The Math Says One Thing. Your Brain May Say Another.

There are few financial accomplishments that sound quite as satisfying as “I paid off my house.”

No mortgage. No monthly principal and interest payment. No bank with a lien on your home. You own it.

That sounds pretty great. But is paying off your mortgage actually a good financial decision? As with most things involving money, the answer is annoyingly unsatisfying - it depends.

And, perhaps more importantly, the mathematically correct answer and the emotionally correct answer may not be the same.

As your business grows, there is a good chance your role will evolve as well. Many successful real estate agents eventually hire an administrative assistant, transaction coordinator, or marketing professional. Others build full teams with multiple employees.

In residential transactions involving common interest communities, the resale certificate is central to both disclosure and risk allocation. A practical question that continues to arise is whether a listing agent satisfies the statutory requirement by simply uploading the resale certificate to the MLS. When analyzed under Virginia Code Title 55.1, Chapter 23.1, the answer is likely no.

The FinCEN residential real estate reporting rule has been one of the most significant regulatory developments affecting real estate professionals in recent years. A recent federal court ruling out of the Eastern District of Texas has now introduced meaningful uncertainty, leaving agents asking a practical question - what happens next?

5 Surprising Facts About FinCEN's New Real Estate Rule

As a real estate professional, you know that keeping up with new regulations is a constant part of the job. From local ordinances to federal mandates, the landscape is always shifting. However, a new federal rule is on the horizon that represents one of the most significant compliance changes in recent memory.

Understanding the Statute of Frauds & Contract Requirements

One question that comes up from time to time in real estate transactions is whether a buyer can keep their identity confidential. Maybe it’s a high-profile individual, an investor who doesn’t want to tip their hand in a competitive market, or simply someone who values privacy. The instinct is often to ask: Can I withhold my name from the purchase contract and stay anonymous until closing?

The short answer: No. At least not if you want a valid, enforceable contract. Here’s why.

What do skunks, alligators, peacocks, and capuchin monkeys all have in common, besides the obvious fact that they are all animals? All are examples of true-life emotional support animals or ESAs. Network news and social media abound with examples of the extreme. Back in 2015, a Wisconsin McDonald’s restaurant received some unwanted publicity after ejecting a woman and her emotional support kangaroo from the restaurant.   In 2018, Frontier Airlines removed a passenger from her flight after she insisted on keeping her 11-week-old emotional support squirrel with her, delaying the flight by 2 hours.  And more recently, in September 2023, a man unsuccessfully attempted to bring his emotional support alligator into Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for a pregame meet-and-greet with Phillies players. Many other newsworthy instances of issues around ESAs revolve specifically around housing, which opens up a whole new can of worms. Access to fast food, airplane flights, and fun leisure activities like professional baseball games don’t trigger the Fair Housing Act, which would apply to cases involving ESAs and housing.