title Guaranty, to break down some of the biggest risks and opportunities facing Hawaii homebuyers, sellers, veterans, military families, and real estate professionals.
They discuss why some Hawaii condo transactions are falling out of escrow, how rising HOA fees and special assessments can affect mortgage qualification, why buyers should never skip a home inspection, and when an assumable mortgage may or may not actually be a good deal.
Then the conversation turns to one of the biggest risks in real estate today: title and wire fraud.
Maggie explains how title fraud can happen, how Title Guaranty takes additional steps to verify absentee owners, and what buyers should do before sending any money during a real estate transaction.
She also shares a real-world story of a cash condo buyer who wired more than $500,000 using fraudulent wiring instructions that appeared to come directly from the escrow officer. The funds were intercepted by a hacker.
In another attempted fraud case, Maggie caught the warning signs before a buyer sent $72,000 to a fraudulent bank account.
These stories highlight one critical rule for every Hawaii homebuyer: always independently verify wiring instructions before sending money.
In This Episode
✅ Why Hawaii condo escrows are being canceled
✅ Rising HOA fees, insurance costs, and special assessments
✅ How condo fees can impact mortgage qualification
✅ Home inspections and J-1 repair negotiations
✅ Why you should not skip an inspection on new construction
✅ VA loans and assumable mortgage opportunities
✅ When a low-rate assumable mortgage may not be worth it
✅ What escrow actually does in a Hawaii real estate transaction
✅ Owner’s title insurance vs. lender’s title insurance
✅ How title fraud can happen
✅ How Hawaii homebuyers can protect themselves from wire fraud
✅ A real-world $500,000+ wire fraud story
✅ How a $72,000 wire fraud attempt was caught before the money was sent
✅ Scams homeowners may receive after closing
✅ Why relationships matter more than transactions
✅ The Pitch networking event for Hawaii REALTORS®
Connect with Maggie Marcelli
Maggie Marcelli
Assistant Vice President | Title Guaranty
📱 Instagram: @tg_escrow_kapolei
📧 maggie.marcelli@tghawaii.com
Chapters
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:58 Maggie’s Background and Hawaii Move
02:43 Proxy Marriage and Chef Husband
05:08 COVID Notary Hustle
07:28 Market Shifts and Condo Cancellations
10:57 Repairs, Inspections, and Negotiation
16:00 Rates, Education, and Assumable Loans
27:01 Assistant VP Role and Kapolei Branch
28:44 From USAA to Title Guaranty Leadership
32:31 Career Breakthroughs
33:48 Relationships Over Transactions
36:17 Helping Buyers and Sellers
38:26 The Right Way to Buy
43:09 Golden Rule Mindset
43:59 Title and Escrow Explained
48:47 Title Fraud Red Flags
50:49 Wire Fraud Horror Stories
57:45 Scams After Closing
01:00:35 The Pitch Taco Tuesday
01:05:39 Final Thanks and Wrap
If you're buying or selling a home in Hawaii, using a VA loan, serving military homebuyers, investing in a Hawaii condo, or working in real estate, this episode is packed with practical lessons that could help you avoid costly mistakes.
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🔔 Subscribe to In Search of Excellence: Island Style for more conversations about Hawaii real estate, VA home loans, mortgage strategies, financial literacy, military life, leadership, and building long-term wealth.
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