VanDyk Mortgage April 2017

VanDyk Mortgage April 2017

April 2017

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

DOING ‘REEL’ GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY The Fishin’ With a Mission Tournament at South Seas Resort

I’m proud to say that this is the third year in a row VanDyk Mortgage is a sponsor of the popular annual Fishin’ With a Mission fundraiser for Saint Michael Lutheran School — the school that all three of my children attend. The event, which my wife helps organize, is a huge weekend bash at the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, including massive fishing competitions for both kids and adults. It’s a great family time, with fantastic company all around. Of course, I get to spend a weekend fishing, which is something I’ll never turn down. This year, the fundraiser falls on Mother’s Day weekend, May 13 and 14. The big fishing competition kicks off on Saturday morning. Each group pays to enter, but there are numerous competitors. Last year there were a whopping 38 boats in the running! VanDyk Mortgage always has their own entry, and though I’ve never been able to wrangle my way to any of the top positions — the winners get $3,000, with $1,000 going to the runner-up — I always have a great time. I’m not worried about losing to some of these guys, as many of them are actual fishing guides who spend almost literally all their time angling. I am filming an episode of “Rates and Reels” that day. Our team is going to be guided by Captain Robby “Red” McCarthy, owner of Captain Steamer Kyle Curry, and the legend himself, head football coach at Mariner High School, Travis Smith! First place or bust for this crew! At the same time as the adult tournament, the kids will be doing their own tournament. Hundreds of them get out onto the marina, taking up every possible space and fishing spot, for the “Rock the Dock” event. Though they fish from the shore and docks instead of a boat, the competition is still pretty stiff, with a huge variety of categories and prizes for the kids to win. Everybody gets a goody bag, and everybody gets to join in this big community fishing activity — it’s a ton of fun. I enjoy

watching the kids play, especially when they’re able to reel in a monster catch. The kids have an absolute blast the entire weekend. When they’re not fishing, they’re in the pool at the resort, playing Marco Polo, doing cannonballs, or going down the huge slides. Fishing is something I try to do with my kids as much as possible, but it can be difficult with the hectic baseball season, school, and all the other responsibilities that can get in the way. But with baseball season about to end, I’ll relax a bit and get my kids out on the water, continuing to teach them the tricks of the trade. This tournament is just one part of that. The Fishin’ With a Mission Tournament can always use more support! If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor or bringing your own fishing team, just visit their website at fishinwithamissionfl.com and click “become a sponsor.” Or, sign up for the tournament and bring your kids down — the more the merrier! It’s one of the most fun weekends of the year, and it all goes to a good cause. – Tim Hart NMLS #354676

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

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Watch our show “Rates and Reels” now on YouTube and Facebook!

Killin’ it on Lake Okeechobee Bass Fishing With Pastor John Zehnder

The next topic we touched on was finances. Pastor John says, “It’s about planning. It’s about setting up a budget. It’s not rocket science.” We both agree that Dave Ramsey can be a great resource in helping you manage your money. His books have all sorts of great advice, and they are actually fun to read. Finally, we covered parenting troubles. “Different areas in the life cycles of kids,” Pastor John says, “require different things.” Don’t think about “disciplining your kids,” he advises, but rather “providing them guidance.” Set a good example, reward good behavior, and you’ll be well on your way to building a strong relationship. After our interview, the rain broke and we were ready to hit the lake. We used live shiner under a bobber for bait. Since I’m used to free line fishing, I had to be careful not to yank the reel as soon as the bobber dipped. Captain Joey told us to wait four seconds after the bobber went under before hauling in the fish. It worked like a charm. We caught around 30 largemouth bass, even if a massive “swamp donkey” eluded us. Getting out on a lake for some freshwater fishing was an awesome change of pace. Pastor John and Captain Joey definitely killed it. Next time I head out to Lake Okeechobee, I hope the weather’s a little better, but I’m already looking forward to it.

