#Business broker firms

[ctadvise]

The role of a business broker in the sale and purchase of a business

Selling your business is something that most businesses do only once in a lifetime, and business owners consider working with a business broker, an expert in selling businesses, and make sure they maximize the sale price of their business.

A business broker is a company that assists business owners in the purchase and sale of small and large businesses. Their task includes helping companies secure a favorable price, submit paperwork correctly, and fulfil any licensing and permitting requirements.

Business sale consultants work with business brokers when selling your business, and by seeking the help of a business broker, you can learn the basics of the process and avoid making careless mistakes. They can also act as a facilitator for the transaction and make sure that the negotiations go smoothly, the transaction proceeds at the right pace, and the business is ultimately sold with all parties satisfied.

Business sale consultants in Seattle may also reduce your upfront costs of selling the business. The business broker for CTA (Company Transition Advisor) does not require any upfront fees, valuation fees, or monthly administration fees for representation. By providing you with expert advice related to market conditions, we can help you evaluate potential offers to buy your business.

The role of the business broker in Bellevue, WA, is critical, as nothing can happen until a price is established and the business facts are known. Hiring a business broker will work on your behalf to secure the best offer possible for your business. They are skilled negotiators, and they also understand the negotiating process. They also provide you with knowledge and advice to assist in evaluating any offers you receive.

The following are the advantages of using a business broker as a business seller and business owner when selling your business:

Business brokers are looking for businesses to buy, and our marketing and sales efforts are directed at business buyers.

Business brokers for businesses attract more buyers for your business, and business brokers attract more potential buyers that will be exposed to your business.

Business brokers are well trained and experienced at valuing businesses, and they help our sellers set the right asking price for their business.

A business broker is experienced in selling businesses and maintaining confidentiality.

A business broker assists the buyer in obtaining financing and provides skilled negotiating services.

A CTA business broker applies current market knowledge, transactional experience, and the necessary skill set to efficiently facilitate every step of the business sale process and achieve the business's win and sale. Visit us now at https://www.ctadvise.com/.

[orangebeachbizbroker]

Broker for Buying a Business in Foley, AL (251) 390-0001

TNT Business Brokers not only aids current business owners, but also those aspiring to own a business in the future. We help sellers' market and sell their businesses confidentially to the next generation of entrepreneurs. For buyers, we find a business that is perfect for them and set them up for success. Beyond being simply a brokerage, TNT offers personalized concierge service to customers throughout every step of their transaction to ensure customer satisfaction.

TNT Business Brokers 25910-O Canal Rd. Unit 275 Orange Beach, AL 36561 (251) 390-0001 https://dynamitebrokers.com/

[bdmfranchise]

Why Employ Professional Franchise Brokers in the UAE

Experience and expertise play a crucial role in determining a profitable franchise investment.  Hiring professional and experienced franchise brokers can elevate your franchise investment. Our brokers are well-versed in the market and have an excellent command of identifying the right and most profitable brands.

They regularly attend seminars and business events, connecting with numerous brand owners to understand their goals and visions. Their ability to develop cordial relationships with their networks is unparalleled. This is why every franchise investor should consider hiring our professional franchise brokers for maximum benefits. We are offering the best service to all our clients.

Numerous companies are providing professional and well-trained franchise brokers. However, it's crucial to ensure you're hiring a certified one. You can connect with our company and hire our franchise brokers. We offer the best and most effective franchise consulting service. We provide it all if you need a broker or a franchise consultant. With just one call, our team is ready to assist you with the best franchise support. We'll help you make well-informed decisions and provide complete information about all franchises, ensuring a seamless and efficient process. 

Are you ready to invest in a profitable franchise? However, you need to learn how to do it or what to do. Then, do not take stress off anything when we offer end-to-end support to all our clients. Give us one call, and our team will be right here to provide the best solutions. We are a certified company offering the best franchise solutions. Whether you want to expand your business or are looking for the best and most profitable franchise for the investment we are here to assist you. Hire our company to acquire the best Franchise Business Opportunities UAE.

We are here to make your franchise experience seamless. When you appoint our franchise consultant or broker, you will be free from all the hustle of franchises, from research to finding the right franchise. So, whenever you are searching for the best and most experienced franchise broker or franchise consultant in UAE, Contact us. 

[businessbrokertradegroup]

About Us

Business Broker Trade Group

Welcome to the Business Broker Trade Group, a vibrant community for professionals in the business brokerage industry. Our mission is to enhance the standards of business brokerage by providing members with access to the latest market insights, regulatory updates, and best practices in business valuation and sales. We offer a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development, catering to both seasoned brokers and those new to the field.

Our diverse membership spans across various specialties, including finance, legal, and marketing, fostering a collaborative environment where ideas are exchanged and partnerships formed. Whether you're looking to expand your network, sharpen your skills, or stay updated on industry trends, the Business Broker Trade Group is your essential resource for success in the ever-evolving world of business brokerage.

[angelmiddleton]

If you're looking for a Houston, Texas business for sale, there are plenty of options available. Houston is a thriving city with a strong economy, making it an ideal location for entrepreneurs and investors. Whether you're interested in buying an existing business or starting one from scratch, Houston has something to offer. From small businesses to large corporations, there are many opportunities to explore. Consider working with a reputable broker or conducting your own research to find the right opportunity for you.

[cuubism]

I'm a sucker for 80s Dreamling AUs and would love to hear about yours ❤️

My 80s au is sooooo close to being finished, it's a human au about stock broker Hob meeting goth musician Dream and realizing how meaningless his life has become 😂 basically I saw some 80s au art and was like 'how on earth would these two such different people ever meet' so I wrote how it would happen. Also featuring my beloved New York.

