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Reasons Small Businesses Declare Bankruptcy

Toys R Us shocked millions of Americans by declaring bankruptcy and announcing that their locations in the United States would be closed. Some stores closed their doors immediately following the shocking announcement while others plan to close over the next two months.  Shoppers lining up to take advantage of store closing sales received an additional unpleasant surprise in the form of tangible evidence of another store’s, Claire’s, imminent closing. Entire sections of Claire’s products n[...]

How Common is Bankruptcy?

  Individual bankruptcy has long been viewed as a sign of defeat or financial failure, making those burdened by debt reluctant to file. As the news of large corporations like Toys R’ Us and Claire’s filing for bankruptcy relief dominates national headlines, average people are starting to reassess their decisions to forgo filing for chapter 7 or chapter 13 relief. The truth is that people file for bankruptcy on their own behalf or on behalf of their small business more often than many re[...]

Closing Day Walkthrough Tips

Once you have gotten a buyer through the difficult task of finding just the right home and guided him or her through the stressful process of qualifying for a loan, it might seem like the hard part is over. In reality, your work as a realtor will not end until after the last form is signed and the last check exchanged hands at closing. For that reason, preparing for closing day is one of the most import tasks of any real estate agent. Remembering these closing day walkthrough tips makes the big [...]

How Bitcoin May Impact Future Home Closings

Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrency have started changing the way some do business throughout Florida and the rest of the United States. Florida has created laws that clearly define what virtual currency is and has outlined the exact penalties for using cryptocurrency for money laundering. While these laws have started to create rules for the largely unregulated currency, as time goes on, realtors can expect to see an increase in real estate transactions that use cryptocurrency. In January[...]

Can Student Loans be Discharged in Bankruptcy?

  Student loan debt is a growing problem in the United States as the cost of higher education and difficulty obtaining employment with a reasonable salary combine to make life difficult for college graduates. As of 2018, American citizens owe over $1.4 trillion dollars in student debt, outpacing the nation’s multi-billion dollar credit card debt. Student loan debt can create a crippling burden for people of all ages, eventually leading to the need to consider bankruptcy as an option for f[...]

Preparing Your Buyer for Closing

Closing day is an important milestone in the life of a homebuyer. Regardless of whether a buyer is purchasing his or her first home or fourth, finalizing the transaction is an exciting day. While the homebuyer is eagerly anticipating becoming the owner of his or her dream property, the real estate agent is working hard to ensure that the process goes smoothly. As a realtor, one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your client is make sure that he or she is adequately prepared for [...]

Top Three Benefits of Filing for Bankruptcy Relief

Over the last three decades, approximately one in 10 adults in the United States filed for bankruptcy relief. Even though filers often feel as though filing for bankruptcy is a sign that they have failed to manage their money properly, the reality is that most filers are hardworking individuals who have recently suffered a significant financial setback. Job loss, divorce, and medical issues are the leading reasons cited for bankruptcy filing, with the average filer being an educated full-time wo[...]

Closing Day Surprises

One of the most exciting days in any real estate transaction is closing day. The day the sale is finalized is one of triumph for the buyer, seller, and their real estate agent. Unfortunately, even the most organized and thorough realtor can find themselves dealing with less than pleasant closing day surprises. No matter how hard you work to prepare yourself and your clients for the big day, it is not unusual to be blindsided by something out of your control at the last minute.  Being aware of a[...]

How Will Bankruptcy Affect My Tax Refund?

The 2018 tax filing season officially begins on January 29, 2018 and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) expects to receive approximately 155 million tax returns this year. Most individuals who are eligible to receive refunds via direct deposit can expect a turnaround time of 21 days with the first direct deposit date of the 2018 tax season expected to be February 12, 2018. For those who have recently filed bankruptcy or who are planning to file bankruptcy in the immediate future, your bankruptcy[...]

Ways to Minimize Pre-Closing Buyer’s Remorse

In spite of all the hard work and stress involved, being a realtor is a highly rewarding career. Helping people find and purchase their dream homes is a good feeling, especially if you are new to the real estate industry. However, there are ups and downs to the real estate industry, with buyer’s remorse being one of the most difficult problems that a real estate agent can encounter. With over half of the home buyers in the United States admitting to having feelings of regret over the house the[...]