There are many companies across a wide array of industries that contribute to the economy in Texas. As the second-largest state by GDP in the US, Texas is one of the best locations for starting a company. If you have been considering new business opportunities in Texas, opening a liquor store is not at all a bad idea. There are many types of alcohol that regular supermarkets don’t sell, so liquor stores provide consumers with a better palette of options.

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have led to a downturn in American household debt. In fact, CNBC reports that prior to the pandemic, the percentage of active cardholders that had balances to pay month-to-month was at 58%. That number went down to 53%, showing that during the pandemic, more people became serious about settling debts.

The cautious financial habits Americans developed do not have to be reserved for times of crisis. When you incorporate good financial habits into your daily life, you keep yourself protected should another unexpected event hit. Below, we’ve listed a few personal finance lessons people can learn from the pandemic, and how they can apply it to their everyday lives.

Keep 3-6 months’ worth of expenses in an emergency fund

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rates during the start of the pandemic reached a peak 14.8%. The income deficiency unemployment leaves people with can limit their ability to pay for necessities. The debts they take on to cover these costs only grow their future expenses. To avoid digging yourself into a bigger financial hole, you need to set aside a fund for unexpected events.

Dedicate a specific amount of money for emergency spending. This is a topic covered by finance website Ask Money. In an article written by Sara Palmer, she recommends saving up three to six months’ worth of living expenses, depending on your circumstances. For instance, if you have loans to pay or if you’re in poor health and are anticipating medical expenses, you might need to save up more. Starting a personal relief fund ensures that you aren’t financially crippled in an unexpected event, and helps you avoid a toxic cycle of debt.

Debt repayment and saving strategies must go hand-in-hand

Jumping off the above point, the temptation to pay off all debts without leaving room for savings could push you further into the debt cycle. For example, say you poured all of your income into paying off your car loan. You manage to complete your payment, but you lose your job during the pandemic. Just as you settle that debt, your newfound lack of income forces you to use your credit card to pay for necessities.

You need to find the right balance between saving and settling debts. A good approach to follow is the 50/30/20 rule. Here, you allocate 50% of your income on necessities like food and utilities, 30% on wants like entertainment and travel, and 20% on financial goals like settling debt and saving. You can adjust these categories based on your cash flow and level of debt. For example, mortgages and car loans can fall under needs since they also count as utilities. Adjust your spending to make room for paying down your debt rather than letting it eat away at your savings.

Start a diversified investment portfolio

With the current unemployment rates threatening steady finances, individuals who only have a single income stream might find that their lifestyles are at risk. Lillian Appleby previously recommended seeking additional income sources in a diversified investment portfolio. To reduce investment risks, spread your funds across multiple types of assets. Since different investment classes show different rates of risk and return, assets that are high performing at a given time can compensate for assets generating low returns or losses.

For example, you can invest in both stocks and mutual funds. In case your stock goes down, the mutual fund can hedge your losses. The more diverse your investments, the safer your overall portfolio will be.

If you want to get your finances in order, don’t wait for another crisis to happen. Instead, protect yourself from the unexpected by finding financial habits that suit your circumstances. You can check our posts at NoHo Arts District for more financial advice.

Nothing makes a statement quite like a crisp, chic white shirt. Hailed as an icon in the fashion world, a great white shirt has been in the portfolio of the most fabulous fashionistas. What completes it, though, are some fine jewelry pieces.

For something as versatile as a classic white shirt, surprisingly, there are just a few jewelry pieces that would compliment it the best. From layered chains to long hoops, these jewelry pieces work perfectly with a white shirt. Fashionistas like the Hadid sisters and Kardashians can often be seen adorning such jewelry pieces and rocking the outfit. Because of its collar, you have the opportunity to layer your jewelry, which makes the overall look more exquisite. Having a set of jewelry pieces that will notch up your fashion game is always a good idea, especially for a classic white shirt.

In the words of Elizabeth Taylor, ‘Every woman must have a white shirt in her wardrobe’. Below are a few such jewelry pieces that will complement that shirt, as no other jewelry will. Have a look.       

