VanDyk Mortgage - September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

Letters From the Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com TIMHARTJR.COM GETS A MAKEOVER The Best New Mortgage Website Online Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

Where can you read reviews on the latest Hollywood blockbusters, watch videos covering the various types of home loans, listen to interviews with Florida’s best and brightest, and apply for a home loan all in one place? Our new website, TimHartJr.com . In the last few years, we’ve been creating more and more resources for people. Even I have to think about where everything is when I recommend a video or blog post to help prospective homebuyers. Now the website collects all the content and puts it in one place. Don’t worry — if you enjoy listening to “The HartBeat Show” podcast on Spotify, new episodes will still be there. They’re just also going to be on the new website alongside episodes of “Rates and Reels,” digital copies of “Letters from the Hart,” online applications, and other pieces of quality content. I’m proud of how the website came together. It was over a year in the making, but I’m glad it’s here now. The internet is full of content, which makes it easy to do research and find answers to any question you could possibly have. Unfortunately, not all of the information available online is accurate, and it’s easy to be led astray. When you’re doing something as important as buying or refinancing your home, you need good information so you can make the right decisions about your future. When I set out to build a new website, one of my first goals was to make it easy to navigate. Refinancing your home can be stressful enough without navigating some mortgage company’s website that hasn't been redesigned since 1994. Our new website loads fast and has everything you need right at the top of the homepage. If you’re a homebuyer looking to learn what kind of loan you qualify for, the information is a click away. Are you a Realtor who wants to enjoy smooth closings? We have that toolkit waiting for you, too. Another digital sin I’ve seen many websites commit is being outdated. Have you ever started doing research on some company’s website only to find their blog hasn’t had a new post

since January 2015? It immediately makes me doubt the quality of the rest of the website. Is anyone on their team-member page even still at the company? My goal with TimHartJr.com is to keep it updated as well as reliable. If you’re on our website, you know you’re getting the best information. Speaking of staying updated, the website includes a full "About Us" section featuring every member of our team. It’s basically a way for people to get to know us a little more and a resource to help homebuyers. Next time you’re scrolling aimlessly through Facebook, I invite you to escape your cousin’s political rants and check out TimHartJr.com. It has some pretty cool stuff. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Shout out to Ashleigh Newcomb for willing this website to completion.

NMLS #354676

P.S. If you happen to be reading this edition of “Letters From the Hart” digitally on our website, then thanks for visiting!

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An Alpine Excursion

Tour Monte Rosa

Unless you’re traveling with an experienced mountaineer, a guide is recommended for touring Monte Rosa, even if you only plan to traverse a small section of the mountain. Weather can vary greatly and change quickly in this region, so you never know when you’ll encounter ice or snow, which can lower your visibility. Toward the top of the peak, you’ll even have an opportunity to cross a sprawling glacier, and having a guide will ensure you have the necessary equipment for a safe trip. On top of the spectacular views, you can expect a beautiful blend of cultures and an experience unlike any other on your tour of Monte Rosa. Plus, you may even get to see a few Swiss cows or mountain goats along the way!

searching for survivors and victims. They worked through dangerous conditions: Many dogs burned their paws as they dug through hot rubble, and both handlers and canines inhaled toxic dust. The task was both physically and mentally exhausting for the dogs during their shifts. Some dogs that found deceased victims refused to eat or interact with other animals. Search and rescue dogs became increasingly stressed and depressed the longer they searched without any results, mirroring their handlers. It wasn’t uncommon for handlers to stage mock “findings” of survivors to keep the dogs’ spirits up. Fortunately, the sacrifices these dogs and their handlers made did not go unnoticed. Many dog owners were inspired to earn their search and rescue certifications after the events of 9/11, The full tour of the mountain is a nine-day journey that starts in Switzerland and crosses quickly over into Italy, winding its way through both countries before eventually returning trekkers to their starting point. The out-and-back path is the most popular route, though there are other ways to approach it. However you go, you’ll encounter massive glaciers, rigorous 1,000-meter ascents and descents, and breathtaking views that are sure to make this journey memorable. For accommodations, opt for charming mountain huts to immerse yourself in the true Alpine experience. You can book them in advance to guarantee your bunk and a dinner of spaetzle or lasagna, depending on which country you’re in that night.

Nestled between Italy and Switzerland, Monte Rosa is the second highest peak in the Alps, making it one of the best views in either country and one of the more physically demanding ascents in the mountain range. In the late summer and early fall, tourists and locals alike tour Monte Rosa to pay their respects to the peak and to be challenged by the cross-country trek over the mountain.

The 4-Legged Heroes of Ground Zero Honoring the Canines of 9/11

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, thousands of New Yorkers took to the streets to clear rubble, offer supplies, and search for survivors. It was a powerful act of resilience in a deeply trying time, and while most of the individuals helping with the disaster stood on two feet, more than 300 canines also answered the call to service. Dogs of all breeds and backgrounds, including search and rescue dogs, police dogs, service dogs, and therapy dogs, were brought in to help find and care for survivors in the wake of the destruction. They worked tirelessly alongside rescue crews as they searched through the debris.

promising to aid in future disasters and hopefully lessen the impact of such catastrophes. After 9/11, various researchers conducted many studies examining the effect this kind of work has on animals, both physically and mentally. Many of these studies wouldn’t be possible without the AKC Canine Health Foundation, so if you’re looking to give back this September, visit them at their website to see how you can help: AKCCHF.org .

