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Author: Victoria Vesovski

  • This Florida woman was jailed for 7 nights after a dispute with her HOA over dry patches of grass just kept escalating — why you should never ignore your HOA’s ‘petty’ requests

    This Florida woman was jailed for 7 nights after a dispute with her HOA over dry patches of grass just kept escalating — why you should never ignore your HOA’s ‘petty’ requests

    What started as a dispute over lawn care ended with Irena Green spending a week behind bars.

    Green, who lives in the Creek View subdivision of Tampa’s Hillsborough County, says it all began with a homeowners association (HOA) violation over the condition of her grass.

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    She said she blames last year’s mandatory watering restrictions for the dry patches in her yard and insists hers was far from the worst on the block. Yet, she’s the only homeowner in the neighborhood who’s ever landed in jail over it.

    “I think they have way too much power. I’ve never heard of anything like this in my life,” Green told ABC I-Team Investigations.

    In 2024, Florida led the country for HOA living, with 3.9 million of its 8.9 million homes falling under homeowners association rules — nearly 45% of all residences. But does an unkempt lawn justify jail time, or are some HOAs overstepping in the name of curb appeal?

    A legal warning

    It started with a few violation notices from The Trowbridge Company Inc., the firm managing her community. First, it was dry grass. Then a minor dent in her garage door — barely visible from the street. After that, it was mildew on her mailbox, which she said was caused by moisture from a nearby tree.

    The final straw was a cargo van parked in her driveway, not unlike several others seen in the neighborhood.

    “If you drive around my neighborhood, you’ll see there’s plenty of yards not up to par,” Green said.

    The HOA took Green to court in Hillsborough County. Green represented herself and provided photos and explanations for each violation. Still, the judge wasn’t convinced. At a hearing last summer, she was given an ultimatum: fix the issues within 30 days or face jail time.

    Green said she got to work immediately, but she missed her next court date, claiming she never received the official notice and even contacted the courthouse multiple times to track it down.

    The judge didn’t buy it. Green was held in contempt of court, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

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    How far is too far?

    “I think it’s pretty rare in a civil case for someone to have a contempt order,” said Paul Boudreaux, a professor at Stetson Law School.

    Buying into an HOA community means agreeing to a set of rules — ones that can dictate everything from where you park to how tall your grass can grow. But for Green, things escalated.

    After picking up her daughter from cheerleading practice, Green was pulled over, handcuffed and booked into Orient Road Jail. She said she was the only person in civil court wearing a jail uniform.

    Six days later, her sister-in-law — a paralegal — filed an emergency petition to challenge the arrest. Photos of Green’s yard and other evidence were submitted to a different judge than the one who had signed the original warrant.

    Still, Green said the HOA’s attorney argued against her release.

    The risk of HOA power plays

    HOAs offer structure and consistency that appeals to many buyers, from well-kept lawns to access to shared amenities. But with those perks come strict rules, and sometimes, serious consequences.

    Green was eventually released, but her case highlights how quickly HOA conflicts can intensify.

    “Sometimes they act in a petty manner, but if they decide that you need to do something, you need to follow the rules. And when a judge tells you to do something, you have to do it,” Boudreaux said.

    Green later admitted she should have hired a lawyer earlier to better understand her rights. The HOA board has since brought in a new management firm to to oversee enforcement.

    For homeowners, it’s important to read the HOA bylaws carefully, look into the board’s track record and get legal advice if a conflict arises. A little due diligence can help you steer clear of costly — and avoidable — trouble.

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

  • This 30-year-old tree named Donaldson may be researchers’ best shot at rooting out the deadly disease decimating Florida’s citrus trees — why they believe studying it may prove fruitful

    This 30-year-old tree named Donaldson may be researchers’ best shot at rooting out the deadly disease decimating Florida’s citrus trees — why they believe studying it may prove fruitful

    When Americans think of fresh orange juice, they probably picture a glass poured straight from Florida’s sun-drenched groves. But for two decades, the state’s citrus industry has been under siege by a bacterial infection called citrus greening — wiping out 90% of its crop.

