Author: Victoria Vesovski

After turning heads on Big Brother, Amanda Zachman, the self-proclaimed villain of Season 15, stepped out of the spotlight and into real estate, founding brokerage firm MV Realty.

But the controversy she stirred up on the small screen has followed her into her professional career.

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MV Realty’s Homeowner Benefit Program offers homeowners up to $5,000 in exchange for signing an exclusive agreement to use them as their listing agent if they should happen to put their home up for sale. But when those homeowners try to refinance or sell, they’re met with an unexpected reality.

“They find a lot of ways to call something one thing, but it is what it is,” real estate attorney Jennifer Nachtigal told CBS News Texas. “Call it a Homeowners Benefit agreement, but it’s really like an exclusive listing agreement that binds you to basically pay these people whether or not they do any services for you.”

MV Realty is facing lawsuits in 11 other states for its practices, including the use of misleading agreements that can leave homeowners on the hook for thousands of dollars. Here’s why the program is drawing ire and how signing up could come at a cost.

Trapped by the terms

MV Realty’s Homeowner Benefit Program is reportedly structured with terms that can last up to 40 years and may even be passed on to a homeowner’s heirs in the event of a death. Homeowners who exit the agreement could face significant termination fees.

MV Realty is also alleged to file memoranda against properties. A memorandum is a document that, while not legally classified as a lien, can reportedly obstruct refinancing or the sale altogether.

"Texas’ Constitution has strong protections for the homestead, and they don’t allow certain liens to be filed against the homestead," Nachtigal said. "Even if they’re voluntary, even if the homeowner signed the lien themselves."

A review of public real estate records by the CBS News Texas I-Team suggests MV Realty has filed over 500 memoranda across the Dallas–Fort Worth area and more than 1,200 across Texas.

Tanya Shaw is one homeowner who signed a contract with MV Realty. She said MV Realty approached her in 2024, offering around $1,000 in exchange for signing the agreement. Since she had no plans to sell, Shaw admitted she believed it was a safe decision, until a family emergency forced her to refinance her home. That’s when she said she learned about the memorandum filed against her house. Shaw decided to sell her property. But according to her, the contract gave MV Realty six months to secure a buyer. As a remedy, Shaw hired a different agent to expedite the sale — a direct violation of the agreement’s terms. When the home was sold, she said she was required to pay MV Realty $11,000 in addition to the real estate agent fees.

“I felt stupid,” Shaw told CBS News Texas. “Because even though desperate times call for desperate measures, they gave me $1,000. I could have kept my home if I was able to refinance.”

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Signed, sealed and stuck

In September 2023, MV Realty filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing all active Homeowner Benefit Agreements as company assets in its court filing. The CBS News Texas I-Team reached out to company founder Zachman and MV Realty for comment, but neither responded.

While the U.S. Trustee Program said it’s committed to ensuring fair access to the bankruptcy courts, homeowners who signed with MV Realty may find themselves with limited options.

That’s the situation Jonathan Mead found himself in. According to KJCT 8 News, the Colorado Springs homeowner received $1,245 under the agreement, but after seeing media coverage, he began to question the deal. When he received the bankruptcy notice, he hoped it would void the contract. But it didn’t, since homeowners received payment upfront, they aren’t classified as creditors or debtors.

State lawmakers across the country are taking notice. Colorado banned these agreements earlier this year, calling them “predatory.” Over the last two years, more than 22 states have passed similar laws.

In Texas, though, two bills aimed at banning them didn’t make it past the committee stage and into legislation. And the state’s attorney general has yet to take public action, declining to respond to requests for comment from reporters.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

It’s not exactly strange to hear noise coming from a neighbor’s home. Maybe they’re hosting a birthday party or firing up the grill for a family barbecue. That’s just part of suburban life.

But what’s happening on Northwest First Court in Miami Gardens is something entirely different.

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On an otherwise peaceful residential street, one single-family home has transformed into what appears to be a takeout restaurant.

“There’s no drive-thru window, but the orders are flying out the door,” one neighbor, who asked not to be identified, told Local 10 News. “It could be in the early morning, around this time. It could be at night. It’s constant.”

Those who spoke with Local 10 asked to stay anonymous, but they described the same thing: a steady stream of cars, takeout containers being handed off like clockwork and a home that’s more kitchen than living space.

But is this just a savvy home chef cashing in on a side hustle, or could it pose a bigger problem for the community?

