VanDyk Mortgage - December 2021

DECEMBER 2021

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

WOULD YOU SWAP YOUR BIRTHDAY?

My Answer to a Head-Scratching Question

A few weeks ago, I was shooting the breeze with a couple of buddies when an interesting question came up: “If you had the choice to do it over again, would you rather be born today or stick with the birthday you already have?” Man, what a dilemma! I was born in the late ‘70s, and I grew up in the early '80s. It was a wildly different era. There was no internet, no cellphones, and definitely no texting. Heck, I had to press 1 to make a long-distance call! I sent so many letters and left dozens of messages on my friends’ answering machines. When you contrast that with today, the difference is hilarious. My kids have hardly even seen landline phones, and they don’t know what it was like to go all over the neighborhood rounding up kids for a game of Tecmo Bowl (we had to be in the same room to play — do you remember that?). With a quick text, they can get four or five friends together and jump online to play the same video game from all over town. I would have loved that! I went deep on this question, and it took me a while to figure out my answer. Ultimately, I think I’d stick with my real birthday and grow up in the ‘80s. Instant

communication is cool, and I would have loved the gaming options as a kid, but is that worth putting up with the hassle of social media and my parents tracking my cellphone? Heck no! One of my buddies agreed with me that he’d keep his own birthday, but our other friend said he’d rather be born today because of the advances in technology and the opportunities we have now to connect with people all over the world. He said it would make running a business easier because he could work from anywhere, and he’d have a chance at going viral and getting a big breakthrough. Fair enough. It’s kind of funny to me that two out of the three of us picked our own era, even though a lot of people might argue that things are “better” now. It makes me wonder what my dad would say about that question — or even my grandaddy. Are we all nostalgic for the “simpler time” of our childhood? My granddaddy grew up without A/C, but maybe he’d look back and say, “Eh, things were still better then! You wimps today and your A/C. We used to be tougher.” What will my kids think about this question in 20 years? And what will their kids think after that? Maybe by 2050, this will be the “simpler

time” everyone wants to go back to. Now that' s a scary thought!

I was so curious about everyone else’s opinion on this that I threw out the “when would you rather be born” question on my Facebook page. Here are some of the responses I got:

What do you think? Would you rather grow up when you did or right now? I’d love to hear your take the next time we talk.

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Plan ahead.

Many Americans spend the holidays alone every year, and the pandemic has only made it more difficult for people to see their loved ones, as travel has become more restricted and strenuous.

If you know in advance that you’re going to be spending the holidays alone, planning ahead can prevent negative feelings. While being spontaneous can

SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS ALONE? Boost Your Mood With These Tips

sometimes keep things fresh, it could leave you with a feeling of hopelessness about what to do next. There’s no need for your list to be extensive or highly

If you’re one of these people who are spending their first holiday season alone this year, here are a few strategies you can try to make the situation a little easier. Don’t hold yourself to the usual standards. One of the best things about

detailed, but even just planning to watch a movie or cook some of your favorite dishes can give you something to look forward to. Take care of yourself. Just because you’re not seeing people during the holidays does not mean you

spending the holidays alone is that you can do things your way. You don’t have to worry about meeting everyone else’s standards. Instead, you only have to make yourself happy. Simply telling yourself that you are not going to have the usual holiday environment can slightly help, but redefining what the holiday means to you can remove a huge weight. Trying new things or looking toward the future are great ways to reduce the stress of spending the holidays alone. Keeping up with old traditions may remind you of what you’re missing out on, so it can greatly help to create your own traditions.

should forgo your basic needs. Stick to your regular hygiene habits and do not let them get away from you. The same goes for eating and sleeping. Staying clean, well-fed, and well-rested

goes a long way toward improving your happiness.

As with all mental health advice, what works for some does not work for everyone. Do what you think will work best for you and help you keep your thoughts happy.

Why Does Your Stomach Hurt While Traveling? Quick Gut Health Tips for Travelers

Picture this: You’re flying for a holiday reunion with your family. By the time you leave the airport after arriving at your destination, your stomach is already doing flips, and you haven’t even dug into your favorite family dishes yet.

Instead, drink plenty of water, which can also help alleviate the risk of constipation. If that’s your main concern, keep in mind that Dr. Ravella says a lack of fiber is the main reason for constipation while traveling. An easy way to avoid this is to eat whole-plant foods, even at restaurants. Follow these tips when you need help fast. Dr. Ravella says that over-the-counter medications, such as antacids, can help your heartburn. If you struggle with mild traveler’s diarrhea, try to keep bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium) in your carry-on, ready at all times. If your symptoms worsen into fever, bloody diarrhea, bloody vomiting, or severe abdominal pain, see a health care provider right away.

If this situation sounds familiar, here’s how you can keep your gut healthy, no matter where you are this winter.

