*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).
Low-value imports are losing their duty-free status in the U.S. this week as part of President Donald Trump's agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods. A widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less is set to end starting on Friday. Trump already ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, but having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will be subject to the origin country’s tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%.
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