Ingham County reporter for the Lansing State Journal. I also cover Mason, Holt, Williamston, Okemos and Haslett. Writer, editor, world traveler, bon vivant.
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Articles by Curt Smith
Curt Smith: Republicans are missing their chance to tout tax cuts
Republicans trailing in congressional races are leaving their strongest economic argument on the table. The tax and welfare package President Trump signed on July 4, 2025 — officially the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, better sold as the Working Families Tax Cut — made the 2017 rate cuts permanent, added deductions for tips and overtime, raised the child tax credit, and tightened work requirements in Medicaid and food assistance.
12 Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers) About DSCR Loans
Forum Categories All Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 3y 2y Little Rock, AR · Member since 2013 · 19 posts · 1 vote 3y Aspen, CO · Member since 2017 · 2 posts · 1 vote 3y Real Estate Investor · Chesterfield, VA · Member since 2009 · 11 posts · 0 votes 2y Lender · Austin, TX · Member since 2022 · 5k+ posts · 4k+ votes 39m Generally, the student housing is going to be Okay with most DSCR Lenders if its a traditional 12-month lease, ideally...
Zillow Faces a New Major Lawsuit Over an Alleged Monopoly
Forum Categories All Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 11mo Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 11mo 11mo Member since 2020 · 1 post · 0 votes 11mo Investor · Rochester Area, NY · Member since 2012 · 104 posts · 17 votes 11mo Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
Evictions Bans Have Ended—Here’s How to Evict Someone From Your House
Forum Categories All Benson, NC · Member since 2019 · 133 posts · 3 votes 4y Rental Property Investor · Concord, GA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes 4y 4y Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 4y Multi-family Investor · Arvada, CO · Member since 2012 · 10 posts · 1 vote 4y Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 4y 4y 4y 4y 4y 4y 4y Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote...
How to Eliminate Your Debt and Start Building Wealth in Two Simple Steps
Forum Categories All Member since 2019 · 10 posts · 2 votes 4y Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2015 · 644 posts · 17 votes 4y Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 4y SponsoredBiggerPockets Find an investor-friendly agent in your market TODAY Get matched with our network of trusted, local, investor friendly agents in under 2 minutes Find an Agent New to Real Estate · Menlo Park, CA · Member since 2022 · 2 posts · 0 votes 4y 3y Rental Property...
Not a Real Estate Professional? You Can Still Save on Taxes
Forum Categories All Rental Property Investor · Sacramento Area, CA · Member since 2017 · 51 posts · 64 votes 5y Accountant · Fullerton, CA · Member since 2009 · 139 posts · 68 votes 5y Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 5y Accountant · Fullerton, CA · Member since 2009 · 139 posts · 68 votes 5y Tax Accountant / Enrolled Agent · Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes 5y Commercial Mortgage Banker · Los Angeles, CA · Member...
Why You Should Set Up Recurring Rent Payments to Increase Income
Forum Categories All Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes 4y Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes 4y Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.
3 Reasons to Invest in Real Estate During a Recession
Forum Categories All Technology 路 Dallas, TX 路 Member since 2022 路 4k+ posts 路 298 votes Rental Property Investor 路 Clarkston, GA 路 Member since 2012 路 2k+ posts 路 1k+ votes 4y Member since 2021 路 28 posts 路 5 votes 4y Coeur d'Alene, ID 路 Member since 2018 路 115 posts 路 129 votes 4y Investor 路 Bronxville, NY 路 Member since 2017 路 114 posts 路 48 votes 4y Technology 路 Dallas, TX 路 Member since 2022 路 4k+ posts 路 298 votes 4y Member since 2022 路 41 posts 路 0 votes 4y Rental Property Investor 路...
Curt Smith: Welfare reform must be about securing freedom
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Curt Smith: Leading the mission toward improved social services
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The CFBP Badly Needs Oversight Said Whistleblower
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the nemesis of the mortgage industry, is finally under fire. The biggest complaint about the bureau since its inception has been that it has had zero oversight, and absolutely no checks and balances.
Indiana’s senators leading country on pro-family policy
Indiana’s longstanding dedication to family values has found consistent and effective expression in the United States Senate for more than four decades. That dedication is needed now more than ever to strengthen Indiana’s working families. Recent examples highlight this ongoing tradition. In January, Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) teamed up with Sen.