-

He realizes distantly that he’s finished the wine. He didn’t notice, too busy watching Morpheus and just kind of lifting the bottle mechanically to his mouth. He sets it aside, sways pleasantly on his feet, and catches Morpheus’s eye again just as he’s dropping into the final bars of what Hob thinks is probably his last song. Morpheus’s lips curl into a smile, and he swipes his sweaty hair back from his forehead, baring his throat as his neck cranes. God fucking damn Hob to hell. And then Morpheus steps far enough into the crowd to grab Hob by the arm and tug him back towards the makeshift stage. Hob stumbles after him. Morpheus wraps a hand around the back of his neck, twists the other in the front of his shirt, eyes glittering with so much life even as the supporting band plays on in the background without him. Hob’s whole focus narrows in on him. He gazes at the sweat gleaming on Morpheus’s neck, the dark smear of his lips, his heavy-lidded eyes, feels Morpheus’s palm on the back of his neck like a collar dragging him forward, and when Morpheus pulls on him he just goes. And the thing is… Hob’s always just a little bit… careful, when he’s out and about. At a party like the one where he had met Morpheus, no one really cared, and the ones who might were too drunk or high to even notice. But when he’s somewhere he doesn’t know he plays it closer to the vest. Because Wall Street is still a hypermasculine boys’ club, and this might all be legal now but that doesn’t mean Hob won’t be kicked out of his firm on his arse, and he’s always been too much of a realist, too much of a survivalist, to edge too close to that cliff. But as Morpheus drags him into a kiss, someone in the audience whoops.

[robfinancialtip]

🗽🌍Raja Iqdeimat, a successful pastry firm owner, describes her story. Born in Abu Dhabi, she grew up in several places, including Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, and Kuwait before moving to Turkey, California, and finally New York. Despite her parents' lack of education, she was the first member of her family to pursue higher education and succeed. She credits her parents for instilling entrepreneurial skills and determination in her despite their lack of formal schooling.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌱Growing up as the youngest member of a large family of nine, Raja felt unusual, but she believed that each family had a unique person who contributed in different ways. Despite lacking a formal education, she describes how her father was a successful businessman who inspired her to pursue her aspirations. Raja's mother, though uneducated, was hardworking and concerned about her family's well-being, imparting in Raja a strong work ethic and tenacity.

😔💼Growing up in different places and seeking a profession in finance was filled with personal losses and difficulties. Despite working as a brokerage manager in Jordan for seven years, dealing derivatives, equities, and bonds, she felt great loneliness following the deaths of her parents when she moved to the United States as a single mother without a broker's license. When the mass layoff in 2008, she was unemployed for six to seven months in California, struggling to support herself and her kid. Realizing that California's emphasis on the film industry did not fit with her career goals, she boldly moved to New York, where she swiftly obtained a job at an insurance firm and began rebuilding her life.

🏙️🎉While working at a New York bank in 2018, her manager questioned her capacity to buy a Manhattan apartment, which proved critical. This distrust motivated Raja to pursue entrepreneurship and independence. Despite difficulties and misgivings, she bravely launched her own business, motivated by her passion for entrepreneurship and need for autonomy. This marked the beginning of Délice Macarons, her venture into the world of cooking pastry, and her journey toward self-reliance and success.

🚀🧁Raja, a dessert shop owner in New Jersey, faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite lacking retail expertise, she managed everything from decoration to recruitment, relying on her entrepreneurial flair. She and her chef friend opened their first physical store in Cranford, New Jersey, in January 2020. Despite financial constraints, they shifted their business strategy to focus on fundamental products like bread. Raja's resilience and ability to transform adversity into opportunity remained evident.

🌟🗣️Raja's message encourages listeners, emphasizing the value of endurance, adaptation, and believing in oneself. Despite various barriers, including financial difficulties and the enormous task of beginning a business in a new nation, she stayed determined to succeed, demonstrating that anything is possible with devotion and hard work. Raja's path demonstrates the importance of taking risks, pursuing passion, and never giving up on one's goals. Her tale resonates with individuals who want to overcome obstacles and succeed on their terms. Raja highlights the importance of perseverance, hard work, and financial acumen. She promotes confidence in oneself and pursuing one's goals, emphasizing that hard work combined with passion may lead to success in any activity.

[melkyt]

Modern BG3 Idea

Astarion: Lawyer Intern in a super prestigious law firm, functions on coffee and spite. He has never known sleep and doubts he will ever. Because of this, when research for a big case is thrown his way, he doubles down, gets even more exhausted, and messes up.

Gale: Self-proclaimed scholar that "dropped out" aka kicked out of a quite prestigious college just before completing his degree after a bad time with a Proffesor who was his mentor since he was a kid. Now he is not sure what to do, is depressed and scrambling to get his life together.

Wyll: He is part of a corps that travels the world and helps people anywhere they can. His father wanted him to join the military, and Wyll was well on his way but got involved with some unsavory people and landed in legal trouble. His volunteer work, while something he would anyway, is also the price he pays for a certain youthful indiscretion

Mizora: a lawyer working for Zariel, who runs at least half the city. With high ambitions, she is always looking for a way to get an edge in any way possible as long as it is within the law. Though sometimes the law can be changed in her favor, and she makes full use of it. Always sends Wyll obscure asks and sends him on errands to strengthen her position.

Raphael: the rich kid who does not get along with his family but uses the wealth and pleasure such connections provide to the fullest. He is disatisfied that his father is content to sit back and not get involved in controlling the city. Mephisto is the oldest and most influential party in the city with a net of information brokers that he does nothing with as far as Raphael can see. So Raph breaks away to start his own dealings in the business of information and is quite successful but is still insecure that his success is only because of his father.

