Back in August 2020, the Aspen Institute analyzed U.S. Census data to calculate that without “swift intervention” there might be an estimated 30 to 40 million people in America at risk for eviction, with 29 to 43 percent of renter households at risk of eviction by the end of 2020.
Here we are in early 2021, and some “swift intervention” has arrived in the form of an extension of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nationwide ban on “certain residential evictions.” The CDC order, which defines a temporary halt to residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, went into effect on Sept. 4 and was to end on Dec. 31, 2020. It’s now in effect until March 31.
Aside from any federal rules, many states have put their own eviction bans in place. The NOLO legal information website has a list of state eviction protections. Princeton University’s Eviction Lab monitors weekly reports through its Eviction Tracking System with nearly real-time updates on states’ moratoria. For more updates, check with a legal aid organization where you live.
All good news but cold comfort if you’re one of the people who has already been evicted. Although it’s never a good time to leave your place of residence, to have to do so during a global pandemic adds an extra layer of fear and uncertainty. Aside from health worries, how do you get an apartment with an eviction? What happens to your credit? Will you be able to rent again?
What are the reasons for an eviction?
The following are some reasons you might face eviction:
Behind in rent
Won’t leave the property after the lease is up
Violated the terms of the lease
Engaged in illegal activity
Damaged the property
What does an eviction mean?
Landlords have to follow a series of legal steps before they can put you out. They can’t just change the locks while you’re not home.
Usually, but depending on local laws, the landlord has 30 days to notify you in writing that they’re terminating your lease. They must attend a hearing and make a case for why you, the renter, need to leave. If the landlord wins the case, and you don’t leave or make changes — by paying the back rent, for example — they will then contact law enforcement and schedule an eviction date. A sheriff or marshal will give you notice that law enforcement will arrive a few days hence to escort you off the premises.
You can, of course, defend yourself against an eviction if you believe it’s wrongful — a landlord’s illegal activity, the property is uninhabitable, the landlord is retaliating against you for demanding repairs.
Will eviction affect your credit?
An eviction shows up on your legal record, which future landlords will be able to access, and remains there for seven years. The eviction will not show up on your credit report, but it may affect your credit in these ways:
Your landlord may have sent unpaid rent information to a collections agency
If your landlord sues you in court for unpaid rent and wins, you’ll have a civil judgment against you. That civil judgment will show up on your credit history.
You can petition the court to expunge the eviction from your legal record. You can then contact the credit reporting agencies to remove the civil judgment from your credit report. Getting rid of the collections agency from your credit report will be more difficult.
If unpaid rent was the reason for your eviction, do all you can to make amends with your previous landlord or the collections agency. That includes paying back what you owe.
What steps can you take to rent again?
You may have trouble finding apartments that accept evictions. For one thing, many property owners require a background check, but it’s possible to find some private owners who ask only for reference letters or apartments with eviction forgiveness. So, check upfront about how they will vet you.
While you’re looking for an apartment that accepts evictions, spend time rebuilding your own personal portfolio to show future landlords you’re worth any perceived risk:
1. Rebuild your credit
If you were delinquent in rent and got backed up on other bills, you’ll have dings on your credit report. You may want to engage a credit counselor to help in consolidating debt and creating a debt-management plan. (Check the Federal Trade Commission website for information on credit counselors.)
Ultimately, you’ll need to make a commitment — and stick to it — to pay all bills on time every time. Reduce your credit card balances and don’t apply for new credit cards. Keep in mind, rebuilding your credit will take time.
2. Write a letter of credit
You’ve got to convince a new landlord that you’re creditworthy. Be transparent and honest about your credit history and let a prospective landlord know that you’ve learned from past mistakes and will move forward responsibly.
You can do this by phone or by writing a letter in which you explain your circumstances. Offer details about how those have changed, e.g. you now have a higher paying job and define how you’re working to rebuild your credit. Back up your claims with pay stubs and reference letters.
3. Have references ready
Perhaps you have previous rental experience in which you were never late on payments. Get that landlord to write a letter attesting to that. You can also get employers, business partners, family and friends to write letters on your behalf.
4. Sweeten the deal
If you can afford it, offer to pay upfront more than what might be asked of you. Perhaps you can swing first and last month’s rent. Or, offer to pay a higher security deposit. Have a co-signer ready to help back your lease agreement. This makes you less of a risk.
You can find apartments that accept evictions
You want to make a good impression when you meet a prospective landlord to make your case. Dress neatly, stay calm, be honest and focus on your positive attributes. Although it might seem like it, an eviction is not the end of the world. Stay positive and spend time researching and preparing for how to get an apartment with an eviction.
Stacey Freed is an award-winning writer and former senior editor for Remodeling, a trade publication focused on the business of the remodeling and construction industry. As an independent writer, she continues to write about the building, design, architecture and housing industries. Her work has appeared in Better Homes and Gardens and USA Today special interest publications, Realtor magazine, This Old House, Professional Builder and online at AARP, Forbes.com, House Logic and Sweeten.com among other places.
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.
At the start of 2022, I panicked after realizing I was in my early thirties with only about $4,000 saved for retirement. Once the panic subsided, my solution was to use side hustles to fast-track my retirement savings. Within two years, I was able to use my freelance and 9-to-5 income to grow my retirement savings by over $100,000. Here are some strategies I used to achieve my goal.
1. Draft a retirement plan
Over the years, I hadn’t put much thought into when I wanted to retire or how much I would need. I got started by reading online articles and using a retirement calculator.
Drafting a retirement plan was a cathartic process — it challenged me to think about what lifestyle I want during retirement and how much that could cost. I landed around the $2 million mark, which was initially a shock to my nervous system because I only had around $4,000 saved. I arrived at this number by inputting my ideal retirement age, life expectancy, monthly contribution, monthly budget and other variables into a retirement calculator.
The retirement calculator also helped me break down how much I needed to save monthly to reach my lofty goal.