    Now, hope is budding on an unlikely branch: a 30-year-old tree named Donaldson, growing on a research farm near Groveland. Scientists say it could be the key to rescuing Florida’s oranges from extinction, thanks to its surprising resistance to the deadly disease, also known as Huanglongbing.

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    One of the geneticists calling attention to the citrus tree is Matt Mattia, who works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    “When I saw the Donaldson tree, I was like, ‘Wow, this is something that’s really unique and really different,’” he told WFTV 9.

    Here’s what makes this humble tree so special — and how it could help secure your morning glass of OJ for years to come.

    Meet Donaldson

    Florida was once bursting with orange trees, but today, Donaldson is the unassuming survivor and may be the industry’s best shot at bouncing back.

    What makes this tree stand out comes down to three traits: it’s a genetically pure orange, it produces sweet, high-quality fruit and most importantly, it’s shown resistance to citrus greening.

    Florida’s signature orange juice used to rely mainly on just two varieties — Hamlin and Valencia. In a search for solutions, Mattia tested more than 25,000 trees for both disease resistance and fruit quality. Many trees survived the disease but produced bitter, unusable fruit. Donaldson, however, delivered both resilience and sweetness — exactly what Florida growers need.

    But disease isn’t the only threat squeezing the state’s citrus industry. Rapid development, devastating freezes and a string of powerful hurricanes — from Irma in 2017 to back-to-back storms in recent years — have battered groves and left farmers struggling to rebuild.

    As a result, Florida’s citrus acreage has shrunk from over 832,000 acres at the turn of the century to about 275,000 today.

    It’s become such a tough business that Alico — one of Tropicana’s major suppliers — has decided to exit citrus altogether. John Kiernan, CEO of Alico, said in a statement, “Growing citrus is no longer economically viable for us in Florida.”

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    Saving the industry

    Mattia isn’t hoarding the Donaldson tree’s potential for his own team, even though the USDA currently keeps the prized tree under lock and key. He says the state has already propagated 18,000 Donaldson trees and is distributing them to growers statewide to speed up the comeback.

    “We’re pushing it out to commercial usage,” he said. “If people want to test it in their own grove, it’s available, and we have the data and the research going on here that supports that effort.”

    Mary Graham, who runs Graham U-Pick Farms, knows firsthand how devastating citrus greening can be. She’s tried everything from adjusting soil nutrients to cutting back on chemicals, but the disease often has the final say. Still, she’s not throwing in the towel just yet. Graham is eyeing new seedlings for her children to care for one day.

    “We’re hopeful about the Donaldson tree,” she told WFTV 9. “With that one, what else can they come up with?”

    While the future of Florida’s orange juice is still uncertain, Mattia is staying optimistic. Even if Donaldson falls short, he’s determined to find a blend of citrus that keeps the juice flowing.

    “My mission is to really help people,” he said.

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

  • Fraudsters are using a $20 ‘distraction’ scam to steal thousands of dollars from victims — nearly $5,000 drained from 1 LA teacher’s bank account. Here’s how the ‘huge violation’ went down

    Fraudsters are using a $20 ‘distraction’ scam to steal thousands of dollars from victims — nearly $5,000 drained from 1 LA teacher’s bank account. Here’s how the ‘huge violation’ went down

    It’s not every day a stranger insists on handing you a $20 bill you didn’t drop. But for Sarah — whose last name has been withheld, as reported by Fox LA — that’s exactly what happened on an ordinary Wednesday afternoon at a Ralphs grocery store in Van Nuys.

    "He came much closer to me and was kind of pushing the $20 into my wallet," Sarah recalled. "I said, ‘No, I don’t think I did.’"

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    At first, it could have been a strange but harmless mix-up. That is, until Sarah noticed the man was suddenly joined by a woman — both of them following her to her car, pressing the cash on her with unsettling persistence. What felt like an awkward moment quickly turned into a coordinated scam. When Sarah checked her wallet, her cash was intact, but her debit card was gone.

