Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida
Oysters, classic cars, cowboys riding bulls and lots and lots of music are this weekend’s big offerings on the Treasure Coast. Be safe, have fun and be warned … pranksters might be running amock Saturday.
Source: Weekend Picks: Your best bets for fun | March 31-April 2
If you’re buying a home, you’re likely acquiring not only a beautiful new house, but also a big fat loan to go with it. Mortgages are the biggest liability on most homeowners’ balance sheets, and if you’re not careful, this liability could become a burden that interferes with other important financial goals.
Picking mortgage terms that make sense for you is essential to avoiding financial disaster. You’ll generally want to look for a fixed-rate mortgage with the best rate you can find, an affordable monthly payment, and a reasonable repayment period.
The big question is: What exactly is a reasonable repayment period? Many homeowners take 30-year loans, but you shouldn’t assume that’s the best choice for you. There’s also a 15-year loan option to consider. Both a 15-year mortgage and a 30-year mortgage have pros and cons, so check out these tips to help you decide which one you should choose.
It may seem obvious, but the biggest benefit of a 15-year mortgage is that you’ll pay the loan off sooner. Being mortgage-free will give you peace of mind and a lot more flexibility to accomplish other financial goals — and a 15-year mortgage gets you there in half the time.
Paying your mortgage off in just 15 years means you’re much more likely to be done with repayments before you have to start sending tuition checks to your kids’ colleges — and before you retire and start living on a fixed income.
Unfortunately, because people are buying houses later, it’s becoming more common for Americans to carry mortgages into retirement. Close to half of baby boomers are still paying off mortgages, and they owe a median amount of $90,000. This is unfortunate because a big mortgage bill can seriously put a crimp on your plans to travel or kick back with the grandkids in your golden years.
If you want to enjoy life with no house payment while your fellow retirees are still sending in their monthly mortgage checks, then a 15-year mortgage may be a better bet.
A 15-year mortgage is going to be a lot cheaper in the long-run. Reduced costs and lower risk for lenders means rates for a 15-year loan are substantially lower than rates for a 30-year mortgage. Plus, since you’re paying off the loan in half the time, you won’t pay interest for as long.
Source: 15-year vs. 30-Year Mortgage: Which Is Right for You? — The Motley Fool
A significant chunk of homeowners are turning to sites and apps like Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration to decorate or remodel their homes.
Source: How Facebook and Instagram Are Changing American Home Design | realtor.com®
Some 12 million consumers could see an improvement to their credit soon due to a change recently announced by the major credit reporting agencies.
Source: This Could Boost Millions of Credit Scores | Realtor Magazine
List your home at the right time, and it could sell faster and at a higher price.
Source: Why May Is the Magic Month for Home Sellers – Zillow Porchlight
Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida.
Source: Weekend Picks: Your best bets for fun | March 24-26
Plan a party, but don’t paint the walls. Find out why you should do these two things (and more!) before you move into your new home.
Source: 9 Necessary Things To Do Before Moving Into A New House – Life at Home – Trulia Blog
Fannie Mae’s latest survey portrays a rosy backdrop for the housing market as it heads into the spring buying season.
Source: Consumers Are Super Confident About Housing | Realtor Magazine
Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida
Source: Best things to do on the Treasure Coast | March 17-19
King Arthur underwent one of the world’s most difficult races across Ecuador – and in exchange for his perseverance, he was finally given a loving home.
Source: Dog Completes Hardest Race in the World Just to Find a Home (WATCH) – Good News Network
Bottled-water consumption in the U.S. reached 39.3 gallons per capita last year, while carbonated soft drinks slipped to 38.5 gallons.
Source: Americans now drink more bottled water than soda – MarketWatch
SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah school is trying to give homeless students something to ease the obstacles of daily life – a peaceful place to shower and clean their clothes.East High School officials estimate they have between 50 and 100 students who don’t have access to a shower or a washing machine on a daily basis, according to KSTU.
Source: Utah school installs showers, laundry facilities for homeless students | WGN-TV
Nearly 9 billion gallons of water will be kept from entering the North Fork of the St. Lucie River annually, upon the completion of the water quality restoration/storage project located at Port St. Lucie McCarty Ranch Preserve and McCarty Ranch Extension
Source: Water Quality Restoration/Storage Project – Utility Systems Department
Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida
Source: Ginny Beagan: Best things to do on the Treasure Coast | March 10-12
Ever wonder why some tax returns are eyeballed by the Internal Revenue Service while most are ignored? Short on personnel and funding, the IRS audited only 0.70% of all individual tax returns in 2016. So the odds are pretty low that your return will be singled out for review.
Source: 17 Reasons the IRS Will Audit Your Tax Return
Katie Farber was working her seventh shift as a 911 operator when a panicked husband called to say his wife was in labor.
Source: 25-Year-Old 911 Operator Meets Baby She Helped Deliver By Phone – Good News Network
The City has partnered with PSL Rocks, which is a Facebook group where members can post photos and stories of their own rock painting/hunting adventures and give hints as to where they are hidden.
The National Association of Realtors recently released a study titled ‘Social Benefits of Homeownership and Stable Housing.’ The study confirmed a long-standing belief of most Americans:“Owning a home embodies the promise of individual autonomy and is the aspiration of most American households.
Source: The Impact of Homeownership on Civic Involvement | Real Estate with Bernie McDonnell
Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida
Source: Best bets for fun on the Treasure Coast | March 3-5
Nearly 17 years after the Nokia 3310’s initial release, Nokia relaunched their classic cell phone.
Source: Nokia relaunches model from 2000 – Video – Tech
The City of Port St. Lucie maintains three calendars on this website.
Source: Calendars | Port St. Lucie, Florida | Official Website