2. Create an investing strategy
Before hunting for freelance gigs, I wanted to make sure I had an investing strategy in place. It’s easy to spend freelance money before it hits your checking account; I would know because I’ve done it one too many times.
“As a side hustler, your go-to accounts for saving for retirement are the IRA, the Roth IRA, the SEP IRA and a solo 401(k),” says Alleson Tate, a certified financial planner and founder of Avere Wealth Management in Atlanta. These types of accounts can help maximize retirement and health care savings.
To hit my monthly savings goal, I planned to divide my side hustle income into five pots: my emergency savings fund within a high-yield savings account, my 401(k), an IRA, a health savings account and a standard brokerage account. I also planned to max out my allowable contributions to my 401(k), HSA and IRA as my income increased.
3. Budget
Eventually, I found multiple consistent freelance writing gigs by focusing on securing high-paying clients who would provide consistent work over an agreed period of time. I was a regular contributor for some online platforms and also had private clients to whom I provided articles. I used job boards, cold emails and tapped my network. Although most of my freelance income was consistent, some contracts didn’t get renewed. This meant I had to have a solid budget in place and revisit it regularly to stay on top of my saving goals.
Tate suggests using a 50/30/20 budgeting system to manage your side hustle income, which NerdWallet also recommends for primary income. With this method, 50% of take-home income goes to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings, debt and investments.
“Everyone’s percentages need to be adjusted according to their own lifestyle and financial priorities,” Tate says. “But that would be a really great starting place.”
I was frequently adjusting my budget allocations. Some months, I was investing too much and didn’t have enough in my emergency fund, while other times, I wasn’t leaving enough for bills. I went overboard with the leisure and self-care bucket a few times, and during months when I had less side income, I had to reduce my savings.
4. Plan for taxes
During my first year of aggressive side hustling, I wanted the instant gratification of seeing my retirement savings grow. I decided to prioritize saving and waited to pay Uncle Sam in one lump sum during tax season. Before making that decision, I should have read the IRS’ fine print about self-employment taxes. Reading that could’ve saved me the penalty I had to pay that year.
The self-employment tax rate is 15.3% for 2023 and 2024. To avoid an underpayment penalty, you’ll generally need to owe under $1,000 in taxes after minusing any withholdings and refundable tax credits. Or, you would need to have paid withholding and estimated tax of either 90% of taxes from the current year or 100% of taxes from the previous year. You can do this by paying the IRS estimated quarterly taxes or by withholding enough taxes from your W2 income.
To help calculate this, Abraham Ziadeh, a CPA and owner of a certified public accounting firm in Pembroke Pines, Florida, suggests using bookkeeping software, an accountant or a CPA.
I chose the W2 route and worked with a financial advisor to calculate how much I need to withhold to avoid another penalty.
I also decided to learn about ways to reduce my self-employment taxes. One strategy my tax advisor suggested was to change my business structure from a single member LLC to an S corporation. If you have consistent income and satisfy the requirements, incorporating your business could help you save on taxes, especially if you choose an S corporation structure, Ziadeh says.
Leveraging a self-employed retirement account was another way to reduce my tax bill. I went with a SEP IRA, since you can contribute a higher amount than you can with a Roth. Tate says SEP IRAs are her preferred accounts since they reduce your taxable income and have a relatively high contribution limit.
That said, it’s important to choose an account that works best for your financial situation.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
East Sister Rock Island, a miniature private island and dream getaway that doubles as a thriving vacation rental, is on the market for $16,499,999, offering one lucky buyer the rare opportunity to own a secluded retreat in the Florida Keys.
This 1.4-acre island is a mere quarter-mile from Marathon, Florida, and is accessible only by boat or helicopter, providing a level of privacy and exclusivity unmatched by mainland properties.
The island’s history is as unique as its location.
Built in the 1970s, before the implementation of stricter environmental laws, the island was created for a New Jersey gastroenterologist, Klaus Meckler.
Its structure, a concrete home resting on 75 pillars drilled into coral rock and elevated on a 15-foot high plateau, showcases both engineering ingenuity and a deep respect for the surrounding natural beauty.
The 2,304-square-foot main residence, complemented by a detached guest house, features three bedrooms and two bathrooms — and has been operating as a popular vacation rental in recent years, with stellar reviews from travelers.
The property’s eco-friendly design includes a solar and wind power system, a 15,000-gallon freshwater cistern, and its own desalination plant. This off-grid setup ensures a self-sufficient living experience that aligns with modern sustainability values.
Notable for its luxurious amenities, East Sister Rock Island boasts an outdoor pool, a helicopter pad, and a dock, catering to various modes of transportation and leisure activities.
The island’s location on a coral reef, surrounded by protective rocks, offers stunning 360-degree ocean views and a serene environment, perfect for relaxation and outdoor entertainment.
In addition to its private use, the island has also been operating successfully as a vacation rental.
Related: Tour a $20M mansion in Key Biscayne, Florida with its own private yacht dock
Guests have consistently rated their stays as exceptional, highlighting the island’s tranquility, convenience, and unique experience of seclusion close to necessary amenities.
Reviews praise the comfort of the property and its amazing location, noting its easy access to nearby attractions and the fantastic fishing opportunities it offers.
This property was nothing short of amazing! My wife and I had dreamed of doing a trip like this since we’ve been married, due to the season we were in when we tied the knot a honeymoon just wasn’t in the cards. 9 years later we arrived on East Sister Rock, and enjoyed this incredible home with our family. The home was well kept, the bathrooms were gorgeous, and the home is nothing short of captivating.
One VRBO review reads
Currently listed for $16.5 million with Ember Duran of The Agency Miami, East Sister Rock Island is a testament to luxurious, sustainable living. Its blend of privacy, eco-conscious design, and modern amenities makes it a one-of-a-kind property in the heart of the Florida Keys.
