*By Bridgette Webb*
Real estate start-up EasyKnock recently closed a $3.5 million dollar funding round.
Founder and CEO Jarred Kessler said Monday in an interview on Cheddar knows what he'll do with that cash.
"We are looking to increase our marketing and our head count and our technology offerings," Kessler said.
The company is also planning to partner with mortgage lenders to pay a referral fee for rejected customers.
EasyKnock buys homes and leases them back to the previous owner at the market rate. That way, a customer can refinance or liquidate, and the company has a reliable tenant ー and a source of revenue. The homeowner maintains the option to purchase his or her home back.
The company currently operates in five states: Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/easyknock-lands-3-5-million).
Build-A-Bear Workshop has been one of the most recognizable and beloved toy brands in the world since opening in 1997. Sharon Price John, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, spoke with Cheddar News about its plans for the holiday season this year as well as the company's first animated feature film.
Stocks were generally flat after the opening bell on Friday ahead of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments in a speech at Spelman College later. Investors are growing optimistic that the central bank is done raising rates and may start cutting next year.
The network of nearly 4,800 fake accounts was attempting to build an audience when it was identified and eliminated by the tech company, which owns Facebook and Instagram.
Someone in China created thousands of fake social media accounts designed to appear to be from Americans and used them to spread polarizing political content in an apparent effort to divide the U.S. ahead of next year's elections, Meta said Thursday.