    Within 30 minutes, the thieves had made multiple withdrawals from Sarah and her daughter, Jennifer’s bank account from a Chase branch.

    Unfortunately, Sarah and Jennifer aren’t alone. Distraction scams have been popping up across the country. Here’s how to spot the red flags.

    Be on the lookout

    Distraction scams don’t come with flashing red lights, they come with kindness and confusion. These types of scams are built on flustering you just enough to make you vulnerable. This involves a stranger creating a diversion — like insisting you dropped a $20 bill — while an accomplice steals something like your wallet or debit card.

    According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the year before. While that includes a mix of schemes, distraction scams are rising, especially in places we least expect it like grocery store lines.

    "It’s a huge violation," Sarah said. "I feel like I’m looking over my shoulder everywhere I go. It’s just horrible."

    Jennifer, Sarah’s daughter, filed a police report and shared the story online — and the responses came flooding in. Dozens of people chimed in with eerily similar experiences, revealing just how widespread the scam really is.

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    What you can do to protect yourself

    For Jennifer, a teacher with a limited income, falling victim to a scam wasn’t just an inconvenience, it had immediate financial consequences. "My money is gone, and I had just gotten paid," she told Fox LA. As living expenses continue to rise, incidents like this can disrupt far more than a day’s routine.

    And yet, that’s why scams like these are so effective, often appearing as benign interactions. “You need to understand the hallmarks of most scams: They contact you first, dangle some sort of bait in front of you and create a sense of urgency,” Jason Zirkle, training director at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, told Nerd Wallet.

    Remaining aware of your surroundings is key. Trusting your instincts, keeping personal belongings securely fastened and not hesitating to report suspicious behavior — whether to a store manager or law enforcement — can serve as your first line of defense.

    And if you do find yourself in Sarah and Jennifer’s position, it’s important to take action. The first step is to contact your bank or card issuer immediately to freeze the account to prevent further transactions. Most banks offer 24/7 fraud hotlines and mobile app features to lock your card with just a tap. Next, file a fraud report with your financial institution so they can begin investigating the unauthorized charges. This also increases your chances of recovering any lost funds.

    Be sure to file a police report as well, which not only helps authorities track patterns of criminal activity but may also be required by your bank for reimbursement.

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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 was an eyesore’: City of Oakland clears homeless encampment, relocating 70 people to state-funded shelter — but advocates say crews moved too fast without offering sufficient supports

    ‘It was an eyesore’: City of Oakland clears homeless encampment, relocating 70 people to state-funded shelter — but advocates say crews moved too fast without offering sufficient supports

    The City of Oakland has cleared a large homeless encampment on East 12th Street, relocating about 70 people to the Mandela House — a former hotel turned shelter, now funded through a state grant.

    The move marks one of the city’s most visible steps toward addressing homelessness, a crisis that has more than doubled in Oakland over the past decade.

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    Driven by rising rents, stagnant wages and a chronic shortage of affordable housing, more than 4,000 people in the city are currently unhoused.

    Oakland officials say the clearance is part of a broader push to connect unhoused residents with long-term housing support. It follows Governor Gavin Newsom’s rollout of a model ordinance aimed at helping cities respond to what he calls the “dangerous” and “unhealthy” conditions of encampments.

    “There’s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets,” Newsom said in a press release. “Local leaders asked for resources — we delivered the largest state investment in history.”

    As Oakland aligns with statewide efforts to address homelessness, the impact of encampment closures — and whether they help — remains at the center of the conversation.

    Homelessness in Oakland

    California’s homelessness crisis has reached a breaking point. According to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 187,000 people were homeless in the state last year — nearly 24% of the entire nation’s unhoused population. The pressure is mounting on state and local leaders to act fast.

    In response, Newsom announced $3.3 billion in new funding to help cities expand access to housing and treatment for the state’s most vulnerable.