Whether as a private retreat or a high-end vacation rental, this island promises a unique and unforgettable experience in one of the most beautiful locations in the United States, and we’re looking forward to seeing who its lucky future owners will be — and how much East Sister Rock Island will end up selling for.
Until then, we’ll add it to our vision boards and daydream about one day owning our own slice of paradise in the azure waters of the Florida Keys.
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Mar-a-Lago neighboring mansion undergoing a massive renovation eyes $40 million sale
Filling room and wall spaces in your home with decor can take time, energy, and money. Luckily, Amazon can help inspire your vision while staying within budget, thanks to its most recent drop of new home decor, all under $50.
Amazon’s home hub is brimming with new decor arrivals, with the latest launch including a variety of pieces that are perfect for your bedroom, bathroom, and living room including washable rugs, candle warmers, duvet covers, and more. Not only are these all stylish and versatile, but they start at just $12.
10 Best New Home Decor Arrivals at Amazon
Vevor Three-Tier Rolling Utility Cart, $17 with coupon (was $20)
GlowSol Moroccan Washable Area Rug, from $15
Seenlast Candle Warmer Lamp, $38 with coupon (was $53)
Nlzfk Cosmetic Storage Box, $49 (was $75)
Comfort Spaces Three-Piece Duvet Cover Set, from $27 with coupon (was $36)
Purzen Metal Framed Teardrop Mirror, $43 with coupon (was $51)
Janxin Shampoo and Conditioner Dispenser Set, $20
Bobomomo Rustic Table Lamp, $35
Boailydi Acrylic Necklace Holder, $26
Jacquotha Four-Piece Checkered Hand Towel Set, from $19 (was $23)
Vevor Three-Tier Rolling Utility Cart
Decor that doubles as storage can be hard to come by, but this tiered rolling cart checks both the boxes. The cart is made with a lightweight yet durable plastic that can reliably hold your kitchen dishes and accessories, bathroom toiletries and towels, or store your living room picture frames and books. The multifunctional piece comes with four built-in wheels on the bottom of the cart that can be fixed and locked in place or easily roll around as needed. Plus, it’s easy to clean by just wiping down with a rag and cleaner. Choose from two colors and three or four tiers while it’s on sale with an additional discount.
GlowSol Moroccan Washable Area Rug
One of the easiest ways to add more color or texture to your room is with a rug. This Moroccan area rug features neutral hues and an oriental pattern that can instantly brighten up your entryway, dining room, or guest room. The low pile, non-slip, and non-shedding design and features also ensure you can keep it in the rooms that get the most foot traffic without it wearing down. And if the rug ever suffers from any accidental spills or pet stains, you can simply add it to the washer for a quick clean. The rug is available in six sizes, ranging from 2 by 3 feet to 9 by 12 feet.
Seenlast Candle Warmer Lamp
Get ready to cozy up this winter while watching your favorite movie or with a book in hand next to this nifty candle warmer that doubles as a lamp. Just place a candle under the lamp bulb to enjoy the delicious aroma as the wax melts. Since the candle warmer requires no fire, you don’t have to worry about any flames, smoke, or soot that can linger throughout your home. You can choose the lamp’s brightness and heat levels with four built-in settings; the brighter the lamp, the faster the candle melts. The stand’s height is also adjustable so that you can use candles that are up to in inches tall. Place it on your nightstand, dresser, or coffee table, and enjoy different candle scents throughout the year.
Keep scrolling to see even more recent home decor finds that arrived this month at Amazon, or browse the home hub to see the full list.
In a chilly winter, it’s not uncommon for travelers to flock to warm-weather destinations. For example, December was 2022’s most popular month for Canadian tourists to visit Hawaii, according to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s 2022 Annual Visitor Research Report.
It’s a similar story with Caribbean cruises. According to a spokesperson at Holland America, November through March are the most popular months for the cruise line. Clearly, winter beach vacations are appealing, and some beachfront destinations are especially popular this season — seeing higher interest in 2023 than in 2022.
Chase Travel, an online site that lets customers book trips using cash or points from Chase travel credit cards, analyzed its proprietary data to find the top destinations this winter. The data included Chase Travel bookings for air or lodging between Nov. 17, 2023, and Jan. 7, 2024, and found places with the biggest year-over-year increase from last year. Then, Chase looked at beachfront destinations. Here are the top four.
Noord, Aruba (105% YoY growth)
Noord, which means “north” in Dutch, covers the northern portion of Aruba and includes tourist epicenter Palm Beach, the Bubali Bird Sanctuary and Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf. History and culture buffs might visit the California Lighthouse and Alto Vista Chapel.
Luxury-minded travelers might stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, which is among the fanciest of the Marriott brands. The property just completed an extensive renovation and upgraded all 320 rooms and suites.
Miami Beach, Florida (80% YoY growth)
Miami Beach is hardly an underrated beach city, but the appeal goes beyond its white, sandy beaches and turquoise waters.
In April, Miami earned the title of Bon Appetit’s 2023 Food City of the Year. This winter, Miami is celebrating Miami Arts, Culture and Heritage Months. The event, which runs through Jan. 31, 2024, includes discount tickets to shows, free park and museum tours, and limited-run performances such as “Cuba Under the Stars,” an outdoor musical theater show at Bayfront Park.
Roatan, Honduras (76% YoY growth)
Roatan is part of a cluster of island archipelagos located off the northern coast of Honduras, surrounded by the largest barrier reef system in the Northern Hemisphere (and second in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef).
Perhaps one big reason why it’s spiking in popularity: Time Magazine placed Roatan on its World’s Greatest Places 2023 list, citing its appeal to backpackers and nature lovers.
But it’s appealing to the luxury traveler, too. Among the region’s newest additions is the Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa, which opened in October 2023 as a five-star, beachfront resort. For a hefty $50 daily resort fee, amenities include coffee, an evening social hour, sunblock, plus snorkel and kayak rentals. And like all Kimpton properties, there’s no pet fee.