Karlach: is an orphan who grew up in the lower city. She got involved with one of the three criminal organizations in the area as that's just what one did. She got close to the leader of one of them until he double crossed her and dumped a lot of his debt onto her. Debt that she is still paying off by playing mercenary and killer to Zariel. It's been a decade, and she is almost out. at least she hopes so.

Halsin runs a clinic in the lower city where he takes in any and all orphans, homeless and people just down on their luck and gives them odd jobs. His place is considered a neutral ground in the chaos of those streets. This started when he saw someone very important to him die, and there was nothing he could do then. So he promised never to let anything like that happen again. It is wildly known that if you need help, Halsin will help regardless of who or what you are within the intricate power struggles of the city. Though the man does have his limits, and nobody is looking forward to finding them. He discovers a plot that would directly affect the sabctuary he has built and take it on himself to discover what's happening.

Kagha takes over. She is an ambitious woman but with not as much vision for good as Halsin. She has for a long time wanted to make the clinic more official and within the lines of the law but that means anybody who is not 100% legal due to being a refugee or any other reason, will have to leave and many of them will die because of her actions.

Zevlor is a veteran who volunteers around the city. He was once part of the same corp as Wyll under Zariel but saw how corrupt it could get and broke away, which destroyed his life. Anyone spurned by Zariel will not have much of a life and be forced on the streets. He regrets that some of his team followed him in the choice. They are hiding out in the city, hoping to bring down Zariel, and all of them can't legally be in the country as they joined from all different places.

Shadowheart just finished studying to be a doctor to set up an operation within the biggest hospital in the city by order of her cult leader. This cult is small in the city but wants to expand, so they have been working on putting their members in positions of power. She has a mission and will let nothing stop her, and her actions while not getting her caught are on someone's radar. Not to mention now that she is in the outside world experiencing how everyone else lives, she is starting to get some doubts.

Lae'zel - She is a soldier who came to the city from the same place as Shadowheart. Her organization fights to prevent cults from starting up and succeeding. This is painted as a noble pursuit. Yet the reason is that their leader wants to wipe out any and all competition. Lae'zel believes in her cause and seeks to root out the conspiracy. So she gets a job as a security guard in the hospital where Shadowheart is working.

Now to the criminal element 😎

Gortash: Weapons dealer for every organization in the city. His public company has defense contracts and a myriad of production dealings that focus on innovation and war. On the other side he provides arms and men for the other two factions.

Orin has only recently taken over as leader of a vast network of assassins and killers for hire after the very unfortunate murder of her sibling. Everyone knows she killed them as she is quite proud of the kill. Under her leadership, the organization is slowly collapsing, and she is scrambling to keep it together before someone turns on her in the same way that she did on the previous lead. Her father, who had supported the organization, turns away as soon as things start collapsing, as he has no interest in failure.

Ketheric is old money that secrety ran the city, was raising his daughter to take over as he tired but she had run away after cracking from the pressure. News eventually reached him that she had died. So he gave up for the most part in everything. This opened the way for Orin and Gortash to rise up and fill the gaps. Before Orin's sibling died, they were angling to take over as Ketheric's successor and were very close. Gortash tried to pick the pieces, but Ketheric hates the young man and does not see him as someone who can lead. Tensions are getting high between the three factions.

---

That is the scene for this AU.

Now Astarion as the linchpin to get this whole thing started. The case he fumbles with due to exhaustion is something Raphael's father had set in motion decades ago under the noses of everyone. He was biding his time while everyone fought within the city to use his net to take over. That seemingly falls through and leaves a vaccum in the powerstruggle over the city. This empty space can be filled and give the winning faction power enough to control everything.

Astarion runs away as the information he holds is valuable enough to kill and while he took alot of abuse from the higher ups, he would rather not die. He has nowhere to go but decides the lower city is the easiest place to dissapear so he comes to Halsin's clinic.

Now say the Durge survived the murder attempt by Orin thnks to Halsin and is an amnesiac doing odd jobs around the area. Living their best relaxed life away from the drama of their old life.

They are cleaning up at night in the clinic and Astarion runs into the room in a panic. Assassins/Hunters after him. He is out of breath, clutching the information from the case to his chest.

The Durge acts on instinct, not to protect but to kill. At the end they are standing in the middle of the clinic covered in blood and terrified of the memories that suddenly break through the blood fog.

Astarion just a tad terrified of them but also grateful he found a place to rest for the time being.

The Durge cleans everything up on autopilot, and then they talk. So starts their journey navigating all the factions in the city while trying not to die xd.

(I may write this as my next fic, hehe)

[legendlarkpod]

question for the illustrious kat ✨ do you have anything written down about dwarvish marriage ceremonies on esudel? i think the only details we got about it in the podcast are that it doesn't have to be monogamous or romantic, and i would love to hear more if you have anything you'd like to share 👀

Oooooo! Thank you for asking I love diving into the world building.

Dwarven marriage ceremonies are more about contracts than celebrations of love and are by and large small and formal affairs. For love marriages there might be a party thrown after the signing of the marriage contract, but often it’s little more than a meeting with a marriage broker and a firm handshake.

The marriage broker is a dwarven civil clerk who specializes in writing up the contract that binds the marriage. They’re lawyers and mediators, listening to the terms and demands of all sides and negotiating a legal document that binds them together. In dwarven society, that’s all that marriage really is— a binding contract between persons.

Dwarven marriage is used to bind business partnerships, family and political alliances, arbitration agreements, and all sorts of other deals in which the two (or more) participants are bound together. Dwarven divorce is frequent, and the clauses regarding divorce are written into the marriage contract. For some business dealings, divorce may be automatic when the contract is fulfilled. However despite this the process of dwarf divorce (dwavorce?) is, more often than not, a messy and heated affair stemming from the terms of the contract being perceived as unfulfilled by one or both of the parties.

