I continue to receive many questions about the local housing market — how the year has been and what I expect to happen next year. Given the different reports, it can be confusing trying to decipher what’s happening. On a national basis, the housing market has improved with just a few exceptions. Sales transactions are […]
It’s taken years, but now I hear it. I hear the phrase so clearly. I can pick it out of conversations. It usually begins with “I have to … .” My own daughter now reminds me that I choose do something. It’s really true. We have choices. As a matter of fact, everything we do […]
Why should women choose a career in commercial real estate or a related field? This is a traditionally male-dominated industry where the existence of women can too easily be seen as unique. However, commission careers for professional women are growing quickly where few or none were expected before. And there are indications the commercial real […]
Change in business, when it’s positive, normally means business growth. As the economy eases its way out of recession, many businesses are starting to grow again. Most people focus only on the rosy aspects of business growth: new customers, more sales and an easing of cash flow constraints. Yet, there also are challenges: time pressure, […]
The typical business has a number of skilled team members, many with decent attitudes. These individuals come to work, perform their jobs to a satisfactory level or above and contribute to the work environment in mostly positive ways. But what about those team members who, even though they have the skills to do their job, […]
If you get a pension buyout offer from your long-time employer, you might be more than a little anxious. Does that lump sum constitute a good deal for you or the corporation or organization providing retirement income? With General Motors and Ford offering lump sum payments to tens of thousands of former workers, pension buyouts […]
When an employer advances or reimburses an employee for business expenses, appropriate documentation must support the deduction as a business expense. Otherwise, these types of payments are considered additional wages paid to the employee subject to payroll and income taxes. Under Internal Revenue Service regulations, amounts paid under an “accountable plan” are excluded from employee […]
Susie’s always late for meetings. You don’t like it, and you’ve signaled your displeasure with frowns and even blurting out “Late again?” But nothing is working. To change bad behavior in their employees, business owners and managers must confront them and ask for good behavior. Have you heard this catch phrase? If you don’t confront, […]
Hiring your first employee or building your business team opens whole new areas for compliance in employment and labor law. Laws are far reaching and cover a broad range of issues: preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace, poster requirements, wage and hour laws, workers’ compensation insurance and more. For small business owners short on […]
As the seasons change, it’s no longer summer, but not yet winter. Fall can be a time when exercise routines can waiver. It becomes too cold to continue with many of the summer activities you enjoy. You might even get a little blue realizing summer has come to an end and your favorite activities are […]