West Palm Beach, Florida (57% YoY growth)
West Palm Beach got even more accessible in 2023 when Brightline, a privately funded passenger rail service, began offering high-speed rail service from Orlando. West Palm Beach is the first southbound stop from Orlando after the roughly two-hour ride. (Brightline service between Miami and West Palm Beach began back in 2018.)
If you’re seeking manatees, there’s no better time to head to West Palm Beach than in the winter. According to Manatee Lagoon, a free educational tourist destination, manatee season runs from Nov. 15 through March 31.
Tips to save on a winter beach vacation
Because winter is popular for beach vacations, it can also be one of the most expensive times to travel. These tips to save on a beach vacation can help:
Visit during shoulder season: Delaying your trip until the tail-end of winter can help you capitalize on the benefits of traveling during shoulder season. For example, Florida’s shoulder season is generally late February into early March, according to Visit Florida. During that time, the snowbirds will have had their fill of sun — but spring break crowds haven’t arrived.
Avoid lodging on the beach: If you’re spending your time at the beach anyway, then booking an oceanview room might not be worth the additional cost.
For example, in Honolulu, you’ll usually find lower rates at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani versus the opulent Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach. The former is situated inland one block from Waikiki Beach, on the other side of the Moana Surfrider. Yet, the two sister properties in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio offer reciprocal benefits, including daily yoga on the Moana Surfrider’s beachfront Diamond Lawn overlooking Diamond Head. Sheraton guests can use many of the same amenities as Moana Surfrider guests (albeit at a lower price).
The appeal of the Moana Surfrider is its elegant lobby and wraparound, beachfront porch. But you can listen to the live pianist in the evening even without being a hotel guest. And while the Moana Surfrider’s breakfast buffet on the restaurant’s veranda is popular, Sheraton guests can still charge it to their room.
Pack beach necessities: Complimentary sunscreen as a hotel benefit is the exception, not the norm. As long as you aren’t planning to travel with a carry-on only, pack sunscreen from home to avoid inflated gift shop prices.
It might also be worth bringing your own snorkeling set, as rental prices can exceed the cost of buying your own gear. Rentals can run more than $50 per day, but you can buy snorkel kits from retailers like Amazon for less than half that price.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
International travel involves new adventures, sampling local delicacies and stretching your boundaries. While these trips can be memorable, some of the planning and prep work can be stressful.
In order to travel internationally, you must have a valid passport. With standard processing times, it can take up to eight weeks to get a new or renewed passport. So, what do you do if your passport doesn’t arrive in time?
How long does it take to receive a passport?
Generally, it takes six to eight weeks to receive a new or renewed passport with standard processing. Depending on how far in advance of your trip you apply, you might be cutting it close or miss your trip altogether.
It is possible to expedite your application by paying rush fees, using a passport expeditor or visiting a passport agency.
How to check on the status of your passport application
The U.S. State Department offers online tools and phone numbers to track the status of your passport application.
Online Passport Status System. Check on the status of your application by providing your last name, date of birth and last four digits of your Social Security Number on their website.
Call the National Passport Information Center. If you’re unable to get the information you need, you can also call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778.
Status update descriptions
When checking the status of your passport application, you may receive one of these descriptions. These terms may seem generic or confusing, so here’s what they mean for your application.
Not available. Your application is still in transit to a passport agency or intake facility. This term is also what you’ll find if the website is experiencing a technical difficulty. Try checking back in a few hours.
Arrived. When your application has arrived at a mail facility.
In process. Your application is being reviewed at an agency or processing facility. The length of time it is “in process” depends on which type of service you selected (e.g. standard or expedited).
Approved. They have finished reviewing your passport application, and printing will begin soon.
Passport mailed. The new passport has been mailed to your mailing address. Check the Online Passport Status System for a tracking number. If you selected two-day delivery, you should receive your passport within two days of when it was mailed.
Supporting documents mailed. The supporting documents have been mailed through First Class Mail. These documents arrive separately from your passport.
What happens if my passport doesn’t come in time?
While this process generally goes smoothly, there are situations where your passport may not arrive in time. Travelers who haven’t received their passport in time wonder, “My passport hasn’t arrived, what can I do?”
If two weeks have passed since your passport application status changed to “Mailed,” and you haven’t received it yet, call the National Passport Information Center at (877) 487-2778.
When you call, the customer service agent will help you complete Form DS-86. This signed statement indicates that you haven’t received your passport, and it will be invalidated for travel. A new passport will be issued in six weeks. However, the time is reduced to three weeks with expedited processing.
You have 90 days from when your passport was issued to complete and submit this form. After 90 days, you’ll have to reapply for your passport again and pay all application fees a second time.
You may need to submit a new passport application depending on your travel dates. If you’re traveling internationally within 14 days, follow the Urgent Travel procedures mentioned below.
7 ways to expedite your passport application
When you need to get your passport in a hurry, there are steps you can take to expedite your passport application.
Get expedited processing. The U.S. Department of State offers expedited processing for an extra $60 on top of the standard passport application fees. This reduces the wait time to approximately 2-3 weeks.
Purchase two-day delivery. It can take up to two weeks to receive your passport after it has been mailed. For an extra $19.53, you can add 1 to 2-day delivery through the U.S. Postal Service. This service is available for passports but not for passport cards.
Upgrade your application service type. Even if you didn’t initially order expedited processing or two-day delivery, you can call (877) 487-2778 to upgrade with either add-on by paying the necessary fees.
Submit the application through Priority Mail. Applications can take up to two weeks to arrive at a passport agency or processing center. Mailing your application through the U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express enables your application to arrive at a processing facility sooner, which can reduce the overall time it takes to get your new passport. The price varies depending on where you’re located within the U.S.
Expedite at the agency. If you have urgent travel within the next 14 days, you can make an appointment with a passport agency or center to get your passport.
Emergency travel appointment. In life-or-death situations of an immediate family member, travelers can get a new passport when they have to travel internationally within the next three business days.