There are, as mentioned before, still love marriages which are more of what we would traditionally think of as marriage. These can sometimes be tricky, as all of a dwarf’s existing marriage contracts must be renegotiated any time a dwarf marries again, and some couples that have complicated or contentious marriage contracts already in place may choose to throw a party and celebrate their commitment to one another without the formal contract to avoid that hassle. However this is generally frowned upon, and old school dwarves consider it incredibly foolish to make a commitment without a binding contract.

Throughout a dwarfs life they will marry and divorce a score of times, and build up a complicated web of contracts. A whole cottage industry exists to organize these contracts and advise people on how they can consolidate marriages or trim down the size of their web and shed contracts which are no longer relevant.

Woof ok that’s probably enough for now! But I could go on and on. I really had a lot of fun thinking about how the self imposed dwarven isolation would result in very different cultural practices than the rest of Avelis!

[ctadvise]

A business broker is someone who is involved in the buying and selling of your business on the path that you want to take. A business broker also provides the business on the market with the best piece of advice, although their offer also retains the service of a business broker or business transfer advisor. https://www.ctadvise.com/.

[orangebeachbizbroker]

Local Business Brokers Near Me in Foley, AL (251) 390-0001

TNT Business Brokers not only aids current business owners, but also those aspiring to own a business in the future. We help sellers' market and sell their businesses confidentially to the next generation of entrepreneurs. For buyers, we find a business that is perfect for them and set them up for success. Beyond being simply a brokerage, TNT offers personalized concierge service to customers throughout every step of their transaction to ensure customer satisfaction.

TNT Business Brokers 25910-O Canal Rd. Unit 275 Orange Beach, AL 36561 (251) 390-0001 https://dynamitebrokers.com/

[reallyromealone]

I would really like to see more of the bonten x male reader uncanny valley series. Like maybe the rest of bonten sees what the reader looks like as his true self and maybe some feelings start to arise😏🤍

This is long

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

After the situation with Ran, (name) never spoke about it but there was an unspoken IOU between them for (name) basically saving his life.

But ran couldn't get that evening out of his head.

Why was he thinking that (name), the most infamous information broker was...cute?

Seeing him be loving to his cats even if it was with a deadpan expression.

So he repressed any excitement or curiousity when he saw the man walk into the meeting room "hello gentlemen, is there a reason you called me here so urgently?" There was that smile that Ran now saw through, it was still unsettling though.

"We wanted to thank you for caring for one of our own, you didn't need to do it but you did" Kakucho spoke evenly as (name) scanned the room "you're welcome, you men provide good business so it's best to keep you all alive when possible"

Once (name) left, Ran followed after the broker and pulled him into an empty room "oh Mr. Haitani, is there something I can help you with?" (Name) no longer had the smile on his face as he stared at the other with that same almost annoyed look but ran knew better.

He was curious.

Ran was very quickly picking up on his expressions and was determined to see them a---"Mr Haitani?"

Ran snapped back and put on his charming smile as he crowded (name) against a wall, arms beside the man "I wanna take you out for dinner" Ran said smoothly but (name) have no reaction, something ran wasn't used too at all.

"If this is because I helped you, I will have to formally decline"

Rans never been rejected so he was kind of confused on what to do next "this isn't about that"

"Then why would you want to take me to dinner?"

"Because I think you're cute?"

(Name) looked like he was struggling to process what he said, not understanding "how could you find me attractive?" He's always been told he's unsettling or creepy, cute wasn't a thing he heard... ever.

Ran has never met someone who either didn't have any self worth or just didn't understand what he possesses.

Ran didn't give up after that.

Oh no, this was a mission now.

(Name) facinated him.

And because of this facination, this gained the rest of Bontens attention.

And why the hell Ran tried but failed to get any information on (name).

(Name)s job was selling information, of course he would have means of erasing himself.

So Ran decided to enter (name)s space agian but with Rindō by his side.

"You weren't kidding..." Rindō said as he received a glass of whiskey in a cat paw glass "why is this what I expected and what I least expected at the same time"

"I hope you two are fine with (treat), I don't typically have guests so I don't prepare for it" (name)s tone was flat as he stared at the brothers "so why are you here?"

Rindō was distracted by the kittens who climbed on him and ran had that smile on his face that made (name) suspicious "can't I just see you?"

"No?"

Rindō snorted at the answer as Ran kept his cool "is this about your question earlier? I don't understand why you insist on that"

"Question?" Rindō asked curiously as he took in his brothers frustrated expression and (name)s surprisingly not creepy smile, the broker staring him down "if it's to get better deals then it's a firm decline"

"It's not! I just want to take you to dinner, maybe get to know you more"

"Wait you asked him out?" Rindō was surprised, (name) most definitely wasn't Rans type.

Ran liked easy bimbo types.

Not "I can and will murder you if you cross me" types like (name) who was dressed in soft clothing that made him look more approachable.

"And he said no""I rejected him"

"Why?" Rindō asked genuinely curious and (name) still stiff and deadpan responded genuinely "why does he want to?"

"Why do you?" Rindō asked his brother, now invested and Ran sighed "I genuinely can't give a reason other than I want to know you more"

Rindō glanced at (name), trying to read him but the man was locked up tight.

But the slight furrow oh his brow gave him away, giving him an almost innocent look.

But Rindō knew better.

"I don't know what you aim to achieve but fine, I will dedicate this Friday at 7pm till 9pm" (name) already had his phone out and setting the date "I know someone who owns a restaurant, it's casual"

And like that Rans phone pinged and he received time and address.

