Mortgage Masters Group: April 2017

Friday, April 28, 2017

Weekend Picks on the Treasure Coast - April 28-30

Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida

Source: Weekend Picks: Your best bets for fun on the Treasure Coast, April 28-30 | Video

Friday, April 21, 2017

Things to do this weekend, April 21-23

Treasure Coast news and information in Indian River County, Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida

Source: Things to do this weekend, April 21-23

Thursday, April 20, 2017

When It Makes Sense to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

Some financial experts might argue that in the current climate of relatively low mortgage rates, it’s more efficient to take the mortgage interest tax deduction and invest extra money instead of putting it in mortgage principle.

Source: When It Makes Sense to Pay Off Your Mortgage Early

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Small space furniture: 11 smart buys for tiny apartments

As urban dwellers brace for shrinking apartments nationwide, making the most of every square foot becomes paramount.

While we love sharing stories of fancy custom touches that instantly transform tiny apartments into radically efficient spaces, there’s no doubt that just one piece of clever, readymade furniture can make a difference in your home, whether that’s adding storage where it seems impossible to do so or adding extra functionality to a standard item.

Below, check out our picks for the best small-space furniture buys that don’t skimp on style, spanning pieces for the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and beyond.

World Market, Wood Accordion Wall Storage, $29.99

Every bit of space counts in a small apartment, so definitely make the most of that entryway. This folding wall storage solution offers 16 hooks for everything you want to hang.

Hayneedle, Turner Lift Top Coffee Table, $137.98

This top of this clean-lined coffee table lifts up to reveal a storage chamber, perfect for stashing away knick knacks or books when guests are around. (If you’re careful to not exert too much pressure, the lift-top can also serve as a makeshift dining table for TV dinners.)

CB2, 3-Piece Peekaboo Acrylic Nesting Table Set, $199.00

Whether used in the living room or by a bed, these transparent nesting tables add extra counter space while avoiding visual clutter.

Bookniture, Field Brown Edition, $86

Now you see it, now you don’t: this clever stool/nightstand/sidetable closes into a “book” that you can tuck away on a shelf.

Anglepoise, Type 75 Mini Floor Lamp, $250

A scaled-down version of the classic British design, this floor lamp can hold a wide range of positions, making for a clean, flexible addition to any small space.

Kohl’s, Winsome Space Saver 3-pc. Dining Set, $224.99

Are you a small-apartment dweller who mostly eats out and rarely entertains? This compact, hideaway dining setup may just be perfect.

Ikea, RÅSKOG Utility Cart, $29.99

Like the bar cart’s more practical cousin, this compact utility cart has an adjustable middle section for different storage needs.

Overstock, Kaysa White Aluminum Modern Bar Stools, $207.98 (Set of 2)

These slim, stackable stools are safe for indoor-outdoor use, so take advantage of that teeny tiny patio if you’re ever so lucky to have one.

AllModern, Orange22 Minimal Floating Desk, $417.99

Add a desk to any wall, slide-out compartment included.

Akron Street, Alta Clothes Rack, $189.00

For when your new apartment doesn’t come with a closet. Womp.

Urban Outfitters, Border Storage Platform Bed, $1,169

A gorgeous Queen-size bed is pretty indulgent for a small apartment, but this one comes with built-in storage on both sides so you don’t have to feel too bad about it.

Source: Small space furniture: 11 smart buys for tiny apartments – Curbed

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Watch This Pup Give Hugs to Stressed Out New Yorkers

Louboutina – or Loubie for short – is a New York City Golden Retriever whose only job is to hug stressed out city-goers on the street.

This 5-year-old pup has a whole host of skills; she started holding hands at 3 and a half years old and has since moved on to hugs and kisses.

She can also respond to words in English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and French, possibly because her owner, Cesar Fernandez-Chavez, manages language interpretation services at Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital.

LOOK: Romanian Shelter Gives Paraplegic Dogs Love, Care, and Wheelchairs

Cesar first discovered Loubie’s peculiar talents on Valentine’s Day 2014 when she sat up on two legs and placed her paw in his hand. He joked that at least he would always have a Valentine’s Day date in the years to come.

Sure enough, her friendliness blossomed to include strangers as well. Loubie’s Instagram page, featuring photos of her snuggling at home and hugging people on the street, has over 150,000 followers.

If you would like your own photo with Loubie, she usually hangs out with Cesar on the corner of 5th Avenue аnd 14th Street, ready to embrace any lonesome pedestrian that crosses her path.

(WATCH the video below)

Source: Watch This Pup Give Hugs to Stressed Out New Yorkers on the Street – Good News Network

Monday, April 17, 2017

City of PSL: Win a Wireless Shower Speaker

Taking a shower instead of a bath can save several gallons

of water. And keeping your shower short can save even more. Here’s a fun and easy way to join the City of Port St. Lucie in celebrating Water Conservation month: Choose a shower song, and limit the length of your shower to the length of the song!

April is Water Conservation Month in Florida, and the City encourages residents to take part in its awareness campaign. To participate, go to the City’s Facebook page each Monday in April and look for the “Shower Song” graphic. Leave a comment telling us your favorite song. Submittals will be entered into a weekly drawing for a waterproof Bluetooth shower speaker. One winner

will be announced each Friday in April.

Best things to do this weekend on the Treasure Coast | April 14-16

Easter is Sunday and Passover continues through Tuesday, which makes this the weekend for brunches, religious services, feasts, candy and family. I’ve included many family-friendly events in this weekend roundup.

Be safe, have fun and enjoy the holidays.

High-flying egg hunt

There are many egg hunts posted in our Easter festivities listing but the one scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Easter Sunday at Pineapple Park, 3129 N.W. Hillman Drive in Jensen Beach has one up on all the rest.

Way up.