Passport expediting service. Private companies known as passport expeditors or couriers can submit expedited passport applications on behalf of customers. These services charge extra fees, but they cannot get your passport any faster than if you booked your own appointment. However, their expertise can handle the task on your behalf while you focus on other pressing matters.
The bottom line
After booking a trip and getting time off from work, the last thing you want to do is cancel your trip if your passport hasn’t arrived in time. When submitting your application, you can pay to expedite its processing and purchase faster shipping. You can even upgrade your processing time and shipping method if you didn’t initially purchase them.
The U.S. Department of State offers online tracking and email notifications to track your passport application. When your passport ships, if you don’t receive it within two weeks, contact them right away to submit Form DS-86 to get a new passport.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:
Elizabeth Hirschhorn, the Brentwood tenant who did not pay rent for her luxury Airbnb rental for 570 days, moved out of the unit on Friday.
The move was exactly one month after The Times chronicled Hirschhorn’s contentious tenancy, which began with a cordial stay on Airbnb and ended with her and Sascha Jovanovic, the landlord and property owner, suing each other.
“I’m a little overwhelmed, but I finally have my home back,” Jovanovic said. “I had such a peaceful weekend once she left.”
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During her stay, which began in September 2021, Hirschhorn said that the lease was extended off Airbnb and that the unit was subject to the Rent Control Ordinance, so Jovanovic would have to evict her if he wanted her to leave. She also argued that she didn’t have to pay rent since Jovanovic never obtained an occupancy license for the guesthouse.
Jovanovic, who lives on the property, was at the home on Friday being interviewed for a documentary detailing the battle between him and Hirschhorn when he saw three men, who turned out to be movers, walk into the guesthouse.
He said he asked why they were there, and they didn’t clearly say why. He suspected she could be moving out but feared it also could be a home invasion, so he called the police.
The police arrived, and once all of Hirschhorn’s belongings were packed, they escorted her off the property, Jovanovic said.
Jovanovic and his attorney, Sebastian Rucci, knocked on the door to confirm she was gone and then entered the guesthouse and found it empty. Within an hour, a locksmith arrived and changed the locks.
As of now, it’s unclear whether Hirschhorn moved out permanently, or if she’s planning to return to the property.
Jovanovic and Rucci said they hadn’t heard anything from either Hirschhorn or her legal team, so they assumed she had moved out for good. On Saturday, Rucci emailed Hirschhorn’s attorney, Amanda Seward, to figure out the next steps regarding Jovanovic’s eviction lawsuit against Hirschhorn.
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“My review of the case law is that once a tenant abandons the unit, the unlawful detainer is dismissed. If you wish, I can file the dismissal, or we can file a joint dismissal,” Rucci wrote.
Seward replied that they “may have jumped the gun,” according to the email exchange reviewed by The Times.
“Ms. Hirschhorn had discussed with me concern over the constant harassment and surveillance, and also the desire to get the things repaired that needed to be repaired. Subject to my discussions with Ms. Hirschhorn, please be advised that you have no authority to change the locks or to assume abandonment of the unit,” Seward wrote. “Further, you have violated the law by entering without permission and changing the locks.”
Neither Hirschhorn nor Seward immediately responded to a request for comment.
Rucci said he’s planning to drop the unlawful detainer lawsuit, assuming Hirschhorn has moved out for good. But he’ll still pursue damages in a separate lawsuit, since he claims Hirschhorn owes roughly $58,000 in unpaid rent. Hirschhorn said she owes nothing since Jovanovic never had a license to rent the unit, and her lawsuit accuses him of multiple forms of harassment and intimidation in attempts to get her to leave the place, which Jovanovic has denied.
Hirchhorn’s tenancy became a viral story in the days and weeks after The Times chronicled the saga. News vans posted up outside the home, and paparazzi followed Hirschhorn whenever she left.
“Drones were flying above my house every day. It was crazy,” Jovanovic said.
Now, he plans to address the mold damage in the unit, which was an issue during Hirschhorn’s stay that eventually soured their relationship. He also plans to get the necessary permits from the city, which was another issue; Jovanovic never obtained a license to rent the unit, and Hirschhorn argued in court that he wasn’t allowed to charge rent on a unit he didn’t have a license for.
After that, he plans to turn the space into a recreation room for his two adolescent children.
“We need to get the bad energy out and turn it back into a happy, family space,” he said.
Most of us have experienced getting fired from our jobs at some point in our lives. Some were for petty and weird reasons, others were valid—whichever it is, here are the 18 reasons people get fired!
Caution! Some were so crazy and hilarious that you won’t believe they really happened.
1. Exchanging Alcohol for Shrimp
One person shared, “I gave the fry guy an alcoholic beverage from the bar in a kids cup. He used to hook me up with coconut shrimp and fiesta rolls. They fired both of us lol. I wonder how Jamaar is doing nowadays.”
The second person replied, “I drank alcohol from a kid’s cup and got fired. I just wanted to try Angry Orchard. It wasn’t even good. I made the mistake of leaving the cup amongst other employee cups and a manager found it. I don’t even like drinking and it was just extra. But I am glad I am not the only person let go for drinking alcohol from a kid’s cup out there! Lol.”
2. Manager Scheduled Me During Class
Somebody commented, “My manager kept losing my class schedule. Worked at a subway. I had class two days a week. Several times he put me on those days anyway. I gave him multiple copies every time. Owner took me off the schedule for ‘Calling out too much’. When I showed the owner proof he said it was too late and they already hired someone else. This was 12 years ago. I’m still mad.”
Another Redditor replied, “I always hated the ‘taken off the schedule’ bull. Just fire me officially instead of taking the cowards route. This happened to me as well when I did not tell the general manager about a floor manager switching a product display TV to football one day. To be clear, she asked me, ‘Why did you not tell me?’ So she already knew it happened and was mad that I did not say anything. So I got ‘taken off the schedule’ because the other manager did something against policy and I did not narc.”