Down here in Fort Myers, we’re used to saltwater fishing. For the latest episode of “Rates and Reels,” though, I was able to take Pastor John Zehnder of St. Michael Lutheran Church 90 miles east to catch some largemouth bass on Lake Okeechobee. As our captain, Joey Berg, warned us in advance, it was a “brand-new world.” The weather gave us some trouble early in the day, but once we got out on the lake, we were reeling in bass left and right. I also got the chance to sit down with Pastor John, and he shared some wisdom about common troubles he sees as a pastor. My cameraman and I got up around 5 a.m. and headed over to Pastor John’s. We got there at 5:20 and were greeted by a huge light going off in his driveway. I felt like I might’ve woken up Pastor John a little early, but he was eager to get moving. As we arrived at Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina, the rain was really coming down. While we waited for it to pass, I sat down with Pastor John for an interview. Just a little background — Pastor John has been a big part of my life. He officiated my wedding, baptized our three kids, and spoke at my dad’s funeral. He’s a pillar of our community, even though he’s too humble to admit it. To take advantage of his expertise, we replaced our normal “Three Questions” segment with a discussion of “Three Problems” that I see during my interactions with people in the mortgage business. The first struggle we discussed was marriage issues. “There’s a lot of different stresses in marriages,” Pastor John says, “but probably the biggest one is the whole area of communication.” He recommends setting aside a critical eight minutes every day for communication: “the two minutes when you first wake up, the two minutes before you separate for the day, the two minutes when you reconnect, and the two minutes before you go to sleep.”

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

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Color Me Impressed! Paint Colors That Can Increase Your Home’s Value

unsuitable in a dark brown. Dining rooms attract more money with purple, and repel just as strongly with gray.

standpoint, if you have to pay to paint the home, you may want that expense to come out of the sales price.) You can use this knowledge to your advantage. The experts suggest that you paint your home’s interior using neutral colors, and for the exterior, avoid using a color that’s dramatically different from those around it. A few quick hints: Kitchens are best with a creamy yellow, while off-white may lead to a lower price. Bedrooms do well with a sage green or khaki hue, but are most

Zillow Digs analyzed photos from nearly 50,000 different homes and tracked how the room color related to the sale price. The results showed a stark contrast: Yellow kitchens sold for $1,360 more than the expected value, and light gray living rooms sold for $1,104 more. Color has a major psychological impact on potential buyers. Think about it: If you walked into a house with neon pink walls, you’d probably want to pay less for it or simply not buy it at all, because it’s hard to imagine yourself living in a house that looks like that. (And from a practical

And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t paint your living room orange!

The biggest takeaway here is that a paint job can be a simple and affordable way to improve your home ahead of listing it for sale, especially if you pick colors with the broadest appeal. You can find out more about the best colors to use by visiting Zillow Digs online.

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VanDyk Testimonials

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52)

“Excellent from start to finish in a maybe not-so-easy transaction; you guys killed it in all aspects. Buyers had nothing but excellent things to say about you through the entire process. You guys continue to rock our deals, we love all of you.”

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– JAY LAGACE WITH RE/MAX REALTY TEAM

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Thu Apr 27 14:19:57 2017 GMT. Enjoy!

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

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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

Inside This Issue 8280 College Parkway Suite #101 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Doing ‘Reel’ Good for the Community PAGE 1 Rates and Reels PAGE 2 Colors That Increase Your Home’s Value VanDyk Testimonials Sudoku PAGE 3 How Your Smartphone Makes Travel Cheaper PAGE 4

SHARING IS SAVING How Your Smartphone Makes Travel Cheaper

the host and guest are required to submit a review of their experience before they can use the app again, and in most cases, both users are required to scan their IDs in order to register. Using these services is as safe as using a traditional taxi, according to a study by the Cato Institute. Beyond saving your cash, these apps can also guide you to a more personal experience and the chance to make your vacation truly unique.

New-age entrepreneurs have pioneered a host of apps to help you find cheaper alternatives to expensive aspects of traveling. They call it share economy — a new business approach where companies provide a platform for consumers to work with each other directly, making services and goods cheaper. The result is a more affordable way to travel. Say goodbye to taxis and rental cars. Popular apps like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar allow locals to turn their cars into personal taxis that people (like you!) can request rides from using their phones. It’s cheaper than a rental car or traditional taxi, and more direct (and better smelling) than public transportation. Couch surfing is the new travel sport. Hotels are easily one of the most expensive parts of a vacation — even if you find a deal online. With apps like Airbnb and CouchSurfing, locals offer their couches, beds, and rooms for as low as $20 a night. Is the concept kinda sketchy? One might pause before staying with or getting a ride from a total stranger, but the accountability keeps things safe. Both

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

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