"If you are more than ten minutes late, I will leave"

"Got it"

Rindō was a huge gossip so it didn't take long for the rest of Bonten to learn that their broker and Ran were going on a date.

So when the night came, Ran was dressed in his nicest casual clothes and noted (name) also dressed nicely "you look good"

"A friend dressed me"

Ran smiled at his blunt honestly and the two went inside the restaurant "so how do you know these people?" "If I enjoy myself I will tell you"

The rest of Bonten were scattered around, Mikey more so there for the food but the seven Bonten men couldn't deny that (name)...Well he looked good.

He didn't look stiff and formal.

"Why are you nervous?" Ran asked calmly when he noticed the unsettling smile peak out "what do you mean?" (Name) was suspicious at how he figured that out "you're surprisingly easy to read once one figures out to look out for"

"I see..."

"So why are you nervous?"

"This is my first..."

"Date?"

"Yes"

Ran gently took his hand and leaned to kiss his knuckles "then let me shake those worries"

Rindō was making a gagging face at Sanzu who looked all but appalled.

But the men did take notice of the shocked expression on (name)s face, it was slight but it was there.

It was cute.

Mikey was even staring at (name) with a strange expression.

The date went smoothly and Ran learned (name) loved Puns after ran off handedly said "bowl appetite" to the food he ordered and (name) couldn't hold back the laugh that rippled from his throat.

It was the sweetest thing Bonten had ever experienced.

He had a very cute smile.

And at that moment, (name) had all of Bonten wrapped around his finger.

Ran drove (name) home and walked him to his apartment door "this was enjoyable" (name) said unsure "you wanna do this again?" Ran asked softly and (name) looked unsure "I would enjoy that"

Ran smiled at this and leaned to kiss him, (name) surprised but kissed back.

Rans lips were soft and warm.

Interesting.

"So I will text you?"

"Ok"

[follow-up-news]

The 6% commission, a standard in home purchase transactions, is no more. In a sweeping move expected to dramatically reduce the cost of buying and selling a home, the National Association of Realtors announced Friday a settlement with groups of homesellers, agreeing to end landmark antitrust lawsuits by paying $418 million in damages and eliminating rules on commissions. The NAR, which represents more than 1 million Realtors, also agreed to put in place a set of new rules. One prohibits agents’ compensation from being included on listings placed on local centralized listing portals known as multiple listing services, which critics say led brokers to push more expensive properties on customers. Another ends requirements that brokers subscribe to multiple listing services — many of which are owned by NAR subsidiaries — where homes are given a wide viewing in a local market. Another new rule will require buyers’ brokers to enter into written agreements with their buyers. The agreement effectively will destroy the current homebuying and selling business model, in which sellers pay both their broker and a buyer’s broker, which critics say have driven housing prices artificially higher. By some estimates, real estate commissions are expected to fall 25% to 50%, according to TD Cowen Insights. This will open up opportunities for alternative models of selling real estate that already exist but don’t have much market share, including flat-fee and discount brokerages. Shares of real estate firms Zillow and Compass both fell by more than 13% Friday as investors feared that lower commission rates for agents could lead to less business for real estate platforms. In a 10-K filing last month, Zillow warned that, “if agent commissions are meaningfully impacted, it could reduce the marketing budgets of real estate partners or reduce the number of real estate partners participating in the industry, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.” Shares of real estate brokerage Redfin also fell nearly 5%. Meanwhile, homebuilder stocks rose on the news: Lennar shares gained 2.4%, PulteGroup shares added 1.1% and Toll Brothers shares added 1.8%. For the average-priced American home for sale — $417,000 — sellers are paying more than $25,000 in brokerage fees. Those costs are passed on to the buyer, boosting the price of homes in America. That fee could fall by between $6,000 and $12,000, according to TD Cowen Insights’ analysis.

[probablyasocialecologist]

“Growth” under capitalism is a bit of a misnomer: it’s the correct word, just not the correct usage. Capitalist growth is better understood as “a growth,” that is to say, “an abnormal proliferation of tissue (such as a tumor),” rather than the implied meaning, “progressive development.” That is because capitalism has a single, completely amoral value: profit maximization. It is incapable of caring about anything else, and it does not pause even if the consequences of capitalist growth threaten capitalism itself, such as in the case of climate collapse. As a result, capitalist growth and human needs only align incidentally: if capitalism creates things that humans require—food, clothing, shelter—this is not because humans need them, but because they offer the highest possible average return on capital invested under specific circumstances (all investment options are not available to all capitalists, so while higher returns may be possible elsewhere, they are not accessible to all; this is a key reason why “the rich get richer.”) As a consequence, there is no inherent alignment between capital’s lone priority—maximizing profit—and human priorities: subsistence, joy, a viable biosphere, etc. The result is immense, unnecessary suffering and degradation: billions starve because preserving their lives is not more profitable than investing in guns, water is made undrinkable because doing so improves stock prices, our air is poisoned to keep industrial firms afloat, our lives are made meaningless and empty in pursuit of someone else's profits. Ultimately, capitalism is a doomsday machine, the architect of its own destruction and ours, too. Like a tumor, it never stops growing, robotically creating unneeded tissue that eventually kills its host & itself. This is our fate if we do not stop capitalism.

[...]