3. They Fired Me Before I Started
“A business I went to long ago was hiring, and I got the job. Right after I signed all the paperwork, the department manager comes in and asked who I am. I tell him I was just hired as a temp. Manager says he never authorized any hiring and fired both me and my boss on the spot. I did not work for this company at all, and they fired me,” said one.
The second person replied, “I had a similar experience. I was interviewing for a sales position and I made it all the way up the ladder through three different managers, to the advertising director. Had a great interview. He told me I would be the future of this industry shook my hand, led me to the HR manager’s office, clapped me on the back, and said to her, ‘We’re hiring him. Start the paperwork and I’ll see you Monday.’
“She was pregnant, tired, and annoyed. She looked at me with disgust and said, ‘We eliminated that position yesterday. We’re not hiring anyone.’ I asked if the director or managers knew that. She said they should. What followed was an embarrassing two weeks of promises that they would make a spot for me and weak apologies from the hiring managers. Ooof. Hired and fired within seconds.”
Finally, the third added, “They did you a favor. Working for a company that is broken and dysfunctional would be a nightmare.”
4. I Requested a Raise
One user commented, “I was denied a raise by HR after consistently working 60-70 hours weeks, and my VP (who had supported and requested the raise for me) told me to stop putting in the extra time, work my 40, and spend that extra time applying to new jobs. Within a month, a meeting was called to ‘mutually part ways’ because my work wasn’t getting done. I was gratified to learn that they had to hire two people to do my job after I left.”
Somebody else added, “Bet that felt good knowing they had to pay two people for what you did all by yourself. Glad you got outta there though!”
5. Fired for Putting in My Two-Week Notice
Somebody shared, “I got fired once for putting in my 2-week notice. The only other time I’ve gotten fired was working for a trade company during the first week. I was a supervisor, and there was a second supervisor on site. I got a call that my wife had been rushed to the hospital, which was literally less than a mile away. I asked the other supervisor if I could go to attend to her, and he said, ‘Sure, no problem, I’ve got things here. Go.’
“I returned to the job site later to find the boss there, and he let me go on the spot for leaving the team ‘Without a supervisor’. He knew what had happened, and still fired me. I won’t lie, that one kind of [made me mad].”
Then somebody else added with a similar experience with their wife, “Happened to my wife. She was due her first commission check, but they fired her on the spot when she gave notice. Literally about 100 bucks too.”
6. Fired for Sitting Down
One user said, “For doing my job too quickly and sitting down the rest of the time. Gas station cashier 3rd shift.
“Me: ‘Why should I stand when I’m the only person in the store?’
“Manager: ‘It’s more professional to stand than sit.’
“Me: ‘Then why do you sit in your office?’”
Another one replied, “I never understood that. Not once have I walked into an establishment, seen an employee sitting, and gone, ‘Wow. He’s unprofessional.’ I literally don’t give a f-, as long as you do your job.”
“Especially gas stations. If anything, they’re the kind of jobs I would expect to see someone sitting,” added another.
7. “I’m Only Here Until Something Better Comes Along…”
Somebody shared their hilarious job-related experience during the interview, “This isn’t why I got fired, but this is why I didn’t get a job. I was 16 and looking to work at a Dairy Queen as my first job. My mom drove me to the interview and I was super nervous.
“She looked me in the eye and said, ‘Just be honest and be yourself, and you’ll do fine.’ I walked into that interview, and when he asked me, ‘How long do you think you’ll work here?’ I responded, ‘Until something better comes along…’”
“OMG. My parents had to coach me on how to get a job when I started hunting. They were wondering why none of the jobs I had applied to had called me back so they started asking questions about the application process. Turns out you shouldn’t be honest on those personality assessments, at least not to the extent I was. They basically told me to answer as if I were another person,” added the second person with a similar experience.
Then somebody else added, “Amazing! Around the same age I was asked, ‘How would your friends describe you?’ and honestly answered. ‘They say I’m the crazy one.’ Weirdly did not get that job.”
8. They Handed Me a Check and Walked Me Outside
“I talked my way into a job at a software company when they put a hiring notice in a local paper. I had no idea what the software did. I still don’t. They hired me as a trainer and no one ever explained what the product was. I did a few weeks where I was trained on the software but literally none of it ever made sense to me. It was like they were speaking gibberish.
“One day I showed up, a lady I had never seen before gave me a check, and walked me out to the parking lot. No one even ever said ‘you’re fired’ or anything. It’s one of the strangest things that ever happened to me,” shared somebody.
“That reminds me of a time that I got escorted out early from a group interview. The company was a little suspicious altogether, and the interviewer was even more sus because he was just wearing all black (polo and jeans) and was absolutely decked out in gold jewelry. Looked like he stepped out of a mob movie or something,” the second person replied.
9. Because My Wife Was Ill
One user said, “I missed a lot of work because my wife got brain cancer. They called me in for a meeting and said, ‘Sorry, we are downsizing and letting a lot of people go’. They didn’t fire anyone else, including a co-worker who was caught fabricating reports.”
Then another one added with a question: “They didn’t announce the layoffs over the intercom in alphabetical order, did they?”
10. Job Abandonment; But I Was at the ER
Somebody stated, “I went to the emergency room instead of work. Came back with an ER note and they said, ‘We won’t be needing that. Can you come with us?’ I was 18 and it was my first full-time job.”
“I had pneumonia and a doctor’s note. Came back to work a week later wheezing and puffing an inhaler. Got fired the next week. Jokes on them. I still got unemployment benefits when they tried to fight it. Doctor’s notes are good things,” added another person.
Finally, the third added, “I went to a funeral and took the three paid days off and called off a fourth because it was my grandmother and we were very close. They called it job abandonment.”
11. Working With a Felony
Somebody commented, “My parole officer wanted to make sure I actually had a job, so he went to my employer listed on my file to surprise visit me on the job. I did home wiring so I worked at different job sites and rarely in the office. He called me to say he was going to charge me with a violation for lying to him about my whereabouts (this could’ve landed me back in prison for my remaining 10.5 years sentence).