    Cities like Oakland and San Francisco are rolling out targeted interventions. San Francisco’s newly elected mayor, Daniel Lurie, has pledged to tackle homelessness head-on. Oakland is already home to the Community Cabins program — a shelter initiative offering small, two-person cabins built on public land.

    These temporary shelters focus on stabilization and connecting residents to long-term support. The program has seen high participation rates, largely because cabins are built near existing encampments, allowing people to stay close to familiar spaces.

    “Oakland’s Cabin Community model is one of the most promising and cost-effective homeless shelter innovations I’ve seen,” said Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency.

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    Is this the only solution?

    City officials say closing the East 12th Street encampment is a step forward, but community reactions suggest a more complicated reality.

    Some residents and business owners say they’re relieved to see the area cleared, calling it a long-standing source of frustration.

    "I was driving by, and I was shocked to see the whole encampment was clean," said Veleda, an Oakland resident, in an interview with Fox KTVU. "It was an eyesore, and it was very hard for them to tackle it."

    But homeless advocates say that while shelters like Mandela House or Community Cabins represent a step in the right direction, the process of clearing encampments often unfolds with little warning and limited resources.

    "People lost medication, people lost their IDs, people lost their phones, people lost their clothing, their food," Needa Bee, director of the homeless advocacy group, The Village, told Fox KTVU. According to Bee, she was able to reconnect with 54 individuals from the East 12th encampment — none of whom were offered housing options before the site was cleared.

    The city maintains that shelter space was made available at Mandela House. But advocates argue the outreach efforts fell short, and question how effective these emergency responses really are in the long term.

    With growing pressure to “clean up” encampments, cities risk swapping long-term solutions for short-term optics — and sidelining the very people these efforts claim to support.

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

  • ‘I saw you’: Houston couple charged after being caught on camera allegedly breaking into vacant office building to strip an estimated $300K in copper wire — here’s who ends up holding the bag

    ‘I saw you’: Houston couple charged after being caught on camera allegedly breaking into vacant office building to strip an estimated $300K in copper wire — here’s who ends up holding the bag

    A couple was caught on camera allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of copper wire from a northwest Houston office building. While one suspect has been arrested, the other is still on the run.

    Investigators allege the pair stripped roughly $300,000 worth of copper from the 12,000-square-foot building and took two elevator control panels worth around $50,000. To get inside, they allegedly caused an additional $12,000 in damage by smashing windows and jimmying locked doors.

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    Justin Franklin and Christina Pivirotto have been charged with theft in connection with the June 2 incident. Franklin was arrested and later released on bond, but Pivirotto is still wanted by authorities.

    A cellphone video taken by an employee shows Franklin stuffing bags of copper wire into a red Toyota RAV4 as the worker confronts him.

    “That doesn’t look like your stuff. Those are wires,” the employee says in the footage.

    How did they pull it off?

    This wasn’t your average petty theft or smash-and-grab. It was an elaborate operation that reportedly took hours — a risky move considering how long they stayed on site.

    Constable Alan Rosen with Harris County Precinct 1 told Click 2 Houston he believes the suspects got away with it by posing as contractors or blending in, making them less suspicious to passersby. But their disguise didn’t stop them from getting caught on camera.

    Copper theft is no small problem. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates it costs American businesses about $1 billion each year. Copper wiring is a hot commodity for thieves, with roughly 8% of new construction wiring disappearing to theft annually. That adds up to about 15.7 million pounds of copper — enough to supply electrical wiring for more than 112,000 homes.

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    When copper goes missing, businesses pay the price

    Not every thief has the patience to strip copper for hours, but when it happens, the damage to businesses can be severe. Rosen says copper theft doesn’t hurt profits — it can shut down essential utilities.

    “It’s horrible. I’ve had several friends who are developers and who own centers where somebody has stolen the copper wire, and it completely shuts down business,” he told Click 2 Houston. “And then you’ve got to get permitting and you’ve got to get a bunch of things to rewire … it is a huge undertaking."

    To stay ahead of the problem, some companies are switching to alternatives like copper-clad steel (CCS) and copper-clad aluminum (CCA) — materials that are less attractive to thieves and harder to resell.

