*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).
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A Michigan judge is putting sponges in the hands of shoplifters and ordering them to wash cars in a Walmart parking lot when spring weather arrives. Genesee County Judge Jeffrey Clothier hopes the unusual form of community service discourages people from stealing from Walmart. The judge also wants to reward shoppers with free car washes. Clothier says he began ordering “Walmart wash” sentences this week for shoplifting at the store in Grand Blanc Township. He believes 75 to 100 people eventually will be ordered to wash cars this spring. Clothier says he will be washing cars alongside them when the time comes.