“The owner of the company had to speak with him and vouch for me. My parole office didn’t charge me, but the owner sure did fire me that day. Finding a job with a felony isn’t an easy thing, and it wasn’t long before my PO threatened to charge me with a violation if I didn’t find a job soon.”
The second person replied, “What a f- clown process. I’m sorry you went through that.”
12. Let Go to Hire the Manager’s Girlfriend
Somebody said, “I was a kid and just started at a local pizza place. I was let go couple weeks later because a pizza chef from Chicago had moved into the area and needed a job so it was a business decision that I totally understood. Week later, went to go get my last check and asked how he was doing, the girl up front was like, ‘pizza chef from Chicago? The only new hire was the manager’s new gf.’”
Somebody else replied, “I got let go in favor of hiring the manager’s gf once too. Very irritating.”
13. Fired for Being 10 Minutes Early Instead of 20
“I refused to come in 15-20 mins early unpaid for my shift. I was always 5-10 min early but they decided they wanted me there earlier. I carried on as normal as I’m not coming in if I’m not being paid. Turned up for a 12pm shift at 11:49, no one would look at me when I arrived, then was thrown in a meeting and fired for being ‘late’. Was out the door before it even hit 12. It was the only time I’ve ever been fired,” shared somebody.
14. Building a Snow Sculpture
“I built a snow scorpion sculpture (I used ketchup for the red glowing eyes and everything) on a particularly miserable day at a ski resort. The guests enjoyed my sculpture very much, management weren’t so happy,” said one.
“Sounds like crap management. Sad. I’m glad to hear you made the guests happy, though,” the second person added.
15. For Sneezing
One person stated, “They sent me home because I sneezed and I was forced to get tested for Covid. Then, when I tested negative, I was terminated for ‘Abusing pandemic policies to stay home.’”
“That has to be illegal in some form,” replied somebody.
16. The CNA Lied About What Happened
“I asked the CNA I was working with to stay with a confused patient, while I went and put a new IV in another patient. The CNA left the patient alone. She fell out of bed and got a big bloody skin tear on her arm. After I took care of that, I went and found the CNA and told her the patient was injured because of her insubordination. The CNA cussed at me, and left the unit. I did not see her again that shift. She and another CNA decided on their own to trade assignments.
“I wrote the CNA up. The CNA went to mgmt and lied about me. She said I called her by a racial slur and yelled at her. I did neither. Mgmt fired me rather than deal with a false claim of racism. I collected unemployment.
“The CNA did something similar with another nurse a couple of weeks later, and was fired. My mgr asked if I could be rehired. HR said no. When my mgr quit to start her own nursing agency a year later, she hired me,” one person stated.
“You can’t pay me enough to go back to work in a nursing home. I have so many stories of problems between nurses and CNA’s getting each other in trouble and the residents caught in the middle,” replied another.
17. They Lowered My Pay So I Slept During My Shift
“They lowered my pay, so I started sleeping at work and did only half the task they wanted me to do. Took them 3 years to fire me,” shared one Redditor.
“I’m amazed at how long it can take sometimes to fire a person. I had a boss who got shoulder surgery and was wildly add*cted to pain meds. Dude would show up to work high as a kite and started at the ceiling for hours. He got away with it for about 2 years before anyone said anything,” the second person replied.
18. I Gave My Employee Meal to My Mother
Somebody commented, “I gave my employee meal to my mother. That’s literally it. I didn’t like eating the food there, so I had my mom bring me lunch, and I just gave my employee meal to her. Apparently, that was considered theft, so I was fired.”
Wow, some of the reasons above for getting fired were just crazy! Did you experience the same? Let us know in the comments!
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Source: Reddit
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Many frequent travelers carry tales of delayed flights and disappointing hotel rooms. Yet Airbnb “horror stories” are a genre all their own.
Videos with the tag #AirbnbHorrorStory have more than 63 million views on TikTok, featuring guests venting about unclean properties and last-minute cancellations leaving them stranded. The website Airbnbhell features hundreds of similar accounts, where things do not go as expected for short-term renters.
While many of these stories offer little more than schadenfreude, others can act as instructive lessons for travelers looking to avoid similar pitfalls. While there’s no way to avoid short-term rental surprises outright, many guests who have experienced them say there were warning signs they wished they had watched out for.
Look for reviews
Jack Epner, a marketing consultant and digital nomad, has lived out of Airbnbs for more than four years. Of the many difficult stays in that time, one rental — a house in Ecuador — stands out.
“It wasn’t clean, distinctly not clean,” Epner says. “We’re talking black mold all over the kitchen, hair all over the bedding. I ended up with bed bugs.”
Beyond that, Epner says the host’s friends would use the front lawn as a parking lot, and the host entered the (private) property unannounced several times.
After messaging several Airbnb customer service teams, Epner was eventually able to receive a refund. Yet the stay was so difficult, that it forced a recalibration of how much emphasis he now places on guest reviews.
The home had only one review, from a local, Epner says. And while he would usually look for more reviews before booking, the lack of availability at the time made him willing to take the risk. He says that’s a risk he won’t repeat.
“I do avoid places without reviews now,” Epner says. “If there’s really only one review, I’ll be wary; I would like to see two to three minimum. The more reviews the better.”
Have a backup plan
When Agnes Groonwald saw an Airbnb listing in Crestone, Colorado, it looked too interesting to pass up.
“The place was intriguing. It looked like a spaceship buried in the ground,” Groonwald says.
Groonwald, a nomad and creator of the blog Travel on the Reg, says the listing’s uniqueness wasn’t totally convincing. Yet, with no other listings available nearby, it seemed like the best choice.
Upon check-in, she noticed another group was already there: a family of mice.
