Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code has long been a cornerstone of tax planning for real estate investors, enabling them to defer capital gains taxes when exchanging like-kind properties. While this provision encourages reinvestment and stimulates economic growth, it also requires strict
How SMB Owners Can Stay Ahead of Taxes Without Losing Focus
When you first launched your business, every dollar mattered — and you probably handled everything yourself. From sales to marketing to late-night invoicing, it was all in your hands. Fast forward a few years, and now you’re managing a team, juggling clients, expanding your offerings, and… still
Can You Write Off Therapy as a Business Expense?
Running your own business is demanding. Between managing clients, staying on top of deadlines, and keeping operations afloat, stress often becomes a silent partner. Factor in the post-COVID reality of blurred work-life boundaries, and it’s no surprise that more entrepreneurs are turning to therapy
What Conklin v. Davi Can Teach Modern Buyers About Marketable Title and Adverse Possession
In today’s fast-paced real estate market, where digital listings, bidding wars, and off-market deals are more common than ever, one truth remains timeless: a well-written contract is your best protection. The 1978 case of Conklin v. Davi might be decades old, but its lesson is more relevant than
Kirksey v Kirksey: A Case Considerably Lacking in Consideration
Contract law exists to help us determine when promises are legally binding and enforceable. At its core, a contract requires several key elements to be valid: offer, acceptance, consideration, legality, capacity, and (in certain cases) a written agreement. If even one of these is missing, the whole
How Tariffs Could Impact Your Business and How to Plan Ahead
Tariffs — taxes imposed on imported goods — have been making headlines for years, but many business owners in Seattle still wonder: Do they actually affect me? The short answer is: if your business touches global trade in any form — directly or indirectly — tariffs could have a ripple effect on your
The Double Entry Bookkeeping System: Debits & Credits
Double-entry bookkeeping is a foundational accounting framework that provides a comprehensive and self-balancing view of your business's financial activities. At its core, it operates on the principle that every financial transaction affects at least two accounts. For every debit (an entry on the
The Differences Between Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, and Mortgage Interest Deductions
For homeowners and real estate investors, tax season can bring a lot of confusion about what’s deductible and what isn’t. Terms like “property tax,” “real estate tax,” and “mortgage interest deduction” are often used interchangeably, but they refer to very different things — and understanding these