Assalamu Alikum
Jazakum ALLAH Kheir for answering my questions. 1) Do I have to pay Zakat on my Apartment back home, this apartment is for me to live in when I visit home overseas and when I will move back home for good. 2) Do I have to pay Zakat on this apartment if I decided to sell it with intention to replace it with better one? 3) Can I give all my Zakat money to my sister; she is a widow with no income. 4) Can I hold Zakat money after it is do and divide it to 12 parts and give to my sister a part every month? 5) Can I give Zakat money before do date if somebody needs it? I apologize for asking more than one question and I pray to ALLAH to bless you all. Assalamu Alikum

All praise be to Allah, and may his peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad.

1. No, you don’t have to pay Zakat on this apartment.
2. No, you don’t have to pay Zakat as long as you still use it, and it has not become purely merchandise, once you are only keeping it as merchandise, it becomes zakatable.
3. Yes, you may give your sister your Zakat money and all of your relatives except your ancestors and descendents.
4. If you do that for her benefit, you must separate the money from yours and consider it hers, and give it to her in installments. People in your household must know it is your sister’s money. In general, the Zakat must be given away once it is due.
5. Yes, you may give your Zakat money before it is due by up to one year.

May Allah reward you.

Allah knows best.