Smart lock technology is changing the way realtors show your home. These Wi-Fi or Bluetooth enabled locks allow users to lock and unlock their door remotely, using a mobile app. As a homeowner, you can use a smart lock system to manage guest access, giving people digital power to unlock your door for a single entry or an extended period of time. Similar technology has been designed for the real estate industry. The Prempoint mobile app
iBuyers are investors who use technology to make a fast offer on your home, sight unseen, based on a proprietary valuation model. iBuyers, such as OfferPad, Opendoor, and Zillow Instant Offers, provide an alternate sales model for people who want to sell their home fast, sometimes in as little as three days. How it works iBuyers operate in select major markets. Sellers request a home offer, and then these investors use public information, seller-supplied information, and
Keep your bird in the hand while continuing to search for others in the bush. That’s what you get with a bump clause. In home sales, a bump or “kick out” clause lets sellers enter into a contract while continuing to seek out alternate buyers. If the sellers get a better deal, they can bypass the original buyer. Typically, bump clauses are used when the buyer has a home-sale contingency. Buyers sign a contract and submit
The IRS continues to focus their audit activities in key small business areas. The wise business owner is well advised to be able to defend the following five areas to keep the IRS at a comfortable distance: Business or hobby? Be ready to provide proof your business is truly a business and not a hobby. Those who fail in the eyes of the IRS can have their expense deductions severely limited, while still required to report
Smartphones and other technological advances enable banks to create products and services that dramatically change the way you bank. Here is a primer on three of the biggest banking trends and tips to protect your money: The traditional bank branch is going away. A recent report from consultants McKinsey & Company claims an average of three bank branches are closing every day. Many of the branches that remain open are either closing their lobby or drive-through
According to a recent announcement by the IRS, retirees might not be withholding enough for taxes this year. This is due to vast tax changes in 2018, making old withholding levels obsolete. The IRS is urging retirees to check their withholdings now and make adjustments if needed to avoid penalties. Could it be you? How do you know if you are withholding enough? While the IRS offers a new withholding calculator online, it’s designed for employees
With the recent frequency of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires, it’s worth reviewing ideas to ensure your business can survive if it faces its own disaster. Here are some steps you can take to create a disaster plan for your business:
The more things change the more they stay the same. This is especially true when it comes to reviewing your tax situation. Mark your calendar to review these essential items each year to ensure you are not missing something that could cause tax trouble when you file your tax return:
If you are the beneficiary of a trust, it may feel like you are at the mercy of the trustee. But depending on the type of trust, trust beneficiaries may have rights to ensure the trust is properly managed. A trust is a legal arrangement through which one person, called a “settlor” or “grantor,” gives assets to another person (or an institution, such as a bank or law firm), called a “trustee.” The trustee holds legal
A long-term care policyholder has successfully sued her insurance company for breach of contract after the company raised her premiums. At age 56, Margery Newman bought a long-term care insurance policy from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. She chose an option called “Reduced-Pay at 65” in which she paid higher premiums until she reached age 65, after which the premium would drop to half the original amount. The long-term care insurance contract set out the terms of the
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