The only way to fix this is to reduce economic activity overall, even as we grow underdeveloped sectors. This is called degrowth. The word may sound austere until you consider that much of our activity under capitalism is useless or destructive or both. We will not be impoverished by having less busy work or toxic garbage or weapons of war or advertising or planned obsolescence, we will be enriched by it. Having fewer managers and lawyers and mortgage brokers and insurance adjusters and health care administrators and HR specialists will be a relief, both for them and for the rest of us. People do not actually enjoy producing bullshit—they feel the emptiness of their work strongly, in fact—but they need to sell their labor to survive under capitalism. Despite the overall reduction in economic activity called for by degrowth, it paradoxically offers us much more than capitalism. It does this because it is oriented towards human need, rather than profit and productivity. If a good life could be measured by the quantity of energy and resources used by the economy, then capitalism might indeed triumph. But the two issues raised above—the vacuous, precarious nature of life under capitalism, and its inability to stay within planetary boundaries—mean that is incapable of offering a good life even to the most privileged among us.

[gfguren]

hidan x (fem) reader x kakazu | smut, plot if you squint, back on my hidan delulus, morally questionable reader with an even more morally question duo | cw: cursing, choking, biting, voyeurism, imbalanced power dynamic, mentions of blood and human bounties

-hidan and kakazu make a bet at your expense-

You're an enigma; sweet, addicting like sugar, an angel wandering through the hell that is this hole in the wall. And you smile at them, everytime, as if there's not a half lifeless body slung over Hidan's shoulder, as if Kakazu's stare isn't cold enough to freeze hell twice over. Hidan wonders how a thing like you ended up here, something about debts and making ends meet and he doesn't really get it, but what he does know is that he burns to get you in his bed, itches to make the sweet thing that is you cry.

And he's certainly not subtle about it.

"What a pain," Hidan slings the unconscious stranger from one shoulder to the other, effortlessly, as if he weighs nothing at all. "Did they say he had to be in one piece? He'd certainly be lighter without an arm or two."

"So will you if you fuck with my bounty." Kakazu's voice is gruff, adding a disgruntled, "We're almost there, shut up and keep walking."

Kakazu doesn't miss the slew of curses Hidan spouts but chooses to ignore them, for now. "At least we get to see our sweet girl."

"Our?" Kakazu snorts.

"Admit it, you old bastard. I see the way you look at her."

"It's business." Kakazu is firm, unwavering as if he believes his own lie. "That's all."

"Well that 'business' is going to be in my bed tonight, join us or don't, I guess."

Kakazu considers ignoring him, settling on an unconvincing, "Not interested."

Hidan leans close to his partner, and Kakazu has to restrain himself from pummeling him to the forest floor when he jabs a bony elbow between his ribs. "Bet you 500 ryo I'll make her cry."

Kakazu grunts, an almost amused sound that doesn't sound too much like a no and Hidan grins even when the larger man pushes him aside, sure that he's finally got him hooked. Now all he has to do is reel, or just shut up until they arrive. A daunting task, truly.

The bounty shop, if you can call this downtrodden hole in the wall that, is peaceful tonight, it usually is when all the smaller bounties have been filled, and all that's left are the hardened, big name criminals that are more or less a death wish. But they pay well, extremely well, and only two types of people ever take them, or at least make it back to you in one peace: the desperate, and the crazy. And there are exactly two people you know in the latter category; it's for that exact reason you're excited, watching, waiting, tapping your fingers against the counter in anxious anticipation.

Maybe they're not crazy, just stupidly strong, you're still unsure after all this time. But you know they're mysterious, fun, attractive as all hell, unlike the creepy, leering men that usually come around, leer over you but would never dare touch you, because you're his - Kakazu's little broker. More precisely, you're a means to an end, to his money, and nobody fucks with Kakazu's money, and lives that is.

The only one with the gall to touch you is Hidan, brazenly rash, maybe stupid, but Kakazu doesn't seem to mind. Neither do you, really. And you suppose they can be that way too sometimes, leering, hungry, predatory as if they'll devour you in a single, wolfish gulp - but only if you say please.

And you would, by the gods you would.

The door swings open, the rickety thing nearly falling from it's hinges when it slams against the wall with a not too subtle - bang! You jump, heart settling only when Hidan's bickering echoes down hall. Neither heaven nor hell can shut him up when he gets like that, but when he turns the corner, maroon eyes locking with yours, wide like startled doe, his mouth shuts in an instant. He doesn't miss a beat, skulking over to you with that smarmy grin of his, and leaning over the counter. You could mimic the words about to leave his lips, in the exact tone and inflection, if you wanted to.

"Busy tonight, baby?"

Your smile is a genuine one, the rare kind that you save in a jar, spend only in their presence. You point at the body slung over his shoulder. "I am now."

"And after?"

You hum, pretend to think as you shuffle through records, doing your best to match the bounty's mangled face with the one on the page. "Dunno. What's it to you, stranger?"

He's clearly amused, bounty slipping from his shoulder and onto the floor. Your protest catches in your throat when Hidan all but leaps over the counter, the flimsy manila folder in your palms quickly becoming the only thing between your body and his. "I've seen a bit too much of you to be called a stranger, yeah?"

His hands wander beneath the hem of your shirt, fingers leaving a burning trail up your spine. You shudder. "Who are you again?"

He laughs, "The type to hold a grudge, I see."

"You left me alone that night, after you - after we - I thought..."

"Did you think I didn't want you?" He's not subtle about the way he gropes your curves, all but humps your thigh. "Baby, I would have devoured you."

Your face is burning, acutely aware of the second pair of eyes staring you down, but he's not fazed a bit, leaning in until his lips slant over your own. "You're just lucky the old bastard barged in, him and his damn bounties." The glare he shoots Kakazu is smoldering but short lived, and he leans in to whisper against your ear, "Really, I just think he was jealous."

"I can hear you," Kakazu grunts, prodding at the bounty with the toe of his boot, making sure he's still breathing, at least.

Hidan ignores him.

"But since you're so hot about it, let me make it up to you, yeah?" He's suckling at your neck, enticing you like honey, encouraging you to drink, drink, drink. "Promise I'll make it worth your while."