Curt Smith: Soccer has some powerful Indiana political pioneers
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Rental Property Insurance
Any recommendation for rental property insurance companies around Atlanta? Currently with American Family Insurance and it's $800+ for a $200K property. Would love to switch to a lower cost one. Thanks in advance for your help!
Curt Smith: Federal bills would help prevent child exploitation
The horrific murder of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee of Fishers has prompted a swift and commendable response from legislators seeking to shield children from the darkest corners of technology and the internet. Hailey was lured to Ohio through a gaming platform that enabled a predator to victimize her. In reaction, the Indiana Legislature acted with rare unanimity: all 100 House members and 50 senators supported new protections for Hoosier youth. Gov.
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Curt Smith: Primary results are strong reminder of Trump’s influence
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Curt Smith: What opponents get wrong about pro-life Hoosiers
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Curt Smith: Indiana’s U.S. senators continue pro-family agenda
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Curt Smith: Fighting blood cancer is easier with a group effort
It is hard to believe 10 years have passed since we lost our beloved son, Andrew Smith, to a difficult blood cancer. To honor this Butler University basketball standout and Academic All-American’s legacy, we are joining this year’s Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) “Visionaries of the Year” fundraising campaign.
Curt Smith: Giving families more votes would refocus public policy
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Curt Smith: ‘Birth dearth’ is here, with economic consequences
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Where do I find pre-foreclosure list brokers?
@Andrew Smith I personally do not like to purchase lists per se. They are heavily used by a lot of investors and a lot of potential deals fall through the cracks. Find out from your county where you can access the database of all the Notices of Defaults (I found this link for Delton County, for example: http://dentoncounty.com/Departments/County-Clerk/F...).
Curt Smith: Indy needs strong leaders to emerge from civic life
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Velocity Banking / HELOC Checking Acct - It Works (Proof)
Hi, everyone. I wish everyone knew how great this strategy is, so I'm trying to spread the word. I'm not selling anything, just trying to let people know how it works. When you're paying your mortgage month in and month out, you are paying MOSTLY interest for many years. That's because you are paying interest on the whole loan - $200K @ 4%, let's say. In the first year you'll only bring the balance down about $4K, but you'll pay about $8.5K in interest - twice as much, obviously.
Curt Smith: Charlie Kirk’s legacy poised to grow in his absence
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 The death of Charlie Kirk silenced an important generational voice, but will his murder give expression to something much larger? The belief here is that it will. Three indicators easily tracked will answer that question, although one is a bit of a lagging indicator yet a year away.
$150K in Equity. Can’t get a HELOC
Hi BP Fam! I purchase a property through the NACA program and so far it has $150K in equity. Since I can't get a HELOC with a NACA loan I'm wondering if there are other ways to use this equity for more investments. NOTE: My current rate is 2.5 fixed. If I refinance into another loan I’m afraid I won’t get as good a deal.
What's your cap rate for mobile home park?
There is one missing ingredient in the analysis, which is what the park will do when steered by a different owner. Case in point, the park we bought in Kankakee, Illinois. The prior year NOI was ($38,000). Out first 12 month NOI after closing on it was +$270,000. How did we get the $300,000 per year swing? The former owner had payroll of $250,000 (which we fired and replaced with a manager for $30,000) and the rest was through raising rents and getting on-line a few vacant park-owned homes.
Curt Smith: Declaration of Independence merits big birthday bash
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 America is sleepwalking into the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. There is far less interest in and understanding of this auspicious occasion than deserved, suggesting deep public ignorance.
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Also, late on real estate taxes and late on paying mortgage. Both are hard to find or buy leads making them less crowded. Absentee is insainly crowded. You need to add some other stress factor added to not owner occupant (absentee) like vacant and / or vacant AND late on taxes or mortgage. This is where the big guys with $$ to pull many lists and do the mash up can cut through where no budget small timers have trouble getting calls and deals.
Curt Smith: Pro-family policies are highlight of new budget bill
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Curt Smith: Increased child tax credit will benefit the economy
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Curt Smith: A religious resurgence might be taking place
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Curt Smith: Judicial restraint feels absent in current times
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Curt Smith: Braun shaping government into frugal, effective asset
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Curt Smith: Indiana should pass tax credit for charitable giving
Listen to this story This audio file is brought to you by 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Frustration and disenchantment with government are at all-time highs, polls reveal. So a novel bill to strengthen our social sector to meet Hoosier needs so government can do less is a welcome approach. Freshman Rep. Hunter Smith, R-Zionsville, has teamed up with veteran Rep.
