Articles

Could your business be facing a lawsuit over Internet search results?

Any business would jump at the chance to dictate the order of organic Internet search results that include its name. But that’s not so easy. Still, a judge in Florida recently told a well-known, international company that it must find a way to do exactly that. And in the vast world of the web, it’s a cautionary tale for businesses of all sizes. The case involves a Gainesville, Fla., company, Uber Promotions, which has a regional

Reasons to incorporate your business

Here are some reasons you may want to consider incorporating your growing business. Protect your personal assets from creditors. When you operate your business within a corporation, creditors are often limited to corporate assets to satisfy a debt. Your home, savings, and retirement accounts are no longer fair game. Provide a personal liability firewall. The corporate form can help protect you against claims made by others for injuries or losses arising from actions of your business.

4 tips to landing your dream home in a seller’s market

Here are some suggestions to landing your dream home in our current real estate market. Be nimble, be flexible. Try to investigate new listings quickly – within hours of their first posting, if possible. If you’re interested in a house but an inspection finds a few flaws, you may have to be flexible about accepting a house with a few quirks or in need of some repairs. Make a strong offer. A seller’s market isn’t a

Keep your audit fears in check

Getting audited by the IRS is no fun. However, your chances of being audited are probably lower than you think. A look at the latest IRS statistics for 2016 reveals some interesting and reassuring facts about the risk of an IRS audit. Audits are becoming less common. The number of individual tax returns the IRS audited fell to a 12-year low last year, to just above 1 million. Audits have been steeply declining over the last

Tax deadlines for June

June 15 Second quarterly installment 2017 individual estimated tax due Second quarterly installment 2017 estimated tax for calendar-year corporations due Individual tax filing deadline for U.S. citizens living or serving in the military overseas

Realtors survey: First-time home-buying is down

In reviewing 35 years of survey data on home buyers and sellers, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced five notable real estate trends. The organization’s survey, called Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, dates back to 1981 and is the longest-running series of national housing data evaluating the demographics, preferences, motivations, plans and experiences of home buyers and sellers. Here are the key takeaways over the past 3 ½ decades:

Financing for energy improvement loans now easier to obtain

Residential properties encumbered with a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) obligation are now eligible for FHA-insured mortgage financing. The change applies both to new purchases and refinancing, under a guidance issued in September by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). PACE is a popular program that provides an alternative way to finance energy improvements to properties, such as energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy upgrades. The

Clean-up not disclosed; Seller sued for fraud years later

A recent case highlights the importance of disclosing any environmental contamination and clean-up that took place on your property when you sell it, even if you sell it “as is.” A New Jersey appeals court decided that a seller’s failure to disclose such information could expose him to liability for fraud many years after the sale. In the case, the seller had owned the property since 1983 and defaulted on the mortgage in 1987. The seller’s

The surprising effect of Airbnb income on mortgage refinancing

Renting out your house when you’re out of town or offering up an extra room while your son or daughter is away at college sounds like a great way to make some extra cash. And services like Airbnb have made the process rather simple. But it might not be quite so simple when you go to refinance your home. Recently, some big banks are raising an eyebrow because making money off your home can be construed

Everyone knows someone who missed the boat

This year’s April 18 tax deadline has come and gone, but not everyone has filed a 2016 tax return. While many have filed an extension and intend on getting their return in order, too many taxpayers who should file, simply do not. Common culprits are older, retired parents and young adults who are new to tax filing requirements. Here are some of the reasons why it will help them to file a tax return. Get withholdings.

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