    But it’s not just the copper that hurts. The aftermath often brings even bigger costs: torn-up walls, damaged electrical systems, broken equipment, project delays and frustrated clients.

    If you spot someone helping themselves to copper wiring in your neighborhood, Rosen urges you to call local authorities immediately. He says catching thieves in the act is a job best left to professionals, not your camera roll.

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  • This woman thought she was sending a teen $2 for a bottle of water on a hot day — until she realized he’d taken $1,100. And she’s not the only one who’s been scammed by Atlanta’s ‘water boys’

    This woman thought she was sending a teen $2 for a bottle of water on a hot day — until she realized he’d taken $1,100. And she’s not the only one who’s been scammed by Atlanta’s ‘water boys’

    As the summer heat kicks in, nothing’s more refreshing than grabbing a cold bottle of water while you’re stuck in traffic. But for some Atlanta drivers, that quick sip has turned into a costly scam draining wallets faster than you can say “Cash App."

    So-called water boys — teens who hustle bottled water to passing cars — have been accused of using Cash App to take much more than just a few bucks. Two victims report losing over $1,000 each after believing they were simply being generous.

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    Tristen Richardson said her $2 water turned into an unexpected $1,100 charge after she handed her phone over so the seller could “type in the right username.”

    "My heart sank because I was like, oh my God, that’s like a big chunk of money," she told Fox 5 Atlanta.

    She’s not alone, but your thirst doesn’t have to drain your wallet. Here’s how to avoid falling for the trick and keep your summer spending chill.

    A costly lesson for drivers

    It’s easy to hand over a few dollars to someone selling bottled water on a sweltering day, but Richardson isn’t the only kind-hearted driver who ended up paying far more than expected.

    Earlier this month, Fox 5 Atlanta reported a similar incident involving a QR code, showing scammers are getting more creative by the day. In that case, a woman who asked to remain anonymous said she lost $800 after a group of water boys off Interstate 20 and Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard offered her a QR code when she didn’t have cash on hand.

    She intended to tip them $5, but after scanning the code with her phone, $800 vanished from her account without her confirming the amount, entering a PIN or using a fingerprint verification.

    "Cash App usually has three methods of verification before any money is sent," she told FOX 5. "None of those three verification methods were utilized. They were all bypassed and $800 just taken out."

    It’s unclear how the verification steps were skipped, but experts say scam apps and spoofed links can trick devices into authorizing payments.

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    Trust your gut

    Most victims say they just wanted to help. They assumed the teens selling water were legit. But experts warn these incidents are part of a growing trend that’s catching unsuspecting Good Samaritans off guard.

    Rajiv Garg, a professor of information systems and operations management at Emory University, said phishing scams using QR codes are on the rise as more people rely on digital payments.

    "If you don’t see where this QR code is leading you to, it could be a scam," he told Fox 5, adding that the best way to avoid these scams is to learn and follow best practices for online transactions.

    If you want to stay safe, here are a few tips: never hand over your phone, no matter how trustworthy someone seems. If you prefer to pay digitally, open your payment app yourself and manually enter the amount and username. And skip scanning random QR codes on the spot.

    For peace of mind, keep a few small bills in your glove box. It’s old-school, but it keeps your account details out of the wrong hands. While you’re at it, check your app’s security settings. Enable PIN or fingerprint verification for every transaction. It only takes a few taps, but it can block scammers fast.

    Above all, trust your instincts. If someone seems pushy or tries to rush you into paying, roll up your window and drive on. That’s Richardson’s new rule.

    "If you’re in Atlanta and you pass by the water boys, I wouldn’t even press my finger on the roll-down window button," she said. "Don’t even bother."

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  • The US housing market now has 500K more sellers than buyers — the most ever recorded, says Redfin. And that means some have to accept ‘the writing on the wall’ as far as home prices go

    The US housing market now has 500K more sellers than buyers — the most ever recorded, says Redfin. And that means some have to accept ‘the writing on the wall’ as far as home prices go

    The tables are turning in the U.S. housing market, and this time, buyers are calling the shots.