1. Silver Hoops

Carolina Herrera once said, “the beauty of a white shirt is that it’s so versatile and becomes whatever you want it to be.” The iconic wardrobe staple has become even more popular this summer. It is also being displayed as a standout piece and offering several looks at the New York Fashion Week 2021 by famous designers like Ralph Lauren, Brandon Maxwell, Tory Burch, and more. There are endless ways for women to style a white shirt, starting from a beautiful pair of silver hoops. The cool-tone metal allows a hint of sparkle to be displayed for daytime glamour while adding a few colored stones to the picture can make it an eye-popping piece. Going for a pair of Tanzanite earrings in bluish-purple tones, encrusted to high-quality silver metal, will be a perfect blend of chic and contemporary fashion. To put together the entire outfit, make sure to stack a couple of sleeve rings in signet or swivel styles, along with a few layers of chains. With a beautiful red lip, this look is perfect for hitting the boardroom, walking the red carpet, sitting at a cafe, or visiting the supermarket – the choice is yours. 

2. Black Diamond Pendant

When in doubt about what you should wear, take a crisp white shirt and style it however you like. Well, it may sound easier than done, but there are endless ways to create surprising looks with your favorite wardrobe-essentials. If you appreciate minimal styles and adornments, stick to a pair of leather pants, a well-fitted shirt, and wear a delicate chain with enabled black stone to add an edge to your look. You may go with a single black diamond or a healing stone, Shungite, which is much more affordable. Shungite jewelry can be used daily for its various health benefits – it can protect against harmful EMFs and other negative energies, as well as balance your body’s chakras. The stone is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and detox properties, which can aid multiple skin diseases, bring relief to muscle aches, purify the body and mind from negative thoughts, and create an aura of peace around the wearer.

3. Gold Bangles

Undoubtedly, the yellow gold metal looks the most exquisite and polished against a crisp, white shirt. If you want to accessorize your wrists with the outfit, you can start with stackable gold bangles to add more shine and statement to your look. It will instantly make you look rich and chic and create a standout look for summer/spring. Wearing personalized bracelets with a small engraved disk, stone-encrusted motifs, or sparkly diamonds can add another glamour and luxury level to the outfit. Complete your attire with an impeccable pair of tailored trousers, some platforms, layered chains, and a classic pair of chunky gold hoops to pack a punch for the day. Later, you can switch to a heavier statement necklace with some diamond danglers to carry this daywear outfit into the night.  

4. Layered Chains

If you’re looking to amp up your white shirt in the quickest way possible, then nothing would do it like a few layers of chains. Try to add some texture, bold colors, shapes, character, and edginess by playing around with pendants, charms, metal tones, thickness, and lengths of the chains. This will amp up the ensemble into a red-carpet-worthy look, with less clutter and more bejeweled elements. In the case of longer chain lengths, you may also leave a few top buttons undone to create a plunging neckline and give space for adding more pieces. If you want to avoid the added weight, you can go with three-four delicate chains, starting with a tennis choker and leading to a longer rope-length chain with a drop pendant or colorful charm.

Property prices in certain parts of North Hollywood have increased by as much as 19% over the past year, according to Patch. Prices have risen every month since 2020, which may leave you wondering how you can afford to purchase a home in the region. But experts predict there could be good news coming for North Hollywood property hunters.

More properties for sale

One reason for the high property prices in North Hollywood at present is the lack of houses on the market. People have yearned for security over the past 18 months and moving home has been the last thing on many people’s minds. This has driven prices up substantially. For example, the median cost of starter homes in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale CA Metropolitan Division has gone up by 19% in a year. It’s a similar story in the Los Angeles Metro, where an increase of almost 18% has been seen. However, there are signs that homeowners are gaining confidence to sell up. A larger market of properties will halt the growing cost of homes and make them more affordable.