Search and rescue dogs and their handlers worked 12–16-hour days,

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Medical Marijuana In 2016, Florida voted to pass a constitutional amendment that legalized medical marijuana. “I want to emphasize that this is for medical marijuana, not recreational,” Dane said when I brought up the topic. “This isn’t for free marijuana on the streets. It’s for medicinal purposes. Our job during the 2017 legislative session was to implement a bill that honored the will of the voters. However, the ballot initiative was not written to the best of the ability that it could have been, so it was up to lawmakers to try and define for what purposes medical marijuana could be used, how it is distributed, who can grow it, who can sell it, and so many other unanswered questions.” After passing the bill, the legislation has been tied up in lawsuits over various details in the bill they wrote. “One thing that was pushed back on was being able to smoke marijuana,” Dane continued. “Our position initially in the House was that you don't smoke any

medicine. In the medical community, that’s not an appropriate way to intake medicine. However, John Morgan sued us for that. When Gov. DeSantis took office, he said to drop the lawsuit and make sure that smokable medicine is accessible to the people. The first bill we passed this year at Gov. DeSantis’ request was to allow smokable medical marijuana to be legal in the state of Florida.” It was great to chat with Dane and really dive into these important issues. In addition to covering these topics, Dane also shared a little about the future of septic tank testing — something I discussed with Captain Planet on a previous episode of “The HartBeat Show” — and the possibility of recreational marijuana being legalized in Florida. I also tried to get Dane to tell me whether or not he’ll be running for governor in 2026, but you’ll have to listen to the full episode to hear his response! Check out my full conversation with Dane Eagle on “The HartBeat Show” podcast or on my Facebook page “Tim Hart – Loan Officer.” SUDOKU

the Parkland shooting. “A 2018 bill put together the Marjory Stoneman Douglas task force made up of surviving family members of some of these students that were massacred, education folks, law enforcement officers, and the sheriff. They put together recommendations for the legislature. They told us that one major thing you can do is to allow teachers who are in these classrooms the ability to protect and defend themselves with the Second Amendment. “This program says that any teacher who's in a school who wants the ability to carry a weapon has to go through a training system with their local sheriff's office. It's 143 hours of training, which is far more than anyone that just wants to get a concealed weapons permit. They've got to learn how to handle a firearm and how that would be used in an active shooting scenario … We’ve had a lot of people go through [the program] and did not pass. This shows there is some accountability and some stringent requirements before we're going to allow any teacher to walk into a classroom with a weapon.”

VanDyk Testimonial "As a first-time homebuyer, the process is a daunting one, however, I had a solid team of professionals who went out of their way to make it such an enjoyable experience."

–Shawna Kumbat

Shawna Kumbat and Chris Whited

Thanks for the referral, Brian Shonak of Keller Williams!

Solution on pg. 4

TRIVIA QUESTION: Who is the new Guardian Program named after?

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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 Goes Digital PAGE 1

An Excursion in the Pennine Alps

Honoring the Canines of 9/11 PAGE 2

Testimonials PAGE 3

2019 Florida Politics in Review With Dane Eagle PAGE 4

3 Things Floridians Need to Know After the 2019 Legislative Session LET’S TALK POLITICS WITH DANE EAGLE

Gov. DeSantis signed that bans so-called “sanctuary cities” in the state of Florida. “The basic principle is we've got laws in our country and those laws should be followed … Our immigration system is broken, and there's no question the federal government needs to fix it so that it's more efficient. Right now, people are waiting in lines, and that incentivizes them to just jump the border. But that’s a federal problem. At the state level, we have no say over that, but we do have a say over how our state follows the laws. “This bill basically says that we’ve got to follow the rule of the law. In the state of Florida, if anyone in our local governments is breaking this law, they’re going to be held accountable …We’ve passed a law that says there will be consequences if the law is broken, and that’s going to put the enforcement level up a little higher. Any elected official who does not follow the rule of the law has grounds for removal from the government.”

While everyone gets really into politics during the presidential election, as Americans, it’s also important for us to be aware of what’s going on in our local government. That’s why I invited Dane Eagle, a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 77th District, to my podcast “The HartBeat Show” to recap the 2019 Florida legislative session. You may remember Dane from his episode, “Rates and Reels” a few years ago. Dane is a “homegrown guy,” as he puts it. Born and raised here in Florida, Dane was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in 2012, and he has been the majority leader of the Florida House since 2018. While on the show, we discussed three of the biggest topics that came up during the last legislative session. Sanctuary Cities “The media tends to jump on this, and it gets a little convoluted,” Dane began when I asked him about the bill

Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program Of everything covered in the 2019 legislative session, this is one of the hottest button topics. The program is named after Coach Aaron Feis, one of the 17 people killed in the Parkland shooting in 2018. This program is often framed as “giving teachers guns,” buts as Dane explained, the situation is far more nuanced. “We need to do everything we can to prevent something like that,” Dane said, referring to

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