Off the books but on the radar

To get a better sense of what’s going on, Local 10 spent several hours outside the home and observed a constant flow of customers picking up food.

One man, spotted walking around the side of the house, told reporters he wasn’t a customer — just a friend. Still, he admitted he was there to pick up food, listing off items like oxtail, rice and peas, as well as chicken. When asked if the house was operating as a restaurant, he denied it.

“No, it’s not a restaurant. It’s just a backyard,” he said, adding that the food was not free when pressed by reporters.

Starting a business or side hustle today isn’t easy. According to LendingTree, over 1 in 5 private sector businesses that launched in March 2023 had failed by March 2024.

With inflation holding steady at 3.5% year over year, it’s no surprise some entrepreneurs are looking for ways to cut overhead costs — skipping storefronts altogether and finding more creative (and quiet) ways to keep the money coming in. Even if that means operating out of a backyard.

But just because it makes business sense doesn’t mean it sits well with the neighbors.

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Cooking up trouble

With inflation squeezing household budgets, many Americans are turning to unconventional income streams — even if it means bending a few rules.

Neighbors say the backyard setup includes propane tanks, industrial fans and cocktail tables — signs that this isn’t your average weekend cookout. Behind the house, there’s reportedly a shed that’s been converted into a kitchen, suggesting a much larger operation than what’s legally allowed in a residential area.

According to Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, running a food business from a private home is prohibited. This property has never passed a food safety inspection and isn’t licensed for commercial use — a red flag for both consumers and the neighborhood.

“If there is a fire, God forbid, my house is gone,” one neighbor said. “I’m very concerned. It is dangerous right now.”

Property records show the home belongs to Mardelle Gitters, a former restaurant owner whose Opa-locka business has since closed. While several neighbors claim they’ve reported the issue to city officials, Miami Gardens Assistant City Manager Tamara Wadley said there are no official complaints on file with police or code enforcement.

For now, the operation continues. But while side hustles can be a smart financial move, cutting corners on safety and legality can end up costing more than it’s worth.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

A Queens woman found what looked like a phone buried in her front lawn — but it wasn’t just lost property.

Mary Kehoe, who’s lived in her Forest Hill home for 35 years, spotted the strange device outside. It looked like an Android phone wrapped in black tape, with only the camera exposed — like it was made to watch, not call.

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“Why us? I had lots of things going through my head as to why they chose our lawn but realized we are in the middle of the block,” Kehoe told KTVZ 21.

Experts warn that these kinds of planted devices may be part of a growing tactic used by burglars to spy on homeowners, tracking their daily routines or scouting for valuables. And it’s not just an isolated case — similar incidents have popped up across the Tri-State Area.

Here’s how to identify these devices and what to do if one shows up in your yard.

Not just paranoia

Discovering a hidden device on your lawn isn’t just unsettling — it’s a serious breach of privacy. And unfortunately, it’s happening more often.

Police say covert surveillance cases like this are turning up across the country, including in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and even quiet neighborhoods like Scarsdale. And the tools being used aren’t high-tech spy gadgets.

“It could be any type of camera that is digital and wireless. It could be cheap; it could be expensive,” Sergeant Vahe Abramyan of the Glendale Police Department told the Los Angeles Times. “You can go on Amazon or go to Best Buy to get one.”

That’s exactly what happened in Garden Grove, where a resident discovered a camera hidden in a neighbor’s bush — aimed directly at her home. According to KTLA, the neighbor initially thought it was trash, but inside the bag was a camera and battery pack.

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Staying safe

With these surveillance tactics on the rise, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your neighborhood.

“Put your alarms on, put lights on, and be aware. And we’re a nice little block here that we look out for one another, so when people do go away, they let us know so we can take a walk down their driveway and make sure everything is safe,” Kehoe said.“We are now watching.”

In Kehoe’s Forest Hill community, neighbors are banding together — keeping a closer eye on their lawns, shrubs and anything that seems out of place.

Police recommend trimming hedges to eliminate hiding spots, installing motion-detecting lights and staying alert for camouflaged devices that could be stashed in your yard. Burglars may also drive through a neighborhood or pose as salespeople to scout homes and monitor routines.

If something seems off — even a strange light or an out-of-place item in your yard — don’t ignore it. Report it to your local authorities right away.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

If you’ve noticed your daughter wearing an oversized sweatshirt with “PARKE” stamped across the chest, you’re not alone. Launched in 2022 by 28-year-old Chelsea Kramer, the brand has quickly become a Gen Z wardrobe staple.