Low mortgage rates

If you’re wanting to buy a home in North Hollywood and need to borrow cash to complete your purchase, now’s the time to do it. Mortgage rates are currently at one of their lowest levels, so you’ll benefit from a lower monthly repayment fee. Recent rates for a 15-year mortgage have hovered around 2.18%, while rates on a 30-year mortgage typically come in at below 3%. A mortgage calculator will help you to determine exactly how much you’ll pay each month and it’s always worth checking exactly what type of North Hollywood property you can afford before proceeding further.

Falling prices of construction

The cost of construction materials has sharply risen over the past year, with the cost of lumber peaking at $1,500 in May of this year. This has pushed the price of building a home up. Supply issues and a shortage of workers has also meant the cost of constructing property in North Hollywood has gone up. But now that lumber prices have come crashing down to below $400 per thousand board feet, new constructions in the region, such as District NoHo, will be cheaper to build. In turn, this will make overall house prices lower.

Homes in North Hollywood have risen sharply in price recently. But this growth should soon falter as multiple factors take effect, meaning more people will be able to buy their dream home in the area.

Whether you want to update your kitchen or give your whole house a new look, hiring the help of an interior designer could help you through the entire process.

Working with an interior designer can allow you to create a room that is aesthetically pleasing and functional. They will come up with a detailed plan based on your specifications and budget, helping you to style your space with furniture, décor, and artwork that reflects your tastes and brings out the best in each room.

Interior designers such as Steffani Aarons have years of experience in understanding and developing client’s aspirations for their homes. They also have extensive knowledge regarding the variety of materials and products that are required, which they can often source at a discount, saving you both time and money.

In this article, we have put together some helpful tips to guide you through the process so you can collaborate to get the best results from your working relationship.

Agree On the Brief

Put together a brief so you are both clear on matters such as budget, duration of work, objectives, and goals. Feel free to add any non-negotiables or styles that you do not want in your home to avoid confusion.

Make sure you ask questions before hiring and ask for clarification on any points you are unsure of. It’s important that you are both on the same page on matters such as design, cost, and timings.

Collate Imagery and Samples

Describing your desired look is easier if you have something visual to support it. Any direction you can provide for your interior designer will be helpful in making sure you are both on the same page.

Magazines and furniture websites are great resources for inspiration on how to style your home. Fabric swatches, color palettes and mood  boards are all invaluable guides in the collaborative process as well.

Speak Your Mind

Always let your designer know if there is something you are not sure about or don’t like. The last thing you want is to regret the color scheme of your kitchen or the art decoration choices of your hired helper. Remember, you are dealing with a professional who is used to receiving feedback and constructive criticism, and will take your suggestions on board. The key is to raise your concerns as soon as possible, to avoid unnecessary costs and delays.

Trust the Process

It’s only natural to want to check up on the progress of your space and see that everything is looking as you would hope. Bear in mind that the finished article will often look very different when it is still a work in progress.

Remember that you have hired an expert and they know what they are doing. Have confidence in your interior designer to fulfill the brief you agreed on, trusting them to deliver according to your wishes.

By following these four tips you will ensure you are on your way to a successful working relationship and interior design project.

Podcasting has become one of the most popular ways to munch on content and get information on any topic you can think of. They’re incredibly popular and have also been around for quite some time (any Joe Rogan fans here?). The market is huge. Nowadays, you can create a podcast about absolutely anything, as long as there’s some kind of audience for it.

So if you love storytelling, baking or reading, you can create The Storytelling Show or the Bread Baking show, and no one can stop you. Of course, if you do start a podcast, you likely want people to listen to it, other than your friends and family, right?

There are many different ways you can make your podcast be seen, and more importantly, heard, but one of the best is social media because, as it turns out, podcast listeners are also avid social media users. Recent findings show that 82.4%  of podcast listeners spend more than seven hours a week listening to a podcast while 64% of them check their socials at least “several times a day”.  So, there is hope.

If you’ve never promoted anything before, let alone a podcast, this post will cover all the best tips and strategies for getting your podcast seen and downloaded as many times as possible, and maybe hopefully listed on Spotify or iTunes’ new heavy list.