Curt Smith: We owe President Jimmy Carter a debt of gratitude
Listen to this story This audio file is brought to you by 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Fifty years ago, a simple farmer from Georgia burst onto the national scene as a long-shot candidate for the Democratic nomination in the Iowa caucuses. Jimmy Carter placed second in Iowa, but he won the nomination and then the presidency in 1976, prevailing over Republican President Gerald Ford among a Watergate-weary electorate.
Curt Smith: Bezos’ decision not to endorse underscores media problem
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 The Washington Post’s startling decision to not endorse a candidate in this year’s presidential race was surpassed only by its publisher’s candid confession on the sorry state of journalism. It came on the heels of a similar announcement by The Los Angeles Times. Together, these two newspapers underscored the growing and disturbing divide between the reading public and legacy media.
Former Brevard Commissioner: Vote ‘Yes’ for Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions That Help Add New Jobs to Brevard
Home » Home » Former Brevard Commissioner: Vote ‘Yes’ for Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions That Help Add New Jobs to Brevard By Space Coast Daily // October 19, 2024 By Curt Smith, former Brevard County Commissioner for District 4 SMITH: Extend the Brevard County tax cut plan for 10 more years I am writing today to support the Ad Valorem Tax Exemption (AVT) that will appear on our November ballots.
Curt Smith: What we can learn from William Wilberforce
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 LONDON—Great Britain passed a law. America fought a war. The international legacy of slavery is more complicated than two sentences, but the above words are a good summary of the amazing path abolishing slavery took throughout the British empire as compared to America.
Curt Smith: Family support takes the stage in presidential race
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Family policy is inserting itself into the presidential campaign, with the Trump camp proposing tax credits to address the “birth dearth” and the Harris campaign upping that proposal to $6,000 per child. It is a welcome development and one introduced by Indiana’s senior U.S. senator, Todd Young, a Republican, in 2019.
Support the Ad Valorem Tax Exemption to keep attracting businesses to Brevard | Opinion
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Curt Smith: Here’s how we move the needle on child well-being
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Indiana’s 1.6 million children fare only 27th in the national Kids Count survey for overall well-being, a mediocre score motivating many community leaders and state officials toward improvement.
Curt Smith: Beckwith’s win is affirmation of grassroots politics
Listen to this story 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Micah Beckwith’s nomination as the Indiana Republican candidate for lieutenant governor was a resounding rejection of elite establishment politics and an affirmation that grassroots politics is alive and well in the Hoosier state. In June, delegates narrowly picked Beckwith, a Noblesville pastor who ran for Congress in 2020, over state Rep.
Curt Smith: Family reunion is special time every summer
Listen to this story This audio file is brought to you by 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 This missive comes during our 35th annual extended-family vacation on my wife’s side at this beautiful vacation spot. Such a run allows some observations about changes during a long time span and how technology has improved our lives markedly, even as family dynamics remain much the same as the fifth generation experiences this tradition.
Curt Smith: Some proposed language for a religious bill of rights
Listen to this story This audio file is brought to you by 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Successful primaries produce more than the party’s preferred candidate. They are also idea incubators when the debate is robust and informed, allowing the successful candidate to advance approved approaches. One idea from the GOP gubernatorial primary that deserves to advance was espoused by Lt. Gov.
Curt Smith: This primary, the Indiana GOP is in a strong position
Listen to this story This audio file is brought to you by 0:00 0:00 Loading audio file, please wait. 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Primaries are tough for political activists, who frequently know the main candidates contending for their party’s nomination. The quip “I’m for my friends” when many friends are runningcaptures the dilemma well.
New Book hails the world of Hispanic Broadcasting; This is the first of Curt Smith's Three Part Series
By CURT SMITH In 1921, KDKA Pittsburgh aired baseball’s first game on radio at Forbes Field. In 1939, the major leagues debuted on television at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field. For a long time, few Hispanics broadcast the bigs. By contrast, many now climb baseball’s announcing stairway, the pastime carried on radio, TV, and the Internet in this country and beyond. Recently, a new book, Béisbol on the Air: Essays on Major League Spanish-Language Broadcasters, was released (McFarland).
Curt Smith: Central Indiana’s future is bright
Better problems are in our future. That’s a good thing. We have a full pipeline of economic development projects, which has led to a fight over a water pipeline. When you are fighting over water in Indiana, our future is bright, because we have plenty to share. Just consider the depth and diversity of these projects.
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