What are some fees associated with joining a real estate agency?
Q. I am in a process of obtaining a salesperson license and will soon be looking for a broker to join. What are some fees that I must pay in order to join them? I know they differ from agency to agency but can someone give me examples on what they might be? Thank you!
Asked by Sung C - Mon Jan 5 21:42:25 2009 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Interview several different agencies first, and see what each charges. Some fees all realtors in your area will probably have to pay: MLS fees and local board fees are pretty standard. But, depending on what commission cut they offer you and which one you decide to accept, there may or may not be additional fees for contracts, printing, fax service, signs, desk space, business cards, etc. Each company operates a little differently. But none are cheap. (ie. MY NRIS fees are $165 a Quarter and my CRS designation runs another $120 a year.)
Answered by mack - Mon Jan 5 21:57:53 2009

Can I write off legal fees associated with a builder lawsuit?
Q. In 2005 I had $20k+ in legal fees for a lawsuit with a builder who failed to complete a home. The home was to contain my office and workshop for my business. Can these expenses be deducted on an amended return? I can't seem to get a straight answer from a typical tax preparer and no reply from the IRS. Thanks.
Asked by C. K - Sun Apr 13 13:52:30 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Only to the extent that the legal fees were related to tax advice, the preparation of tax returns, or the production of taxable income. The link here appears to be tenuous at best. I would probably prepare an amended return but attach a detailed letter explaining the link to taxable income and asking for a FORMAL determination of the deductibility of the legal fees BEFORE the IRS processes any refund. If that goes in your favor -- even if the IRS ignores the letter and blindly issues the refund -- you have a very strong basis for rebutting any future claims from the IRS that it's not deductible. If it goes against you you'll then have to decide if it's worth the hassle and expense of taking it to the Tax Court.
Answered by Bostonian In MO - Sun Apr 13 14:06:02 2008

How to avoid paying overdraft fees/banks with lowest overdraft fees?
Q. Bank of america is very stealthy in charging overdraft fees. For instance, my account had a certain amount of money, I went and used my debit account for several different transactions. I log in this morning and found 6 negative transactions. Why? Because Bank of America cashed a check I wrote several days prior, that day but never bother to display this as being cashed in my online account, overdrawing it. So I now I owe $35 several times over for small charges as low as $.95! This is very deceptive. How can I avoid paying these ridiculous fees? I am not rich and cannot afford to have thousands sitting in my account. Any banks with lower fees and less deceptive practices than bank of america?
Asked by aCeRBic - Fri Aug 24 10:58:33 2007 - - 11 Answers - 0 Comments

A. It is YOUR responsibility to keep a good checkbook register which reflects how much money you really have. Since you wrote that check, you should have known to look for it on line before accepting that number as a true balance. It is not the bank's fault that whoever you sent that check to was slow depositing or cashing it. My mom just deposited a couple of checks she had misplaced from last April. If the people who wrote them thought as you do, they are in for a surprise. What I do to avoid such fees is attach a "line of credit" to my checking account which covers such overdrafts. It is credit and I must pay it back, but that cost is usually less than one overdraft fee and avoids the complications of other checks bouncing or adding… [cont.]
Answered by Jeff H - Fri Aug 24 11:22:12 2007