    There are an estimated 1.9 million homes for sale across the country, but only about 1.5 million active homebuyers. That leaves a gap of nearly 500,000 — the largest on record, according to Redfin.

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    “The balance of power in the U.S. housing market has shifted toward buyers, but a lot of sellers have yet to see or accept the writing on the wall,” said Redfin Senior Economist Asad Khan. “Many are still holding out hope that their home is the exception and will fetch top dollar.”

    U.S. home prices were still up 3.9% year over year in February — a slight dip from January’s 4.1% gain — but a growing supply of homes and easing mortgage rates are cooling the market, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index.

    That’s left some sellers — especially those who bought at the peak — trying to recoup their investment just as buyer demand starts to slow. With listings rising and buyers getting more selective, the big question is: Is now the best time to sell?

    A shift in control

    Redfin economists expect home prices to dip by about 1% by the end of 2025. Demand is already down. Sales of existing homes fell 1.1% year over year in April, hitting a six-month low.

    Buying a home remains a major financial leap. With economic uncertainty fueled by tariffs, layoffs and shifting federal policies, many would-be buyers are hitting pause on one of life’s biggest purchases.

    Sellers are already feeling the sting. Take a single-family home in Sonoma, California: once listed for over $3.5 million during the pandemic boom, the 3-bedroom, 4-bathroom property eventually sold for $1.86 million — nearly half its original price.

    The home saw several price cuts before it sold in April for 6.8% below its most recent $1.995 million asking price, according to Zillow, as reported by Newsweek.

    That sale reflects how far the market has come from its 2021 peak. Back then, rock-bottom mortgage rates and limited inventory fueled bidding wars and drove up prices. But now, things look different.

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    The balance tips further

    If you’re thinking about selling, don’t wait too long. Listing sooner could help you avoid chasing a cooling market. And if your home’s already listed and not getting much attention, it may be time to switch gears — whether that means adjusting your asking price or making small, high-impact upgrades to help it stand out.

    Many homeowners are still pricing based on what they paid during the market’s pandemic-era peak, not what today’s market will bear.

    “A lot of the people selling right now bought in 2021 or 2022, when home prices were near their height,” said Corey Stambaugh, a Redfin Premier agent in North Carolina. “Even though we advise them to list at today’s market value, a lot of them decide to list high to recoup their money.”

    But overpricing your home isn’t just wishful thinking — it can be a costly mistake. Properties that sit too long tend to raise red flags to buyers, giving them more leverage to negotiate.

    For buyers, the market is starting to tilt in your favor, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go in unprepared. Getting pre-approved can make you a stronger buyer and help you stay realistic about what you can actually afford. When you’re ready to make an offer, negotiate like your rent just went up. You might be able to ask for repairs, appliances or even that oddly charming mid-century credenza in the living room.

    Whether you’re buying or selling, the key is knowing when to move — and not being afraid to play a little hardball when the timing’s finally on your side.

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

  • ‘I saw the potential’: This 47-year-old spent $50K reviving 8 abandoned apartments — now they bring in $220K a year, but the hidden costs took her by surprise

    ‘I saw the potential’: This 47-year-old spent $50K reviving 8 abandoned apartments — now they bring in $220K a year, but the hidden costs took her by surprise

    It’s easy to fall for the charm and potential of a place like Minden, Louisiana — just ask Sara McDaniel.

    In 2020, she came across an opportunity to purchase an eight-unit, villa-style apartment complex that had been abandoned for nearly 40 years. By then, McDaniel was no stranger to real estate; she already owned over 20 properties, ranging from short-term rentals to vacant land.

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    “The villas weren’t my first rodeo with abandoned properties,” McDaniel told CNBC Make It. “But this project really pushed my skill set.”

    In 2021, she purchased what would become The Villas at Spanish Court for $51,306, using her savings to pay for it. But was dipping into her savings to invest in a long-neglected property really worth it?