And you swallow every last drop, knowing full well it's poison.

Hidan's hands are still bloody when he strips you, pushes you down on the disheveled futon and leers over you, eyes clouded with lust. But you're not complaining, not that you could with one of his big hands wrapped around the base of your throat, the other between your legs, three fingers deep inside of you. His grin is borderline sinister when he curls his fingers, watches you squirm beneath him like the sweet, pathetic thing that you are.

He has half a mind to grant you mercy, but only half; the other itches to devour you, excites at the thought of sinking his teeth in your throat and spilling your pretty red blood all over the sheets - and that half nearly wins, saved only by Kakazu, grunting a displeased sound from the corner of the room when he tries.

Hidan settles on an almost painful trail of violet instead, granting you breathing room just long enough to press his rough fingers against the bruises blooming beneath the curve of your jaw.

You whimper, a pathetic sound that teeters on a plea, desperate gaze meeting Kakazu's bored one; he's lazing in the worn armchair, a relic of this rundown inn that's perfectly normal sized but entirely too small beneath him, dwarfed by his goliath-like stature. You're not sure why he tagged along, trudging in the shadow of Hidan's excited silhouette without a single word or notable flicker of interest.

Still you're not complaining, you'd lay down your life for him - it's belonged to him for a long time anyway - so if he wanted to touch you, take you, consume your entire being and hold it hostage, teetering on the mercy of his whims -

You'd let him, if only he asked.

He's only watching, Hidan had said so, and honestly a part of you is disappointed; you'd be lying if you said you didn't find him intriguing, hellishly attractive, hadn't fantasized about him touching you with those big, rough hands of his that had taken so many lives, but deigned to save that of your insignificant one - even if it was only for his benefit.

He saved you, used you for his own gain and you knew it well enough from the beginning, but it didn't matter, not to you; you were able to escape from the war torn streets, given a reason to live when you had lost everything, even gained a strange sense of companionship with the detached, lumbering stranger, not quite friendly, romantic, or measurable in any sense of the word; just kind of there.

Unlike the odd, semi-tangible affair with that of his hot tempered companion, who couldn't hide a single thought, emotion, or desire if he tried - which you'd bet a pretty penny he never had.

He's passionate, and hot, and you're attracted to him in every sense of the word, but there's also a place in your chest that's he's crept into, taken refuge in Kakazu's shadow. And you know there's no place like that for you in their twisted, brambled hearts - perhaps you're still that street urchin Kakazu found all those years ago, begging for scraps of their affection.

"I thought you were going to make her cry, but you can't even keep her attention." The gravel of Kakazu's voice draws you back, grounds you to reality where Hidan's calloused fingers delve deeper, rougher and borderline feral at his taunt, vision blurry from his hand around your throat; but when he stands to leave, seemingly bored, Hidan's quick to pull his fingers from your core entirely, leaving you to feel empty and wanting, clenching around nothing in his absence.

"You're so damn impatient, fine." He coaxes your mouth open, presses his digits, still coated in your slick, against your own tongue. "Wanted to take my time with you, savor you," his breath is hot against your face, fingers prodding deeper, deeper, deeper until you're gagging, tears gathering in the corners of your eyes. "Kakazu never did understand showing reverence, taking the time to worship and praise and adore something, other than his own damn wallet that is." He retrieves his hand, leaving you gasping for air as he wipes your saliva across the hollow of your cheek. "Guess I'll have to devote myself to you in another way, I'll be sure to keep your attention this time."

You're still reeling when Hidan's head dips, disappears between your thighs until you're gasping, fingers tangled in his silver strands of hair.

You moan an exasperated and breathless, "Hidan."

And it excites him more than he cares to admit, spurs him on, has your eyes rolling back when he flattens his tongue against your sex, teeth grazing your folds.

His big hands spread your thighs, holds them apart in their bruising grip when you try to close them around his head, overstimulated with pleasure. And the bastard laughs, laughs when you try to pull away, whimpering pathetically when he circles your clit with the flat of his tongue. You nearly cum right then and there when he glances up at you, maroon eyes clouded with lust, shadowed beneath his dark lashes.

He smirks, lips coated in your slick. "Finally got your attention?"

"Don't get cocky," you sigh, absentmindedly running a hand through his tussled hair. It's gentle and intimate almost, and he's quick to grab your wrist, nipping at your pulse just to feel it stutter.

"Careful, I might get curious if you're just as sweet when you bleed."

The implication terrifies you, because that's not a bluff, not to people, criminals, fanatics like Hidan - but it also excites something inside of you, has your thighs clenching around nothing like a depraved virgin.

"Ooh-ho, you'd like that, wouldn't you?" His grin spreads across your skin, disappearing between your thighs. "Gonna have to take that up with Kakazu." He fits two fingers inside of you, curling them until your eyes wrench shut and your back arches against the futon. "He'd have my head if I hurt his pretty little meal ticket, so I won't-" He adds another, stretches you around his thick digits, breath hot against your core when he mutters a suggestive, "not too much, anyway."

It's sinful the way his lips wrap around your clit, the squelching of his tongue and fingers working you over would have you blushing had you not been seeing stars, white hot pleasure coursing through you when he finds that spot that turns those stars to gunpowder. And he sets you alights, doesn't stop even when your thighs clench around his ears, fingernails leaving red hot streaks across his shoulders.

Tears have gathered in the corners of your eyes, threatening to fall - but not quite - when he finally pulls away, snakes his way up your body and grips your chin between his thumb and forefinger. He examines you, runs the flat of his palms across your dry cheeks. "Tough little thing are you?"