Kramer started out focusing on upcycled vintage denim, but it was the simple, cozy and limited-edition sweatshirts that created a viral following.

In just under three years, the Miami-based entrepreneur (whose middle name is Parke) has amassed 150,000 followers on TikTok and 80,000 on Instagram.

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Last year alone, the business net $16 million in revenue, as Kramer told The Cut.

This past weekend, close to 1,000 shoppers lined up for a three-day pop-up in New York City’s SoHo. One 27-year-old grad student drove in from New Jersey and waited nearly six hours to buy her eighth sweatshirt.

Still, not everyone is walking away with the goods.

“Stuff should not be selling out in a minute,” one frustrated fan posted on TikTok. “I get it gives you clout … but make your customers happy.”

The real question is can Parke keep delivering or will the hype wear thin?

“We went through a shift where we were like, ‘Okay, we shouldn’t be so conservative,’” her sister-in-law and co-founder Kira Kramer said. “It’s so easy to get caught up in the success, and we’ve always been mindful about trying not to get ahead of ourselves.”

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Viral growth meets trade war reality

They’re increasing inventory to keep up with demand, but reducing the number of Parke collections they release this year, a cautious move in an unpredictable economy.

Like many U.S. brands that manufacture overseas, Parke got caught in the crossfire of President Trump’s imposition of 145% tariffs on imports from China.

While the Trump administration has since [paused]https://www.reuters.com/world/us-china-tariff-live-updates-bessent-greer-announce-details-constructive-geneva-2025-05-12/) that penalty and reduced the tariff on Chinese imports to 30%, many small business owners say the damage is done.

For one thing, as Beth Fynko Beniko, owner of Busy Baby observes, 30% is still a steep duty, and she started paying it in May.

“That sucks for any small business owner,” Beniko said on TikTok. “It’s still going to cost me $48,000 more than this shipment would’ve cost me two months ago.”

As rising tariffs drive up production costs for companies like Busy Baby and Parke, small business owners are raising their prices, or considering doing so in the coming months.

That means consumers are becoming more cautious.

“Recent events have people confused about how they can effectively budget because they do not know how the prices of things are going to change in the coming months,” Lawrence Sprung, a certified financial planner based in Long Island, New York told CNBC.

Now’s the time to be proactive with your finances.

Press pause on impulse buys like viral sweaters

While you can’t control what tariffs will do to prices, you can control how and where you spend your money. If you’ve been eyeing a purchase — like a viral sweater — it might be worth hitting pause.

Prices could rise, and even if they don’t, it’s worth asking: Do you really need another sweater? Consider looking for alternatives with similar quality at a more affordable price.

It’s not just fashion. Things that have always been big-ticket items like refrigerators, dishwashers and car parts have even bigger price tags now. Even “Made in America” products may rely on imported materials.

Tariffs on steel and aluminum are expected to increase the cost of appliances by 20%. That could turn a $2,500 range into a $3,000 expense.

Protect your wallet by prioritizing on your needs over wants. That doesn’t mean cutting out every treat — just make sure essentials like rent, food and bills are covered before splurging on impulse buys.

At the same time, build or replenish your emergency fund with regular savings.

Experts recommend setting aside three to six months’ worth of expenses, but even small, consistent contributions can go a long way.

A solid cushion can help you manage unexpected costs without racking up credit-card debt or pulling from long-term savings.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

When St. Louis resident David Murray moved out of his apartment two months early, he thought he had done everything right — giving proper notice and settling his lease. Then came the shock: a $4,500 bill for two months’ rent plus penalties.

Murray was sure it had to be a mistake, but when his pristine 815 credit score dropped, he realized the situation was far more serious. His landlord had turned to a debt collector — not to harass or sue him, but to hit him where it hurt: his credit report.

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“I asked them to please take me to small-claims court, and they’ve never contacted me,” Murray told The Wall Street Journal.

Landlords are increasingly using credit reporting to collect unpaid rent. With credit scores influencing everything from loan approvals to housing applications, a single dispute can derail financial stability.

While credit agencies have tried to include on-time rental payments in scoring models, negative marks still appear with alarming speed — leaving many renters like Murray scrambling to repair the damage.