Choose Your Platforms Wisely and Find Your Audience

While it might be tempting to join as many social media platforms as possible to promote your podcast, that’s rarely a smart move unless your brand happens to bathe in a lot of resources.

Your audience most likely uses two or more social media platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn. The key is picking socials that will work best for getting the word out about your show. Obviously, that’s no easy job. You need to consider all the factors and find out what is best suited for both your personality and show and as a beginner focusing all your efforts on a single platform is the answer.

Naturally, what you can manage will be different if you’ve got a support team who looks after your socials for you. But if it’s only you behind the scenes, there’s no point in doing a bunch of things poorly when you can do one thing really well.

Instagram Marketing

Picking Instagram as marketing means for your podcast can be a daunting feat. The entire platform is so visually-based that it can be challenging to see how your show fits into the framework, not to mention using Instagram as a way to market and grow your podcast.

Contrary to many new and untried beliefs, Instagram is not just about taking an artsy picture of your dinner or snapping a selfie – it’s so much more. Since everyone on earth spends the majority of their time on socials via mobile, Instagram is a great way to target podcast listeners.

●          Craft a Bio That is On-Brand

Once you’ve got your account up running, hop on over to your bio and let your creative juices flow. Your Instagram Bio is the first thing that Instagrammers see when they come to your feed. It simply helps them decide whether or not it’s worth their time to follow along, so don’t forget to link to your podcast.

●          Create Audio Story Highlights with Your Podcast

Instagram gives you even more opportunities to grab the attention of new listeners. Not only can they find your account on the explore page, but it also allows you to create magic story highlights right on your profile. This gives your followers the chance to catch up on what’s new with your show and look back over previous episodes that might pique their curiosity. Stories can be both audio and visual, which means you can even create an audiogram, a reel, or live and share them conveniently, making it a great tool to further market your podcast.

Facebook Marketing

Don’t go blind. The secret to successful Facebook marketing is a concrete strategy. First, make sense of what exactly you want to accomplish from promoting your podcast on this platform. What are your goals? Patreon donors? More subscribers or monthly listens?

Once you’ve sorted out your goals, you’re ready to create your podcast page and clip down the best segments for video soundbites. That’s right, instead of uploading your entire podcast and saying, “go for it”, you’ll want to highlight key pieces of your podcast with soundbites. The platform recommends keeping your video around 15 seconds – not minutes, but seconds! Up to 30 is ideal for a podcast snippet.

•            Create Images with Podcast Quotes

Take some key quotes from your latest shows and drag them into bright text-heavy images. You can come up with a promo post for each episode with an engaging image and a funny quote from the show. What makes them ideal for your podcast marketing is that it will leave the Facebook followers wanting to fill in the gap by listening to the show.

Content is King: Share What’s Valuable 

Ultimately, we believe that your passion and ambition for any project is what truly sets you apart from other podcasts that just “upload episodes” every week. Followers recognize that you truly care about something, and that’s what raises growth.

It’s that simple: If you care, they care. Beyond creating content that’s drawn directly from your episodes, you can also create content that is relevant but not excessively promotional. Remember, you have to create as many opportunities as possible for your followers to spend time on your podcast.

Once you have a few episodes under the belt, consider creating a blooper reel of edits and get edgy with the edits. Posting great stories in videos like this will help you build enjoyment and anticipation even before an episode comes out.

Hopefully, with these strategies, you are on track for creating the social campaigns of your podcasting dreams. So don’t waste any more time. If you’ve got great stories, a good voice and unique quests, start promoting your podcast on socials and making your brand the most entertaining corner of the internet there is. 

While the rest of your home may only receive attention from you or your spouse, the living room is often the first place you’ll bring new friends. It’s the most used area of the home where guests and family alike spend time for entertainment, parties, and leisure. If there’s any space in your humble abode that deserves an artistic touch of flare, it’s the living room. Here’s how to do it.