Traveling is stressful — even for your gut. Dr. Shilpa Ravella, a gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, told Healthline, “Travel can be a hectic time … You may be eating out more and eating new foods in new locations, including more processed foods, and it’s easy to overeat in this setting, placing more stress on your digestive system than at home.” The best solution is to take things slow to avoid overeating. Not only does overeating stretch your stomach, but also “research has found that people who overeat are 10 times more likely to need emergency medical attention for food obstruction,” Dr. Ravella says. Also, even if you wake up at 4 a.m. for your first flight, don’t gulp down coffee all morning. Overconsumption of beverages with lots of sugar, caffeine, or alcohol can irritate your gastrointestinal system, especially if you already have a sensitive stomach.

Lastly, if you really want to be comfortable while traveling, it might be worth trying a magnesium (magnesium bisglycinate chelate) supplement, which has been shown to improve

jet lag and promote relaxation and sleep while traveling. Best of luck!

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“After 30 days of working with that lender, the client had been told that they would not be able to approve the loan,” Sean says. “The client then had the decision to cancel the contract or trust me to help. We negotiated some extra time with the seller, and I asked the seller/buyer to put their trust in me and VanDyk to close the loan. We saved it, and that was very gratifying!” Before working with us, Sean spent 22 years as a finance manager in the retail automotive industry. Now though, mortgage work is his passion. “When a Realtor or client works with me, they get someone who genuinely cares about the outcome beyond just a business

When I asked, he told me that his favorite part of being a loan officer is getting a client into their dream home. “It’s amazing to help people with the biggest purchase they are usually ever going to make. Getting someone into a home is a great feeling,” he says.

playing volleyball at the beach, throwing a football in the park, or hiking a trail.

One last fun fact about Nelson: He’s a really lucky guy. Back in his early 20s, he won $5000 from a scratch off! Where can I get some of that good fortune?

Kimberly Lang: Our Rock N’ Roll Grandma

One thing Nelson loves about our company is that we really focus on communication, and

Kimberly is our most experienced loan officer and a huge asset to the company. Before she came on board with us, she co-owned an insurance agency and was a Realtor for 13 years. That's an incredibly valuable

we’re there for the client whenever they need us. This is a big change from other mortgage lenders who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk, and

transaction,” he says. “ ... Who you trust to handle the most important purchases in your life matters. My results and VanDyk’s make us the ones you want to work with.” Nelson Fernandez: Our Luckiest Loan Officer

Nelson’s ability to speak Spanish really helps us out.

background for a loan officer.

“You always hear from Realtors and clients how they wish there was more communication and

“As a former Realtor and insurance agent, I have a comprehensive understanding of the entire purchase process from contract to close,” she says. Kimberly is a real people person. She enjoys structuring loans, but connecting with Realtors and borrowers is her favorite part of the job. “I get to meet people from all walks of life, and I am blessed to have some of the nicest borrowers,” she says. Outside of work, Kimberly’s family keeps her busy. She’s married with two grown children, and welcomes her first two grandchildren (twins!) in May. She also loves animals and shares her home with cats. She is a music fan with tastes that array from Paul Simon and the Commodores to AC/DC, DMX, and GRITS. Go Kimberly! As you can see, we have a team of great people here at VanDyk Mortgage. Whether you’re buying a home, need a refinance, or have a buddy in one of those situations, Sean, Nelson, and Kimberly can help. Give us a call or visit our website to learn more.

transparency with their mortgage lenders. With

our Tuesday outreach calls, I feel that this sets us apart from

other lenders,” he says.

Nelson joined our team earlier this year after a decade in the banking industry. He graduated from Rutgers and knows his way around all things finance!

When Nelson isn’t answering clients’ texts, reviewing files, and connecting with Realtors, you can find him hanging out with his wife

NMLS #354676

TRIVIA QUESTION: How many Loan Officers did Tim add to his team?

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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

Inside This Issue

Tim Plays ‘Would You Rather’ PAGE 1

Tips for Spending the Holidays Alone

Worried About Your Gut Health While Traveling? PAGE 2

Testimonial From the Hart PAGE 3

Meet the Loan Officers Working for You PAGE 4

MEET OUR AWESOME LOAN OFFICERS!

Sean, Nelson, and Kimberly Help Our Clients Buy Their Dream Homes

Back in July, I wrote about the 2020 VanDyk Mortgage Awards in this newsletter. I was super excited to share that my team took home FOUR awards, including ...

about time you met all three of them! Here’s a quick look at their backgrounds and what makes them so great at what they do.

Sean Carter: Our Sunshine State Explorer

• No. 2 Loan Officer in the Country by Units • No. 5 Branch in the Country by Units • No. 3 Loan Officer in the Country by Volume • No. 5 Branch in the Country by Volume I’m still stoked every time I look at my plaque for “outstanding sales achievement.” Of course, I didn’t get those awards on my own! Placing like that wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of my awesome loan officers: Sean Carter, Nelson Fernandez, and Kimberly Lang.

A man after my own heart, Sean loves the “Florida lifestyle” of boating, dolphin spotting, and soaking up the sun with his wife. That makes him the perfect local Florida lender! He has been with us for just over a year and is constantly answering questions, pre-qualifying buyers, and networking with Realtors to develop new relationships and get referrals. Just a few months ago, he helped a client who came to us asking if we could salvage his property purchase.

Sean, Nelson, and Kimberly have been doing great work for our branch all year. This month, I thought it was

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