    Falling for potential

    McDaniel wasn’t just chasing financial freedom — she was sprinting toward it. As a devotee of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement, she embraced extreme saving and strategic investing to achieve early retirement. The premise is to save aggressively, invest wisely and eventually live off small withdrawals from a carefully built portfolio — typically around 3% to 4% — or supplement with part-time work.

    For McDaniel, real estate was her golden ticket. In her early 30s, she started saving nearly 50% of her income to build a life of freedom and flexibility.

    “I was very confident when we closed the deal. But it wasn’t long thereafter that I literally started having panic attacks wondering, ‘What in the world did I get myself into?’” McDaniel admitted. While real estate can be a smart path to financial independence, it’s not exactly a fairy tale. Market shifts and unforeseen expenses can turn a dream investment into a cautionary tale.

    Read more: You don’t have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here’s how

    An unexpected surprise

    What seemed like a promising investment quickly turned into a financial nightmare. The charm of the apartments faded fast when ceilings began caving in and bullet holes in the windows hinted at deeper structural and safety issues.

    Only after closing the deal did McDaniel realize she had skipped a crucial step — an environmental hazard assessment. To bring the properties up to livable standards, she had to pour in far more money than she’d planned. She sold another investment property for $175,364, added $8,000 from other income streams, secured a $202,725 interim construction loan and took out a permanent mortgage of $290,710.

    When the villas were fully restored 18 months later, the total cost had ballooned to $729,885.

    McDaniel’s experience highlights a hard truth about real estate investing: what looks like a great deal can quickly become a financial drain. Rushing into an investment without fully evaluating the risks can end up costing far more than the purchase price.

    Despite the setbacks, by 2024, the villas were fully booked for approximately 1,300 nights at an average rate of $143 per night, generating a total revenue of $224,133 for the year.

    Getting into the market

    Real estate can be a great investment, but not everyone wants to deal with renovations, maintenance or surprise expenses that eat into profits. Fortunately, there are ways to tap into the market without purchasing a property outright.

    One option is investing in fractional shares of vacation and rental properties, sometimes for as little as $100. This allows investors to gain exposure to real estate without the overhead costs or financial risks associated with full ownership.

    For those looking to make a larger investment, commercial real estate can offer strong returns. According to Nolo, commercial properties typically yield an annual return of 6% to 12% of the purchase price, making them an attractive option for portfolio diversification.

    What to read next

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

  • ‘Please do not go to the airport’: Florida-based regional airline Silver Airways abruptly shuts down after filing for bankruptcy, leaving travelers stranded — what to do if you’re affected

    ‘Please do not go to the airport’: Florida-based regional airline Silver Airways abruptly shuts down after filing for bankruptcy, leaving travelers stranded — what to do if you’re affected

    There’s missing a flight, and then there’s missing every flight because your airline just went bankrupt.

    That’s what happened to hundreds of travelers this week when Silver Airways, a Florida-based regional carrier, abruptly announced it was ceasing operations effective immediately.

    Don’t miss

    Passengers flying between Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean were left at airports with no warning, no alternative flight plans and no customer service reps in sight.

    “We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today, June 11, 2025,” the airline posted on Instagram. "Please do not go to the airport."

    The bankruptcy came with zero notice and even fewer answers, raising questions for customers who already paid for tickets. Here’s what led to the airline’s sudden nosedive — and what to do if your summer vacation just hit major turbulence.

    What went wrong?

    Silver Airways has officially flown its last mile. Roughly five months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Florida-based airline grounded all flights — and not because of stormy weather.

    In a recent statement, the company revealed it had sold its assets to another airline holding company as part of a restructuring effort. But instead of reviving the brand, the new owner decided to ground all operations.

    “In an attempt to restructure in bankruptcy, Silver entered into a transaction to sell its assets to another airline holding company, who unfortunately has determined to not continue Silver’s flight operations,” the airline wrote in a statement.

    Silver had hoped the bankruptcy would help secure new capital and offer a path toward financial recovery. Instead, the collapse has left travelers stranded and staff without jobs — a costly detour for everyone involved.