Wallpaper and Paint

It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to add a bit of artistic flair to your walls, as long as you paint or wallpaper a small section. Many homeowners will paint one wall a dynamic color, like yellow or sky blue, to add a bit of pop. Others will wallpaper halfway up their walls and hide the rough section with trim. If you want to use wallpaper instead of paint, it’s better to hire an expert.

Get Customized Sofas

Unique furniture can bring a room together, but none are more important than the sofa. While a piece of art is just that, a sofa can be both an elegant mixture of prints and a comfortable seating area at the same time. LivingCozy.com offers a wide variety of award-winning customized pieces that provide enough beauty and grandeur in the home to WOW anyone.

Install Lighting

Swapping out traditional lighting fixtures for a chandelier or a stained glass bulb will surely bring inspiration for your other art projects. A living room with higher ceilings can get away with more eclectic designs, but most modern homes should stick with immersion lighting.

For example, an LED light strip can add any color to your room with a remote that can also offer timer controls.

Hang Up Shelving

Being your own decorator, you can choose interesting or robust shelving units that can hold your favorite books, photos, or other niknaks. If you want to add a large library, install floor-to-ceiling shelves into the wall for better support and a traditional feel.

To save a bit of money and time decorating the back of your shelves, paint or wallpaper faux wood or brick on your walls.

Hang Artwork

Most of the time, the space above your sofa will be the best spot for colorful artwork, but if you have a fireplace mantel, you can lean pieces of art instead. There are thousands of artists online that can create artwork that suits any living room style. If you prefer to DIY your artwork, frame pages from vintage books, mount antique jewelry in shadow boxes, or create modern art.

Create a Photo Wall

Purchase a bunch of frames that are large enough to hold photographs and set up a photo wall across that displays your favorite friends and family members. You can give it a trendy turn by using artistic, gold, or bold frames of different shapes and sizes. Try enlarging a single photograph, creating a mural out of many tiny pictures, or frame a fancy homemade collage.

Find or Paint a Large Clock

With a clock kit, create your own clock that’s large enough to span an entire wall with contrasting colors. The clock’s body can either be placed on a traditional face or on the wall itself. For a faithful Alice in Wonderland experience, make the clock turn counter-clockwise and paint the numbers backward, where “12” is at the top, and “11” is in the “1” position.

Glue Fairy Homes

Whether you believe in fairies or are a fan of fantasy, adding and gluing tiny homes to your walls can provide depth to a featureless living room. There are plenty of dollhouses or pieces of garden decor that can be cut in half and painted. Fairy doors, windows, teacups, and stained glass birds are other fantastical options that can fit in almost any home or decor style.

Do you have a hankering to get involved in a day job that focuses on investing? If so, you’re like millions of other working adults who have given serious thought to earning a living in the exciting, lucrative field of stocks, bonds, short-term trading, market analysis, specialized websites, and cryptocurrency. In fact, there are dozens of ways people from all walks of life earn a full-time living in investment-related jobs working from home. In most cases, these startup careers don’t call for heavy upfront costs or long hours. However, the majority of people who take them on start out slowly, keep their current jobs, and eventually make the switch to the new career after several months. Here are three ways to begin creating your own career path in the field you love.

Become a Precious Metals Broker

It’s a fact that millions of consumers want to buy precious metals like gold and silver but have no idea where to find sellers. They often scope the internet looking for local dealers or brokers, but are often clueless about how to make their first buy. That’s where you come in. Working from home as a metals broker, you have to scout for clients, but if you live in a medium to large urban area, finding customers is relatively easy. The way you earn a profit is by selling for a fixed percentage or minimum dollar amount over the spot price of the metal. Startup costs can be as low as $1,000, which is what it costs to buy several ounces of silver. After you build up your capital, purchase one or more ounces of gold and expand your business.

Start a Day Trading Business

If you have a computer, an account with an online broker, and know how to do basic research, you can begin day trading right now. But a word of caution, that even if you are set on this niche as a career (and many people are), be sure to spend time getting up to speed on how to quickly place trade orders and get out of them just as fast. That’s because day trading calls for quick reactions. Plus, it helps if you choose just one or two companies to follow, spend about 20 hours on a simulator practicing, and begin slowly, perhaps only doing two or three trades per day at first. The good news is that you can review a day trading guide for beginners that will give you all the key concepts to get underway without missing any important points.

