VanDyk Mortgage March 2018

Mar 2018

Letters From The Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 or visit www.TimHartJr.com FUNKY COLD EMBARASSMENT Busted by My Grandma Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

It’s funny how things always come back around, often after many years. Lately, my kids have been dancing around to the soundtracks of “Guardians of the Galaxy” Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 nonstop. They’re full of old hits from Electric Light Orchestra, Parliament, and Fleetwood Mac, and my

“The girls is all jockin’ at the other end of the bar,” the note went, “havin’ drinks with some no-name chump, when they know that I’m the star … This is the ’80s, and I’m down with the ladies.” She wondered, “Did Timmy write all this himself?”

She brought the letter to my mom, chuckling. “I think Timmy’s written a love letter to some girl!” I was humiliated, but every time I think of this story today, I start to crack up. Seriously, look up the lyrics sometime to “Funky Cold Medina” and you’ll understand. Some 13-year-old kid writing out those lines in his room straight from his head is one of the most hilarious images I can think of. I mean, my grandma actually thought I wrote this myself:

kids love it all. One of their favorites, hilariously enough, is “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra, which I think they’re even making a goofy music video for. It’s been awesome to watch as they each get down to their heart’s content, jumping all over the place without a care in the world. And while those old ’70s tunes may not exactly be the songs of my youth, they’ve got me thinking about all the weird stuff I used to listen to as a kid.

Though I started out listening to ’80s pop jams as a young kid, as I crossed the threshold into my teens, my music tastes changed. Just like everybody else my age, I started to pay a little more attention to the trends, following what was cool. And one thing that was cool — at least to me — was the hilarious hip-hop track “Funky Cold Medina” by Tone Loc. One day, intent on memorizing every lyric, I sat down and wrote each line of the song on a piece of paper. After completing the task, I practiced rapping along for a couple minutes, left the paper folded up somewhere in my room, and completely forgot about it. Here’s where the story goes from typical teenage boy behavior to a genuinely cringeworthy situation. Back in those days, my grandma used to come over occasionally and clean our house to help out my mom. One day, she walked into my room and spotted the piece of paper, folded up and tucked away in the corner. As she opened it up and read the words I’d written, her eyes widened.

“Cold coolin’ at a bar, and I’m lookin’ for some action

but like Mick Jagger said, I can’t get no satisfaction

I went up to this girl, she said ‘Hi, my name is Sheena’

I thought she’d be good to go with a little Funky Cold Medina

She said, ‘I’d like a drink;’ I said, ‘Ehm, okay I’ll go get it’

Then a couple sips, she cold licked her lips, and I knew that

– Tim Hart NMLS #354676

she was with it.”

… Really, Grandma?

Who really wrote Funky Cold Medina? TRIVIA QUESTION

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SCREEN TIME IS GOOD FOR KIDS? If you Google the effects of screen

noting that, at the time of writing, most analysts are predicting a steep rate hike in 2018, so if you’re considering refinancing, it might be a good idea to do it soon. 2. Lower Payments Lowering a mortgage payment can be achieved by lowering the mortgage rate, lengthening the loan term, combining two or more loans, or removing mortgage insurance during refinancing. 3. New Mortgage Program If you want to refinance an adjustable- rate mortgage (ARM) to a new fixed-rate mortgage (FRM), combine a first and second mortgage into a simpler plan, or pay off a balloon loan, refinancing may be the way to go. 4. Debt Consolidation If you have sufficient equity, paying off your consumer debt by combining all debts into the world along with their mental and physical health. But not all content is created equal. In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended strict limits on electronic engagement for kids, following the old line of thinking that any kind of screen time would be better spent climbing a tree or running in the backyard. But in October of 2016, they offered new recommendations for parents. For infants and young toddlers, the research still sides pretty heavily against the use of iPads and television. Before 18 months of age, a child lacks the cognitive capabilities allowing them to apply the lessons of technology to real life, and even after that, the APP recommends that media consumption

should be limited to “high-quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” But for kids ages 5 and up, parents should avoid banning screen time outright, but function as their child’s media mentor. Instead of decrying time spent building complex structures in “Minecraft” as hours that could be spent on the soccer field, we should set expectations and boundaries to ensure that children can deepen their experience of the world through media, not hamper it. The problem starts not with the screen itself, but when the consumption of media becomes problematic, replacing regular face-to- face interactions and physical activity. But with a balanced media diet, kids can have the best of both worlds.

In nearly every case, your mortgage will be the largest debt you’ll ever have to manage. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to give your personal real estate finance portfolio an annual checkup. And what better time to do so than during spring cleaning? Much like a cleaned- out garage or freshly organized drawer, a quick examination of your mortgage options can give you clarity and peace of mind moving forward. your mortgage. In some cases, such a move can net you substantial savings in the long run. Here are the four most common reasons homeowners choose to refinance. 1. Mortgage Rates Drop By far the most common reason homeowners decide to refinance their mortgage is to secure a lower interest rate, which determines the total cost that you, as a borrower, will pay. However, it’s worth As you look into your portfolio, you might want to consider refinancing time on children, you’re sure to be bombarded with horror stories. Numerous articles claim that, beginning in infancy, the more time a child spends in front of a TV, phone, or computer, the worse their developmental outcomes will be. At first glance, the research is utterly conclusive. It seems we should throw out every TV in our house, smash our kids’ smartphones, and usher our children into the great outdoors as soon as possible. But what most of these studies fail to take into account is the content of the electronic media. If a child spends two hours a day binging episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” or screaming obscenities into a headset while playing “Call of Duty,” it’s going to negatively impact their experience of

Why Refinance?

one lower monthly mortgage payment can significantly reduce the short-term deficits in your budget. However, it’s important to keep in mind the total long- term cost you incur by adding it into a 30-year mortgage payment. Whatever your reasons for refinancing, shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deal before signing anything. You don’t have to refinance with your current mortgage company, so do a thorough search and ensure that it really is your best option.