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    What about the travelers?

    If you’re one of the many people left grounded by Silver’s sudden shutdown, don’t expect a refund from the airline itself. In its final Instagram post, the company made it clear that customers won’t be reimbursed directly.

    But all hope isn’t lost.

    According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you might be able to recover your money depending on how you paid. If you bought your ticket with a credit card, you can file a dispute with your card issuer under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

    Be sure to include a copy of your ticket and receipt, and clearly explain that the airline has ceased operations and failed to deliver the service you paid for.

    Just don’t wait too long. You typically have 60 days from the date your statement was issued — the one that includes the airfare charge — to file the dispute.

    If you booked through a travel agent or third-party site, it’s worth reaching out to see if they can help secure a refund or offer any alternatives. Some agencies have extra protections or recourse built into their services.

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

  • Dr. Oz and RFK Jr. are promising to cure chronic insurance headaches — but experts say no scalpel is sharp enough to cut through ‘prior authorization’ red tape

    Dr. Oz and RFK Jr. are promising to cure chronic insurance headaches — but experts say no scalpel is sharp enough to cut through ‘prior authorization’ red tape

    If your doctor recommended a test or treatment only for your insurance provider to demand more paperwork first, you’re not alone. That obstacle, known as prior authorization, has become a notorious bottleneck in the U.S. health care system, delaying care and frustrating both patients and providers.

    About 16% of insured adults say they’ve run into issues with prior authorization, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation. And it’s more than just an inconvenience — it’s part of a larger problem. Americans pay more for health care than anyone else in the world, but still face worse outcomes and declining life expectancy, even as premiums, prescription prices and hospital costs continue to climb.

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    Now, federal officials say help may be on the way. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that several of the country’s largest insurers have pledged to overhaul the system and reduce delays.

    While that sounds promising, some experts are urging caution.

    "I think the question is whether this is actually going to come to fruition," said Miranda Yaver, a health policy professor at the University of Pittsburgh, in an interview with National Public Radio (NPR). "We’ll have to see to what extent they make good on their promise, because right now, it is a pledge."

    Red tape’s breaking point

    Prior authorization has long been one of the most unpopular parts of the U.S. health care system.

    Despite years of promises from insurers to fix it, little has changed. At a press event on June 30, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz acknowledged that this isn’t the first time insurers have promised to streamline the process.

    So what’s different now?

    “There’s violence in the streets over these issues,” Oz said, referencing the 2024 killing of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson — a tragedy that shook the health care industry and sparked widespread outrage. The man charged with Thompson’s murder, Luigi Mangione, had long posted his struggles with insurance denials and mounting medical debt. He frequently wrote about living with chronic back pain and expressed anger over being denied the treatments he believed he needed.

    A survey by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago found that about 7 in 10 adults believe insurance denials or the profits earned by health insurance companies bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death.

    Read more: You don’t have to be a millionaire to gain access to this $1B private real estate fund. In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here’s how

    What’s changing

    Federal health officials say the process should become faster, clearer and less frustrating by the end of the year. The Department of Health and Human Services, alongside AHIP, the main lobbying group for insurers, says the initiative includes six key changes:

    • Move prior authorization online, replacing outdated systems with streamlined digital platforms.
    • Cut red tape by reducing the number of services that require prior approval.
    • Make approvals portable so patients don’t have to start over when they switch insurance mid-treatment.
    • Boost transparency so patients and providers get timely updates on decisions and know how to appeal.
    • Fast-track the routine care by granting instant approvals for common treatments.
    • Require that licensed medical professionals review all clinical denials.

    Still, officials acknowledge this won’t be a simple fix. Even as agencies work to reduce bureaucracy, they’re facing their own obstacles. The Trump administration and some Republican lawmakers are backing proposals that would require certain Medicaid recipients to regularly prove they are working to keep coverage.

    Whether these reforms lead to meaningful relief or just more promises remains to be seen.

    What to read next

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