Build a Stock Picking Website

New investors are always looking for stock picks. Even though there are lots of websites out there that offer free picks, if you specialize in one area, like industrial companies or automotive stocks, you can find willing buyers for your information. The fastest way to begin is to write a half dozen in-depth reports about particular corporations in a niche and post them on your website. Later, you’ll be able to charge clients for tailor-made reports and monetize the site with ads and subscriptions.

Although most people have heard of personal injury claims, many are unaware that these cases actually include more than one type of accident.

Let’s take a closer look at five accidents that qualify as personal injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in the following circumstances, contact a qualified Lawyer to find out if you have a case.

1. Vehicular Accidents

While a car accident may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a vehicular accident, it applies when someone’s negligence with any kind of vehicle has resulted in an injury to you.

The term ‘vehicle’ includes trailers, boats, airplanes, busses, motorcycles, trains, mopeds, and scooters.

Pedestrians injured by any vehicle above also may have a personal injury case. Speak to an experienced personal injury lawyer to find out more.

2. Slip-and-Fall Cases

Another common personal injury case is a slip-and-fall claim – which involves injuries due to a fall. For instance, falling in a grocery store or mall because the floor is wet may give rise to a personal injury claim.

The owner of a property has a legal obligation to ensure that their premises are safe and hazard-free to avoid injuries.

However, because the exact extent of a landowner’s legal obligation varies according to state laws and the situation, the landowner is not always fully liable.

3. Animal Bites

In the United States, there are approximately 898 emergency room visits per day because of dog bites.

In most cases, a dog’s owner is financially responsible for bites or other injuries caused by the dog. It’s important to note, however, that these laws vary from state to state.

In some states, there is a “one bite” rule, which means that the owner is only responsible for damages caused by bites once they know that the dog has an aggression issue or has bitten someone before. In other states, the owner of the dog is liable for damages – even if the dog has no previous history of aggression.

Although the most common personal injury cases involve dog bites, other animal bites can also lead to personal injury claims.

4. Medical Malpractice

Many types of medical malpractices arise from negligence. They include medication mistakes, misdiagnosis, surgical errors, improper treatment, and other accidents on a physician’s part.

In the United States, approximately 250,000 people lose their lives due to medical accidents every year. However, surprisingly few people pursue personal injury claims.

Medical malpractice cases are notoriously complex and require the expertise of an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

5. Workplace Accidents

When an employee is injured while on the job, they are usually unable to file a personal injury lawsuit against their employer – but they may be entitled to compensation benefits.

However, if the employee does not have employee status or there are no benefits available, they will not be able to receive compensation. The laws vary from state to state.

Some states have compensation laws for workers that require employers to provide benefits if their employees are injured, such as medical treatment, disability wages, and a lump-sum payment. Contact a workers’ compensation attorney for more information.

Summer barbecues are fueled by propane, which raises the danger for grillers and everyone around them. This highly explosive and flammable material has been responsible for numerous accidents. Before turning on the grill, one should know the dangers of propane and follow basic safety tips.

Grills Can Cause Fires and Explosions

The National Fire Protection Association reports that almost 10,000 house fires each year are caused by grills. The overwhelming majority of these fires are caused by gas grills. Propane is every bit as dangerous as gasoline. Gas leaks and explosions can cause severe injuries including severe burns, the loss of fingers, a hand, an arm, or another limb, or shrapnel injuries. In some cases, propane explosions can be deadly.

Propane fires and explosions have a number of causes. They include:

• Faulty gas regulators that can break the tube that carries the propane to the grill
• A leak in the hose that transports the gas
• A defective propane tank that could break or suffer a puncture
• Malfunctioning pressure relief valves
• Faulty ignitors

Many injured grillers file product liability lawsuits against the company that made the grill and the propane tank manufacturers. Manufacturers are liable when they produce a defective product that injures someone. A personal injury lawyer could investigate and help prove that the grill itself was defective, creating a legal right to financial compensation.