What Your Child Can Learn From Baking

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GREEN DOMI NATES ST. PATR I CK ’ S DAY

FOR A REASON

Why Green Is the Color of St. Patrick’s Day

Of course, you can’t forget leprechauns, the little creatures that have always been affiliated with the holiday.

the change happened sometime in the 17th century, when the symbol for the United Irishmen Rebellion became the clover. St. Patrick used the clover to teach the Irish people about the Holy Trinity, and it eventually became a symbol that represented both the saint and the holiday. Another theory comes from Ireland’s nickname, “The Emerald Isle,” which was coined because of the plentiful green foliage that adorns the country’s landscape. It also relates to the green in the flag. Each of the three colors in the flag have their own symbolic meaning: green for the Catholics who live in the country, orange for the Protestants, and white for the peace between the two.

There’s only one day of the year you’ll be scorned for not wearing green: St. Patrick’s Day. If you’ve ever gone the whole holiday wearing any other color, you’ve probably been pinched by your peers, family, spouse, and anyone else decked out head to toe in green. Green has become so deeply associated with the St. Patrick holiday that many people are unaware that green wasn’t always its official color. Blue was

But just like St. Patrick’s original blue garb, these impish tricksters used to

wear red instead of green. While green overtook blue as the shade of choice for St. Patrick, leprechauns began putting on their signature green suits. You might wonder where the tradition of pinching comes from. We can thank the leprechauns for this one. It’s said that if the gold-loving redheads caught you not wearing their favorite color, they would pinch you. To avoid pinches from leprechauns and people alike, be sure to put on some green this St. Patrick’s Day to blend in with the festive crowd.

the first color to symbolize St. Patrick’s Day, and the saint himself is almost always depicted dressed in what’s known as “St. Patrick’s blue.”

What caused the shift from green to blue is more speculation than hard fact. Some have theorized that

SUDOKU

VanDyk Testimonials Here is what one of our referral partners had to say about the experience she and her clients receive from VanDyk Mortgage: “Tim Hart and VanDyk Mortgage are my first recommendation when I meet new buyers. I know I can depend on Tim to be honest, clear, and timely in working with my clients. Even more importantly, I refer all new Realtors in our company to Tim for accurate information someone new to the industry can understand and use. Tim goes above and beyond every time to ensure everyone has what they need to get the transaction

closed. Not only have I used him personally, but I’ve recommended him to multiple family and friends. Tim is the best!” –Dawn Doerr with Right Choice Realty

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

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

How I Wrote ‘Funky Cold Medina’ PAGE 1 When Screen Time Is Good for Kids PAGE 2 St. Patrick’s Day vs. the Color Green Testimonials Train Your Brain! PAGE 3 Captain John Conway: A Fishing Guide Living the Dream PAGE 4 Meet Capt. John Conway, More Than Just a Beard

very best boat chartering companies in all of southwest Florida. As a frequent passenger on John’s boat, Tim Hart will tell you: “Not only does Captain John boast an expert knowledge of Florida waters, but he brings his enthusiastic, funny personality to every trip.” John’s main goal is to show a good time to anyone who ends up on his boat. “I just like to take people fishing!” he says. “For me, it’s all about keeping the rods bent. Guiding is 10 percent fishing skill and 90 percent personality.” “Other guides may go out and only ever hunt for the big monsters,” Captain John says. “But instead of ending up with one or two bites in four hours, I’d rather help my passengers catch 80 fish in the same amount of time! Every single one might not be a huge trophy fish, but for most people, it’s a lot more fun.”

When Captain John Conway got laid off more than nine years ago from his job teaching clients how to effectively invest in real estate, he wasn’t sure what he would do next. One day, while having a beer with a couple of his buddies, someone came up with an idea. “Hey John,” they said, “why don’t you become a fishing guide?” Though John certainly had intimate knowledge of the surrounding waters and a passion for fishing, he thought it sounded a little too much like a pipe dream. But the idea was planted. After a little research, John realized that if he combined the thousands of hours he’d spent fishing in the Caloosahatchee and Gulf of Mexico with a small initial investment, he might have a viable project on his hands after all. Fast-forward almost a decade, and his business, Conway Charters, is one of the

No matter what the conditions, John always manages to deliver, and he never tries to sell or over-promise anything to a customer. He’s a great guy and a master fisherman. If you’re looking for the fishing trip of your life, give him a call at 239-410-0067 or visit him online at www.conwaycharters.com— we highly recommend it!

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