Van Dyk Mortgage - January 2019

Van Dyk Mortgage - January 2019

January 2019

Letters From the Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

TIM HART’S 2018 HIGHLIGHT REEL Looking Back on a Jam-Packed Year

July 2018: ‘Tim Hart and the Fifth Graders’ Early in 2018, I volunteered as a Junior Achievement advisor for my son’s — and the awesome Mr. Schwann’s — fifth-grade class at Saint Michael Lutheran School. While it wasn’t exactly easy convincing a sometimes rowdy group of kids about the lessons I’ve

I may not be a big New Year’s resolution kind of guy, but the beginning of January always gets me taking stock of all the things that have happened over the past year. 2018 was a busy one: I received a humbling accolade for my work, produced more “Rates and Reels” episodes, went scalloping, started a podcast, and a million other things. For this month’s edition, I thought that instead of boring you with goal setting or some other New Year’s topic, I could do a quick recap of 2018’s “Letters From the Hart” stories. I know everyone is following my month-to-month updates with bated breath, so in case you missed it, here’s a highlight reel of my 2018 cover articles! March 2018: ‘Funky Cold Embarrassment’ I’m not sure who tricked me into sharing this embarrassing tale from my youth, but now that it’s out there, there’s no going back. It’s hard to imagine as an adult what, exactly, possessed me to write down and attempt to memorize every lyric from Tone Loc’s ‘90s classic “Funky Cold Medina” at 13 years old. When my grandma came across the scrawled sheet with lines about “girls jockin’ at the other end of the bar” and how “I’m down with the ladies,” her eyes went wide. In one of the most hilarious mixups of my entire life, she thought she’d found a hidden love letter from little Timmy! May 2018: ‘You Reap What You Sow’ Probably my proudest non-dad achievement in 2018 was being named a VanDyk Mortgage Top 10 Loan Officer for the third year in a row. I work hard at what I do, doing everything I can to be there for my clients, referral partners, and my community, so it felt good to be recognized. I’m a firm believer that the best measure of success isn’t your income or your business, but the way you live your life — I do my best to embody my values, from the baseball field to the small interpersonal interactions with my clients, and I think this award is pretty validating of that.

learned trying to carve out a living in this changing world, it was a rewarding experience. Kids are a lot smarter than most people think, and it was cool to watch the gears turning as they thought about their futures. I’m no wise man, but hopefully some of the real-life knowledge stuck! August 2018: ‘The HartBeat Show’ Of course, I couldn’t get through any kind of highlight reel without plugging my new podcast. Since I started it last summer, it’s been steadily spinning up into what I’d envisioned: a place to speak with experts and learn about the problems and opportunities facing our community in the realm of real estate, science, marketing, and everything in between. I’ve certainly learned a ton from just a few months running the show, so if you’re curious, check it out on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

If you missed any of these stories, check them out on our website any time at www.TimHartJr.com.

NMLS #354676

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

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3 OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST WINTER SPORT DESTINATIONS

For many people, preparing for the New Year’s countdown is the most exhilarating part of the holiday season. You tune your TV to the Times Square ball drop, hand out party hats, confetti, and noisemakers, and meticulously line up some champagne flutes. What’s left to do? Pop open the champagne! There are many partiers who pop the cork with enthusiastic and careless abandon, while others point the bottle away from their faces and anxiously twist the cork until they hear those bubbles surge to the surface. Turns out, while the latter practice may be slightly less fun, it’s certainly the safer approach. On April 8, 1978, Charles J. Murray was injured when a natural cork stopper spontaneously ejected from a bottle of previously unopened Almaden Blanc de Blancs champagne and struck him in the left eye. He was preparing to serve the bubbly to a party of 40 people, so he The sound of the first carve through fresh powder is the anthem of all winter sports enthusiasts. Here are three of the world’s best places to experience that powder you’ve been craving all year. Breckenridge, Colorado John Denver’s anthem “Rocky Mountain High” is about the freedom he felt here. Where there are great mountains, there’s even better snow. The ski resort boasts five peaks, 187 trails, 34 lifts, four terrain parks, and a renowned cross- country trail. After a day on the slopes, head into the town of Breckenridge for dining and activities that ditch the glitz and glamour of Vail or Aspen and take you straight to the heart of fun. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada A destination that looks like a cross between a Nordic paradise and