“As soon as we arrived, we saw a little critter in the kitchen sink,” Groonwald says. “This was an infestation; this was the real deal.”
Groonwald, too, was able to receive a refund for the booking but couldn’t find alternative lodging nearby at such short notice. That meant cohabitating with mice for several days.
“We would wake to the pitter-patter of little feet in the middle of the night,” Groonwald recalls, saying that the experience taught her two lessons.
First, don’t be drawn in by quirky photos. Staying in an unusual home, such as a spaceship, might sound fun, but it can mean dealing with equally unusual problems.
“Sometimes boring is better,” Groonwald suggests.
Second, make sure there’s a backup plan in place in case of deal-breaking problems. That doesn’t mean you have to book another rental, but just make sure there’s another lodging option available on the same dates in case something goes wrong with your Airbnb.
Communicate beforehand
Gabrielle Dahms, a realtor based in California, says she has always had good Airbnb experiences. Then, she checked into a five-day Airbnb rental in San Rafael, California, and discovered an unexpected hazard: synthetic fragrance dispensers.
“Anytime anyone made a movement, these things dispensed fragrance,” Dahms laments. “Within two hours, my sinuses were completely swelled up.”
Dahms complained to the host and Airbnb customer service, which resulted in receiving a one-star guest review. It has since soured her on the entire platform.
According to Epner, these problems of mismatched expectations between guests and hosts can be addressed by communicating with the host ahead of time.
“Anytime there’s the potential to not be on the same page, I think it’s helpful to connect before booking,” Epner says.
He learned this lesson after staying with a host who wanted to be friends with guests, rather than respect privacy. He now messages hosts with a few questions before booking, to gauge their communication style.
“Do they treat it as a dumb question, or are they polite?” Epner says. “Anything I can do to get the sense of the host before booking, I’ll do that.”
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
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A Senate subcommittee is subpoenaing Live Nation/Ticketmaster for documentation it says the company has failed to produce. The subpoena arrived on Tuesday after months of investigations into disastrous incidents that sent ticket prices soaring for Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and other concerts.
In other words, don’t mess with Swifties, the BeyHive or Bruce tramps.
Key context
Live Nation Entertainment dominates event ticketing and promotion. The company was formed by the 2010 merger of Live Nation (an event promoter) and Ticketmaster (a ticketing company). In a letter to the Department of Justice, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) cited data that found 60% of the event ticketing market is controlled by Live Nation, including 80 of the top 100 arenas in the country.
In November 2022, tickets for Taylor Swift’s long-awaited Eras tour went on a multitiered presale. Ticketmaster prematurely outsold its inventory, effectively canceling its public sale. At the same time, resellers who snagged tickets posted them for tens of thousands of dollars. The debacle induced angry Swifties to file a class-action lawsuit accusing Ticketmaster of a multitude of offenses, including fraud, misrepresentation and antitrust violations.
In the subcommittee letter, Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward Markety (D-Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote, “Because of Live Nation’s market dominance, artists, venues, and consumers simply have no choice but to use the platform notwithstanding its flaws and failures. The Swift presale is the latest and highest profile illustration of the monopolistic harms, but the harm was not even limited to her events.”
Swift wasn’t the first high-profile ticketing disaster. In August 2022, Bruce Springsteen tickets climbed as high as $5,000 for U.S. shows due to Ticketmaster’s “dynamic pricing” policy, which prices tickets in real time depending on demand.
In February, Ticketmaster took a different approach to sales for Beyonce’s highly anticipated Renaissance Tour. It used the Verified Fan program, which requires registration and a lottery system. Its intent is to sift out resellers. But ticket prices still surged, including more than a hundred dollars for “listening only” tickets.
Live Nation Entertainment is under congressional investigation. Back in January, the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings specifically on the Swift incident. By February, it recommended that the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division investigate Live Nation Entertainment over monopoly concerns. Months of inquiry followed without results sufficient for the PSI. Hence the subpoena.
What the Senate subcommittee is arguing
Blumenthal, who chairs the PSI, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Live Nation has egregiously stonewalled my Subcommittee’s inquiry into its abusive consumer practices—making the subpoena necessary.”
Blumenthal added, “American consumers deserve fair ticket prices, without hidden fees or predatory charges. And the American public deserves to know how Ticketmaster’s unfair practices may be enabled by its misuse of monopoly power.”
How Ticketmaster is responding
Live Nation Entertainment released a statement on Tuesday saying it expected the subpoena but has cooperated with the investigation, claiming it has produced documents in every question raised by the subcommittee.
However, Live Nation Entertainment says some of the information requested “is highly sensitive client information about artists, venues and others” that Live Nation works with, such as tour revenue data.
The company claims it also told the subcommittee that it would produce documentation with confidentiality protections, which the subcommittee has denied.
The statement said, “Our limit in this process—that the Subcommittee Chair has chosen to call stonewalling—is simply that we value our artist relationships and the interests of other stakeholders we work with too much to betray their trust by turning over their information without adequate protections.”
What this means
The investigation into Live Nation Entertainment’s business practices is moving forward. The subcommittee once again urged the DOJ to “vigorously investigate” competition in the event ticketing market.
According to the subcommittee letter to the DOJ, if the investigation shows that Live Nation did in fact abuse its position as the dominant player in the market, it urges the DOJ to consider breaking up the Live Nation/Ticketmaster company.
The subcommittee wrote in the letter that breaking up the company “may be the only way to truly protect consumers, artists, and venue operators and to restore competition in the ticketing market.”
What to look out for next
A subpoena requires Live Nation Entertainment to provide documents requested by the Senate subcommittee.
Meanwhile the Biden Administration has had its eye on junk fees for more than a year. The White House has called on Congress to take action to prohibit excessive ticketing fees.
On June 15, a group of event ticketing and travel companies — including Live Nation/Ticketmaster — pledged to commit to “all-in” pricing. That means consumers will see total costs up front, including fees, rather than getting a surprise at checkout.
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images via Getty Images