Propane equipment manufacturers and companies that make grills are not the only ones who can be held liable for injuries, however. Sometimes, the authorized sellers of propane and propane cylinders fail to comply with their obligations to inspect equipment and make sure tanks are properly filled. In these types of cases, the propane dealer may be at fault for causing injuries or deaths.

Safety Tips for Grillers

In the meantime, users need to focus on safety first when lighting their propane grills. Paying extra close attention to the condition of propane cylinders and hoses can reduce the risk of explosions. Another important safety tip is for grillers to make sure that the grill is completely turned off after use. This includes checking the controls to ensure that they are off and the cylinder to see that it is closed. Gas leaks can lead to buildup the next time the grill is activated, and this could cause a deadly explosion.

Additionally, grill owners should be sure to check the ignitor to ensure it is producing a consistent spark while in use. If the ignitor is failing, propane can build up, raising the risk of an explosion when the ignitor begins functioning.

Grill owners also need to focus extra attention on the propane cylinder and how it is stored. It should be kept outside and away from any ignition sources. It should also be stored in an upright position.

Finally, one of the most important safety tools that a grill owner can have is a leak detection solution. This can spot even small gas leaks before they become a major problem. One should use this safety device every time before lighting a propane grill. This is an inexpensive safety tool that can make a big difference in minimizing the risk of a fire or explosion.

In November 2020, the Justice Department and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) settled a federal lawsuit in which the government alleged realtors were engaging in anticompetitive behavior. The lawsuit was filed by a class of buyers who alleged price-fixing. The federal government involved itself after the lawsuit was filed. The settlement extracted several commitments from NAR, for example, forcing buyers’ agents to disclose their commission to buyers and forbidding them from stating that the seller pays their commission.

The Basis for the Lawsuit

The Justice Department argued that realtors engaged in price-fixing with buyers’ and sellers’ agents. Buyers’ and sellers’ agents receive a commission from the sales price in a typical transaction. The buyers’ agent is supposed to represent the buyers’ interests; however, the structure of the real estate market often distorts this.

Buyers’ agent commissions were obscured from buyers. The agents would tell their clients (the buyers) that their commission is paid for by the seller. However, the buyer could not see the buyers’ agent commission rate – only the seller can. The effect of this obscurity is that buyers’ agents can be incentivized by sellers who offer higher commission rates to “close” the deal. Moreover, buyers’ agents do not promote homes that offer lower commission rates. The effect is to encourage collusion between buyers’ and sellers’ agents and the seller to close deals.

Finally, buyers’ agents deceived their clients because they represent that the buyer doesn’t pay for their commission – the seller does. However, the seller usually increases the price to pay for the higher buyers’ agent commission rate. The net effect is to pass on all the commissions to the buyer who cannot see the buyers’ agent rate. Therefore, the price increases and the buyer can’t tell how much is allocated to the commission rates versus the house itself.

Contours of the Settlement

The settlement forbids realtors from stating that sellers pay for buyers’ agent commissions. It also forces realtors to disclose to buyers the buyers’ agent commission rate. The lawsuit’s goal is to ensure that all parties have all the same information, which should promote fairer and cheaper rates and home prices. This can greatly reduce the stress associated for homebuyers looking to relocate. Previously, the hidden rates obscured the cost of the home and passed along those costs to buyers. Now, buyers should see their agents’ rates; therefore, they may forgo a buyers’ agent or find a new one.

In cases where an architect performs services beyond design, such as evaluations and observations during construction, the owner may choose to hold the architect liable if defects result in injuries. Under these circumstances, architects may be held liable even if there aren’t any omissions or errors in their designs.

Architects Performing Duties After Initial Designs

Oftentimes, owners may hire architects to provide additional services throughout the construction of certain buildings. These duties may consist of occasional observation of the work to confirm whether the building is undergoing construction based on contract details, such as the architect’s drawings.