Calling to collect

Rental debt is now one of the top consumer complaints in debt collection, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Nationwide, renters owe an estimated $9 billion in back rent, with approximately 4.5 million households struggling to keep up with payments. While landlords have the right to collect unpaid rent, everyday renters like Murray — who followed the terms of his lease — often bear the brunt of aggressive debt-collection tactics.

Consumer advocates warn that landlords are using credit reports as a weapon, bypassing the legal system and leaving tenants with little recourse. In the past, rent disputes played out in small-claims court, where tenants could at least present their case.

Landlords, however, see it differently. With small-claims judgments for unpaid rent no longer appearing on credit reports as of 2017, they argue that reporting tenants to credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion is one of the few ways to enforce accountability.

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How it impacts renters

A damaged credit score can have long-term consequences for renters. Many major lenders, such as Citi and Bank of America, maintain strict criteria for determining loan eligibility.

“The practical effect of having a poor credit score is that your access to mainstream funding is limited or nonexistent,” John Ulzheimer, formerly of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) and Equifax, told CNBC Select.

This doesn’t just make securing a loan more difficult — it also affects the interest rates borrowers receive. For instance, a borrower with a 620 credit score might face an interest rate of approximately 4.8% on a $355,328 home, resulting in annual interest payments of about $17,056.

Meanwhile, a buyer with a score between 760 and 850 could secure a much lower 3.2% rate, bringing their annual interest down to roughly $11,370. Over time, this difference could add up to tens of thousands of dollars in additional costs. ​​Bad credit can also impact auto and homeowners insurance rates, as most U.S. states permit insurers to use credit-based scoring when determining premiums.

Murray’s daughter also learned this the hard way. After a landlord dispute in 2019 tanked her credit score, she struggled to find another apartment until Murray stepped in to settle the debt. When he faced a similar issue in 2022, he fought back — but despite providing evidence, his dispute was rejected.

His credit score still sits in the low 700s. For renters like Murray and his daughter, even a single disagreement can trigger a financial chain reaction — one that is rarely easy to undo.

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Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

LVMH lost its title as Europe’s most valuable luxury company — and Hermès didn’t need a runway to take the lead.

The luxury conglomerate behind Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Sephora reported €20.3 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2025. While that signals solid performance, particularly in Europe, a softer U.S. market, lower sales in Japan and continued tariff uncertainty weighed on the results.

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Following the report, LVMH shares dropped 7%, lowering its market capitalization to €246 billion. According to CNN, this allowed rival Hermès to claim the top spot at €247 billion.

While LVMH has a broader portfolio and greater global reach, Hermès’ steady rise signals a shift in consumer and investor sentiment. As high-end shoppers gravitate toward timeless, low-key luxury over label-heavy branding, the market is responding — and so are those betting on the future of fashion as a financial asset.

Buy the Birkin

As the economy continues to fluctuate under the weight of tariffs and recession fears, investors and high-end consumers are shifting their attention to luxury goods that don’t just turn heads — they hold value. Hermès, with its measured growth and fiercely loyal clientele, has emerged as a clear front-runner in the luxury space, ahead of some flashier, trend-driven rivals.

LVMH, for example, reported a 3% drop in first-quarter sales — a miss compared to analysts’ expectations for 2% growth. The decline reflects broader market unease, amplified by President Donald Trump’s recent tariff announcements.

In response, consumers are rethinking what luxury really means. Instead of chasing seasonal drops, they’re investing in pieces with lasting value. Take the Birkin 30 in Togo leather that retails for around $12,500, but can resell for up to $30,000 — a return of about 140%.

“Luxury collectibles have delivered for investors over the long term. If you had invested US$1 million in 2005 and tracked KFLII, your investment would now be worth US$5.4 million,” Liam Bailey, Knight Frank’s global head of research, told Forbes. “The same amount invested in the S&P 500 would have been worth US$5 million by the end of 2024.”

And while not everyone has the funds for a five-figure handbag, Hermès’ wealthier clientele does. That’s part of what makes the brand so resilient, according to Jelena Sokolova, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, who notes that its customers are less affected by economic slowdowns and more focused on timeless value than trend-chasing.

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Diversify your portfolio

Luxury handbags aren’t just fashion statements — they’re becoming portfolio pieces. But not all Birkins are created equal. Value can hinge on everything from the model and year of production to the leather quality and color.

If you’re thinking of adding a designer bag to your list of alternative assets, you’ll need to do your research just like you would with stocks: study historical resale trends, monitor market demand and consider the condition. That means carrying it to a candlelit dinner might not be your smartest financial move.