He shoots a glance at Kakazu, still lounging in the armchair, arms crossed like he couldn't care less, but you catch the way his eyes have darkened, the shadow of a bulge straining against his pants, the way he tap, tap, taps a painted fingertip against the straining muscles of his bicep.

Almost like he's waiting.

"Come on, sweet," Hidan drawls, flipping you over like you weigh nothing at all. "Cry for me, will ya?"

"What do you - mmph!" He's not gentle about the way he shoves your face into the cushion, shoves himself against the swell of your ass, dry humping you through his sweats.

"So pretty, and sweet," he groans against your ear, freeing himself from the confines of his sweats, pumping himself one, twice, three times before burying his cock inside you. "That's it, so soft."

You lurch forward, clawing at the covers, vying for sweet reprieve, but he wraps his big hand around your jaw, pulls you back until his teeth graze your throat. "Makes me wanna ruin you." You expect him to bite, surprised by the hot, desperate kisses he presses against your jaw, your throat, the curve of your shoulder. It's hypnotizing, erotic, romantic almost, but of course he's only testing you, tasting you, searching for the best place for the point of his canines, the bite of his teeth. There's a flash of crazed sanguine eyes, and he tastes your blood on his tongue.

He moans, lewd and desperate and loud, loud enough to drown out the sound of your own cries, loud enough to make you blush at the thought of people hearing it in the next room over. His grip on your jaw is bruising, you think it might just pop, eyes rolling back in your skull when his hips meet yours in rough tempo. You sink your nails in the tender flesh of his wrist, half sure you've drawn blood, hoping he'll ease up, if only a little.

It only seems to spur him on.

You crane your head as best you can beneath the crushing weight of Hidan's palm, flash a pleading glance at Kakazu, surely he wouldn't let him go too far, right? Hidan said so himself.

But his eyes are cold, vacant, an indifferent green that bores right through you like you mean nothing at all, like you're a bug not worthy of being crushed beneath his boot. It gives you butterflies.

"Don't give him that look, baby." Hidan squeezes your cheeks between his thumb and ring finger, angling your chin until he can force his mouth against yours. You can taste your blood on his tongue. "Said I wasn't gonna hurt ya, didn't I? See-" He rocks his hips against yours, faster, faster, until he finds a pace that has you reeling, keeling over when hits that spot that has you seeing stars. "You're fine."

Fine? Perhaps. Maybe if he hadn't leaned over you, hadn't snaked a big arm between your legs to find your sweet spot, rubbed it between thick, calloused fingers as if you weren't already on the cusp of tumbling head first into sweet oblivion. Had his thrusts not grown erratic, feral and bruising like a wild animal. But now? Now you're fucked. It feels good, too good, like you're at the peak of sugar rush but it goes higher, higher still until you're a shaking mess of limbs and and lust and stupor.

"Stop, Hidan fuck, stop!" Your whole body is trembling, hands weakly pushing at his wrist that's dead set on forcing you over the edge once more. "Stop, ha-aah!"

You crash again, clenching around his cock in waves that are so intense they're almost painful and before you know it, the world has become a blur of watercolors. There's a ringing in your ears but in the incessant buzzing is the distant, almost sinister cackle of Hidan's laughter. You don't have the time or the mind to be confused; a rough hand cups your chin and wrenches your head up to meet Kakazu's blazing stare.

"That's 500 ryo old man." His hips pound into yours with renewed fervor. "Fuck, Hah-" He throws his head back, fingers surely leaving bruises where they lay. "She's so pretty when she cries, isn't she Kakazu? Might have t-aah." He sucks in a breath, hips stuttering. "Might have to make her cry all the time, yeah?"

Your brain is short circuiting but still, his words ring in your ears, did they bet on you? The bastards. You're worth more than 500 ryo, surely.

Kakazu says nothing, arms crossed against his broad chest. He's calm, suspiciously so given the circumstances, lips set in a thin, firm line. Hidan pulls out with groan, pumping his release over your back in thick, hot ropes. His free hand pushes back the hair stuck to the sweat of his forehead. "What's wrong, old man? Was the show worth the money or something?"

Kakazu only chuckles, deep and low, vibrato shooting tingles down your spine and straight to your pussy. "You call that crying?" He stands, taking one step, then two, and you're quick to sit up, head reeling as you scramble backwards - but he's faster, hand snatching your chin, turning your head this way and that, thumbs digging your cheeks almost painfully. "-just because there's a tear or two?" His eyes piece straight through you, cold, calculated, like a snake about to strike. "C'mere, I'll show you crying."

You're all but dragged off the futon and forced to your knees in front of the armchair, rough fingers tangled in your hair. "Kakazu I can't, I-"

"Don't worry." His words certainly don't inspire confidence, free hand pushing down his pants until his cock springs free, slapping dramatically against his stomach. "Unlike Hidan, I'm not interested in making you cum."

Your mouth goes dry, his girth alone is nearly twice that of Hidan's, and that's to say nothing of the length and the bold, angry vein along the underside and - and -

"Open your mouth." It's certainly an order, not a suggestion - but you hesitate, still reeling from the shock. His fingers tighten, angling your head painfully until you whimper. "I don't like to repeat myself."

You part your lips, fear and excitement turning your stomach, and the very moment he deigns he can fit, he's forcing himself against your tongue, tip hitting the back of your throat in a single, selfish stroke. You gag, reeling back only an inch before Kakazu's pushing you back down, dark pubic hair tickling the tip of your nose. You can't breathe, fat tears stinging your eyes and rolling down your cheeks as your hands push desperately against his thighs.

"That's cheating, Kakazu!" The shrill of Hidan's voice is lost in your drumming ears.

"How can I be cheating-" you can almost hear the smirk in Kakazu's voice. "-when I haven't even started?"