Olympic-level runs, Whistler is filled with true magic, winter activities, and a town that captivates the senses. When you see the mountains of British Columbia, you’ll understand why they hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The location’s beauty is only part of your stimulating experience, because every curve of fresh powder makes your pupils dilate. Once you’re done flying down the hill where Bode Miller took the bronze, head over to the winter wonderland of the old Olympic Village for a cozy night in a picturesque town. St. Anton, Austria If you want a great location for next year’s Christmas card photo, there’s no better place than the Tyrolean Alps. Nestled in a valley between perfectly molded mountains, the Austrian landscape provides a beautiful backdrop for your winter excursions. The densely wooded areas and the bright reflection

of the snow frame the vibrant town that’s just waiting to be explored. When you’re ready for world-class runs, hop in one of the 11 gondolas and zip down the hills that hosted the 2001 Alpine World Ski Championships.

TRIVIA QUESTION: WHO SANG “FUNKY COLD MEDINA”

PUTTING THE ‘PAIN’ IN CHAMPAGNE

the cork stopper did not and could not spontaneously eject unless Murray had handled the bottle improperly. The case was argued by both sides for two years, but eventually, Murray won. Almaden Vineyards now prints the following on its bottles: “WARNING: THIS BOTTLE IS UNDER PRESSURE. THE STOPPER WILL EJECT SOON AFTER THE WIRE HOOD REMOVAL. TO PROTECT AGAINST INJURY TO FACE AND EYES, POINT AWAY FROM SELF AND OTHERS WHEN OPENING.” When it comes to bubbly-induced mayhem, the greatest potential trouble lies in the eye of the beholder — literally. With an estimated velocity of 60 miles per hour, uncontrolled corks do in fact fly faster than the blink of an eye. To avoid having to explain a not-so-fashionable eye patch at work on Monday, handle those fizzy drinks with care.

placed 12 bottles on a rolling cart and removed the foil and wire retainer from three or four bottles — including the one that eventually injured him. Once he started to roll the cart toward the guests, the cork shot out of the bottle all on its own. Due to the severity of his injury, Murray sued Almaden Vineyards, Inc., National Distillers and Chemical Corporation, and Carbo, Inc., alleging that they were responsible because they failed to include a proper warning label on the bottle. The defendants, however, argued that

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

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THE FUTURE OF CARS

Looking Forward With Jason Labonte of Legendary Automotive

but we do have self-driving vehicles.” Today, almost every manufacturer has what’s called ADAS, which is ‘advanced driver assist systems,’” Jason says. Even Chrysler and GM have so-called “level 1” vehicles, which means they can perform one additional function, such as lane assist. Manufacturers like Kia are coming up in the market due to their level 2 and level 3 vehicles, which come with functions that prevent you from changing lanes when next to another vehicle. Then, of course, there are Teslas, which can take over the entire process from start to finish. Just type in a location and it’ll do the rest — even if it’s not recommended or advertised by the company right now. “Level 5 is what we can expect in the future,” Jason says. These are vehicles that can drive you to work, drop you off, go pick up your kids, and take them to school — everything you could ever imagine.