A helicopter will fly overhead and drop tens of thousands of plastic eggs onto the soccer fields, thanks to Treasure Coast Community Church. Children are invited to participate. Games, face painting, a cotton candy machine, hot dogs, drinks, snow cones and pizza also are in the lineup. Parents are advised to bring a lawn chair for the wait and some kind of container to collect the eggs. Gates open at 11 a.m.

The hunt is on for Easter beer

If you are 21 or older you probably haven’t been on an Easter Egg hunt in awhile.

The Islamorada Beer Company at 3200 St. Lucie Blvd.in Fort Pierce is substituting brews for eggs and hosting its first beer hunting event from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. More than 100 beers will be hidden and each person (of legal drinking age) has 10 minutes to find and keep all the beer they discover. Beer hunts will be every 30 minutes.

For more information, check the event page on Facebook.

Celebrate Jackie Robinson in Dodgertown

You still can watch professional baseball at historic Dodgertown at 3901 26th St. in Vero Beach.

Saturday is the annual Jackie Robinson Celebration Game, marking the 70th anniversary of the Hall of Famer’s major league debut and celebrating his contribution to sports as the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Minor leaguers, the Florida Fire Dogs out of Kissimmee, formerly known as the Brevard County Manatees, take on the St. Lucie Mets at this Florida State League game. First pitch is 6:35 p.m.

Fireworks will light up the skies over Holman Stadium after the game. Tickets are $8 and proceeds benefit the United Way of Indian River County. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

For more information and for tickets go to www.unitedwayirc.org.

Two spring festivals

The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast at 1707 N.E. Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach is hosting a Spring Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Fun for the kids includes crafts, games, an Easter egg hunt, bounce houses, egg decorating, food and more. Don’t forget the interactive fountain next door. Admission is $4. For more information, call 772-225-7575 or go to www.childrensmuseumtc.org.

An Easter Fair with games, food, a bounce house, game booths and music is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Flagler Park at 201 S.W. Flagler Ave. in Stuart. The First Baptist Church of Stuart hosts the fair, which is in its 18th year. For more information, go to www.fbcstuart.org.

Music: the universal language

Gary Mullen & The Works pays tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen at 8 p.m. Friday at The Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce. Mullen has been touring with this act since 2001 and is lauded as Mercury reincarnated. Tickets are $39 to $45 and there are not many left. For more information, go to www.sunrisetheatre.com or call 772-461-4775.

Terra Fermata, 26 S.E. Sixth St. in Stuart, has contemporary bluesman Selwyn Birchwood at 7 p.m. Friday and Emi Sunshine, the young country singer/songwriter and YouTube star, at 3 p.m. Saturday. Mr.Brian & The Boppets and Fletcher Morton get things started at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $8 respectively. For more information, call 772-286-5252 or go to www.terrafermata.com.

The Original Wailers perform Saturday at the Inlet Grill, 110 S. Ocean Drive in Fort Pierce. Tickets range from $15-$20. Visit the restaurant’s Facebook page or call 772-882-3602.

#TCPalmSocial columnist Ginny Beagan writes about art and entertainment on the Treasure Coast. Contact her at ginny.beagan@tcpalm.com, at 772-223-4732 or follow her on Twitter @GinnyBeagan.

Source: Best things to do this weekend on the Treasure Coast | April 14-16

Thursday, April 13, 2017

30 Real Estate Listing Photos That CAN’T Be Real (But Are)

Selling a home is difficult enough, so why would you make it even harder with these awful listing photos?

Consider this a wacky collection of cautionary real estate tales — listing photos so bad you’ll cry from laughter. Be sure to file these under “laughter is the best medicine”, and consider it our contribution to your health plan.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Friday, April 21, 2017

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Monday, April 17, 2017

Friday, April 14, 2017

High-flying egg hunt

The hunt is on for Easter beer

Celebrate Jackie Robinson in Dodgertown

Two spring festivals

Music: the universal language

Thursday, April 13, 2017

1. This cozy room makes it impossible to get out of the wrong side of the bed each morning.

2. State of the art kitchen designed to accommodate people with particularly fast metabolisms.

3. Triple your bathroom efficiency!

4. This home will inspire your inner abstract expressionism.

5. Oh, haaay!

6. This marvelous estate features free nightmares for life.

7. What a lovely children’s room!

8. Candlelit baths are sooo overrated.

9. The positive: saves space! The negative: must wear hard hat when using the bathroom.

10. State of the art security system!

11. Depending on your mailman’s accuracy, your bills can automatically go right where they belong.

12. Owner’s last words: “Bring all offers!”

13. On a cold winter’s night, there’s nothing quite like a drawing of a log fire.

14. Won’t last long! Considerable interest already being shown. Mostly from horses.

15. Incontrovertible proof that no paranormal activity exists in this home.

16. You know what? Don’t step out of frame. Just hide behind the curtain.

17. Sorry, gravity does not convey.

18. Yeah, THIS one. This one’s really nice.

19. Previous buyers fell through, so submit your offer today!

20. As you can see, this room really livens up with a rug.

21. Liven this room up with a TV! As long as it’s a flat-screen. And you don’t mind going blind.

22. You don’t REALLY need a dining table.

23. At least we know the toilet works… right?

24. It’s not weird! It’s just to block the falling paint chips from the ceiling. It’s practical.

25. We can neither confirm or deny whether this room has ever been the subject of a crime scene investigation.

26. Perfect room for entertaining. Makeshift confetti conveys.

27. A room cozy enough for the most discerning monkey.

28. Fasten your seatbelts, this home will knock your socks off.

29. The only limit to this home’s possibility is your imagination. But first you’ll have to imagine the home.

30. Bathe in luxury. Unique “jail-style” window perfectly compliments asymmetrical tile pattern and “crime scene” accenting.