While this can help make sure that a project is successfully completed with the help of the architect, it could lead to owners finding the architect liable for certain construction defects.

Holding the Architect Liable for Defects and Damages

Even if the architect’s specifications and designs contain no errors or omissions, owners may attempt to hold both the contractor and architect liable for defects discovered. The argument for this is that even if the contractor was behind the defect, the architect was responsible for observing the project and should have been able to identify and address the defect.

Whether the architect can actually be held liable for defects depends on their contract with the project owner. Many contracts may include details that require the architect to periodically observe the work, there are also often limitations regarding the architect’s responsibility. For example, some contracts may contain language stating that the architect doesn’t have any direct control over or responsibility for construction procedures and the failure to perform work based on contract details.

If that language is included in a contract, the architect may reason that they bear no responsibility for defects or any resulting damages, such as serious injuries or deaths.

When the Courts Decide That an Architect Shares Liability

Although some courts may support the architect’s argument against being held liable based on certain contractual language, most courts may still find the architect responsible for certain defects.

For instance, the courts might determine that the architect is still liable for defects due to the architect’s failure to “inspect reasonably.” When an architect is charged with observing construction sites, courts could argue in certain cases that the defects in question are so obvious that even minimal observation could have made the observer aware of them. This would mean that the architect failed to reasonably observe construction work, leading to unaddressed but preventable defects. Even if the architect observes defects, it is their responsibility to report these defects to the owner.

Generally, whether an architect is found liable for defects and damages will depend on a few key factors. The first will be whether the owner charged the architect with periodic or full-time observation and evaluation, as courts will hold architects to higher standards for periodic reasonable observations. Additionally, courts will consider any exculpatory language included in contracts and determine if it absolves the architect of certain responsibilities. Performance is also key, as architects need to perform the observation and evaluation services as agreed.

If an architect fails to perform agreed-upon duties that lead to construction defects and subsequent injuries, they could ultimately share liability with contractors.

In an Illinois divorce, retained earnings from a non-marital business can be considered marital property if a spouse is in control of how to disburse the earnings. Assets that are considered marital property are divided between spouses during a divorce. Non-marital property is assigned to the spouse who owns it. Retained earnings are one of the issues that arise when a divorce involves business ownership.

What Are Retained Earnings?

Retained earnings are the income available to be distributed as dividends to shareholders, pay wages, salaries, and bonuses, use for other corporate purposes, and reinvestment into the business, to help the company grow and compete.

Determining the Marital Property Status of Retained Earnings

Several cases have helped establish basic legal guidelines on when retained earnings from a non-marital business are marital property or corporate assets. Primarily, the level of discretion of the shareholder spouse is a significant determining factor.

In a divorce case involving a minority shareholder without much influence, the retained earnings are unlikely to be considered marital property. Retained earnings in Illinois may be regarded as marital if the spouse has control of the decision on whether to leave the earnings in the business, even if the corporation is non-marital property of the spouse.

Illinois courts often evaluate the nature and extent of the control of the shareholder spouse as well as the extent to which the retained earnings and profits factor into the corporation’s value and are used to fund the corporation’s business.

In one case, the husband owned 33% of the shares of a corporation. His father owned 47.6% of the shares, and his sister owned the remaining shares. The court held that in this case, the retained earnings were non-marital because the husband could not distribute retained earnings or declare dividends on his own.

A different case involved a spouse who was the sole owner of the non-marital business. He could disburse profits and withhold or declare dividends. In addition, the corporation did not hold the retained earnings to pay expenses. The court concluded that the retained earnings were part of the spouse’s income and were a marital asset.

In another case, the husband owned half of a company’s stock and was the chairman of the board. The officers had an account that they could use to take personal advances from the company. The account was secured by the corporation’s retained earnings. The court concluded that the retained earnings did not constitute the husband’s income and were, therefore, a non-marital asset.

Business ownership affects divorce proceedings in several ways. Divorce lawyers give people more information to make the proceedings more understandable and easier.