When I recently sat down with Jason Labonte, regional production manager for Legendary Automotive and Truck Service, for my HartBeat Show podcast, I knew we had a lot of topics to discuss. Personally, though, I was most interested in talking about the future of cars. With all the Teslas, self-driving vehicles, and wild new technologies shaking up the market, I was curious to hear what an expert would have to say. Spoiler alert: Don’t hold your breath for flying cars. “Really, over the last 10 years, vehicle manufacturers have evolved a lot ,” Jason says. We’ve gone from having a CD player in the car to phone apps that allow you to start your car with your iPhone. Self-driving cars aren’t coming soon — they’re already here. “We always looked forward to the flying car,” Jason says. “I don’t think that’s ever gonna happen …

Essentially, the next generation of vehicles is here. We’re just waiting for the average American consumer to be able to afford one themselves, which is also coming. For my part, I’ll wait a few years (maybe decades) on the driverless car craze, though I’m definitely curious to see what comes next. For the full interview and more, check out my Facebook page at “Tim Hart- Loan Officer” or listen to “The HartBeat Show” wherever you get your podcasts!

Tyler McGowan & Savannah Loos with their Realtor Jay LaGace VanDyk Testimonial

SUDOKU

Here is what our clients had to say about their experience with VanDyk Mortgage:

At VanDyk Mortgage, there’s nothing we love better than helping a brand-new homebuyer purchase their first property. And last November, we helped Shelby McClain do just that! Lucky for us, she was willing to give us a video testimonial to go over her experience.

“It was really great working with Tim and his team,” Shelby says in the video, “You guys had everything in control — I never really was too concerned about what was going on.” More specifically, she appreciated our handy, clear-cut online portal for uploading and downloading key documents, and especially ‘Tuesdays with Tim,’ where Tim Hart calls up his clients every Tuesday afternoon for a quick check-in. “It’s nice to know that you’re always following up,” Shelby says, “So I know that you guys didn’t forget about me, or if there was anything that would come up, you would communicate it.” We’re thrilled that we were able to help hook Shelby up with her first home and proud that she had such a positive experience. We certainly couldn’t have asked for a better client to work with. To watch the whole video, check out Tim Hart’s YouTube channel, or visit “Tim Hart- Loan Officer” on Facebook. A big thanks to Shelby — we wish you all the best!

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

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Inside This Issue Tim Hart, NMLS #354676 8280 College Parkway Suite #101 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com

Tim Hart’s 2018 Highlight Reel PAGE 1 The Best Skiing Destinations in the World Watch Out for Rogue Champagne Corks This Year PAGE 2 What Is the Future for Cars? Testimonial Sudoku PAGE 3 A New Loan Program for Self-Employed Buyers PAGE 4

Here’s What You Should Know SELF EMPLOYED AND NEED A MORTGAGE LOAN?

bank statement program. Self-employed business owners usually run their income through their business bank account, so what we can do is take the average of 12 months of income coming through that account and use 50 percent of it as income they can use to qualify for a mortgage. So if, for example, you’ve got $1 million in sales through the year but really only end up netting $100,000, the 12-month program allows you to utilize more of your actual income and leverage it toward your loan. It’s an attractive option for many self- employed buyers frustrated with the hoops they’re forced to jump through. The only downside is that you will have to pay a slightly higher rate than conventional loans, depending on several factors. It’s worth noting that this program is designed primarily for self-employed business owners who write off income

My buddy and broker/owner of Steelbridge Realty, Jeff Tumbarello, recently had me on his podcast to talk about the difficulty self- employed people have getting mortgages. It certainly can be challenging to know your homebuying options if you’re a self- employed business owner or contractor. In my opinion, it’s the self-employed borrowers who got slapped with the hardest regulations after the 2008 meltdown. Lenders now go pretty much solely off an individual’s net income, but because many self-employed business owners legally write off as much as they can, they simply don’t claim enough income to get a loan that corresponds to their income bracket. They may have a 720 credit score and 20 percent down up front, but they’ll still face hurdles when it comes to approval. That’s why I’m excited to announce VanDyk Mortgage’s new 12-month business

to the point that claiming it would be prohibitively expensive in taxes. Though it’s available for 1099 commissioned salespeople, I personally haven’t seen much benefit in the program for them. However, for that large group of people who can’t qualify for the home they want due to their writeoffs, this is absolutely the way to go. If you’re self-employed and looking to buy a home, I’d love to hear from you. Give me a call anytime at 239-437-4278, and we can break down your options!

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

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