But handbags aren’t the only collectibles catching investors’ eyes. Since Janaury 20, the S&P 500 has dropped about 15.6% — and nearly 20% from its February 19 peak — while gold has climbed nearly 30%. That contrast has investors turning to tangible assets as hedges against inflation and volatility.

Luxury goods, fine watches, vintage cars, even wine — they’re all part of a broader shift toward diversifying wealth outside of traditional markets. But the key is to know what holds value and why. Luxury goods aren’t just nice-to-haves anymore; they’re smart, resilient investments.

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• How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you’ll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement

Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.

To her million-plus followers, Miranda McKeon isn’t just living in the West Village — she’s selling the dream. At 23, her mix of polished fashion posts and raw honesty about her breast cancer journey has built a brand that feels both aspirational and relatable, with her West Side Village lifestyle front and center.

Long before she touched down in New York, McKeon knew exactly where she wanted to live. A student at the University of Southern California, she spent her final semester glued to StreetEasy, scrolling through listings and plotting her perfect postgrad landing.

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But while the West Village has become a magnet for young adults chasing that fantasy, they aren’t the ones driving up the rents. The neighborhood’s luxury glow-up has been decades in the making — fueled by deep-pocketed buyers and commercial overhauls.

Fantasies, after all, come with price tags — and, in this case, the occasional rodent roommate. The average one-bedroom in the West Village now rents for $6,182 a month, according to Zumper. For many recent grads, that’s a hard no.

Even for those who can afford it, like McKeon, there’s a hidden cost to chasing the perfect zip code — and it’s not just the rent.

A neighborhood built on fantasy and fortune

It’s tempting to blame the West Village’s high prices on TikTokers and Instagram stars, but the truth is, this Manhattan hotspot has always drawn people in. Savannah Engel, a fashion publicist who moved to the neighborhood in 2009, remembers when the West Village still had a bohemian edge. “I’d wake up on a Tuesday and there’d be 10 people passed out in my apartment,” she told The Cut. Back then, her rent was $900 a month — a price that now feels mythical.

But the vibe began to shift by the mid-2000s. Bleecker Street turned into a luxury shopping corridor, and soon after, wealthy buyers followed. Rupert Murdoch purchased a 25-foot-wide townhouse for $25 million in 2015. A year later, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick bought two adjacent townhouses for a combined $34.5 million. The New York Post even dubbed a section near West 11th Street “the real Billionaires’ Row.”

By 2017, the tables had turned. Small businesses were forced out as commercial rents soared, leaving once-buzzing storefronts empty. “The landlords started jacking up the prices,” said designer Cynthia Rowley, who bought her building back in 2004. “That’s when everybody left.” So yes, influencers may be the latest faces of West Village gentrification — but the neighborhood’s transformation has been decades in the making.

Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it

Real Estate glow-up

The West Village might look picture-perfect on Instagram, but renters say the experience isn’t always so glamorous.

Polly (HuiWen) Milligan, a real estate agent at Douglas Elliman who’s called the neighborhood home for over eight years, says affordable finds are nearly extinct thanks to rent control laws and the high demand. “The price never drops,” Milligan told Street Easy. “Not even during the lockdown. The price never went down.”

Even at premium price points, quality can fall short. McKeon, who was wowed by her apartment’s bright, spacious layout online, soon discovered the fine print that didn’t make the listing: cockroaches, leaks and strange brown liquid dripping out of a brick wall onto her roommate’s comforter. Yet despite it all, McKeon’s planning to re-sign.

How to get the vibe

We all know the siren call of a trendy neighborhood — the cobblestones and the indie cafés. But before you get swept up in the fantasy, ask yourself: are you chasing the lifestyle, or just the moment?

Often, living just a few blocks outside the hottest zip code can cut your rent by hundreds, sometimes thousands a month — while still giving you easy access to the same brunch spots and boutique gyms. Expanding your search radius is one of the oldest tricks in the book, and it still works.

If you’re set on living right in the thick of things, think strategically. Roommates can be a game changer, cutting costs and even providing built-in company. And while rare, rent-controlled or stabilized units are out there — locking one down can help stabilize your finances over time.

Above all, keep your budget front and center. It’s easy to get swept up in the allure of a dream neighborhood, but nothing sours the experience faster than constant money stress. The ultimate dream is living somewhere that fits both your lifestyle and your bank account.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.