I hope you had a great weekend. I had a excellent time at the Minion's meet 'n greet before seeing the new Minion's movie on Base. What a blast. Every seat was taken. I haven't see that since Covid started. It's good to live in Georgia.
My other big news is my Mom called me on her new watch. That was so cool. The guys at Verizon have been so excellent about helping her understand how to use her new watch. John and I (and Mom) feel so much more secure that if she falls again she can get help. I'm in therapy for the next 7 weeks for my knee, but I am very relieved that it seems to be helping enormously. I'm wearing a sleeve on my leg to help the torn tendon rest and heal, and the daily exercises are helping strengthen everything else. Therapy stinks but you have to do it.
I'm on duty the next several weekends (so we can take off later in the year to go to Universal. We want to go on the new Jurassic World ride.
I have attached a news article at the end of the newsletter on "Costt of Fair vs Excellent Credit $288 per month. It's interesting if you want to give it a read.
Here are some fun things going on around our area this week:
Tue Aug 2nd 6:00pm - 8:00pm
East Oak Street, E Oak St, Woodbine, GA 31569, USA map
The City of Woodbine invites you to join them as they celebrate National Night Out 2022. This event will be held on August 2, 2022, from 6-8 pm at the Riverwalk Gazebo Area along East Oak Street.
Together, we can make communities safer! Come out for free food (Kids 12 & under), games, child safety education, check out emergency vehicles, chat with law enforcement personnel, and have tons of family fun!
The City of Woodbine appreciates and values its citizens and looks forward to doing their part to give back to the community.
For more information please contact City Hall at 912-576-3211.
Sun Jul 31st - Sat Aug 6th
Here's what's happening in the music scene this week around our area.
Join us for great local talent, as well as a very active night life.
Come on out for a good time and some great music!
*Check back frequently for updates, as information is subject to change at any time.
Sun Jul 31st - Sat Aug 6th
Here's a list of where to go for Trivia & Bingo this week in our area.
Come out for a good time and some great fun!
*Check back frequently for updates as information is subject to change at any time.
Wed Aug 3rd 7:30pm - 11:00pm
Cumberland Breeze Bar and Bites, 2710 Osborne Rd, St Marys, GA 31558, USA map
Pool Tournament tonight! $10 buy in, with the cash prize based on the pot! Registration starts at 7:30pm.
Cumberland Breeze offers the biggest bar in Saint Marys! Featuring live music, djs, dancing, karaoke, ladies night, pool tournaments, bites and more, so be sure to check it out!
No smoking is allowed in the main bar.
St. Marys' First Friday Makers Market
Fri Aug 5th 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Saint Marys Street West, St Marys St W, St Marys, GA 31558, USA map
This First Friday check out the Makers Market where you can find crafters with unique merchandise at Orange Hall and in the square in front of the pavilion.
Shop at Southern Saint Boutique, Cottle & Gunn, The Company House, Lucy Gunn, Salt River Antiques, The Golden Pineapple, Market on the Square, Once Upon A Bookseller, The Merry Mermaid, Antiques, Vintage and Collectibles, and Olde Towne Gallery for cool clothes and items for the home.
Eat & Drink at Southern River Walk, Brackish Beer Company, Cedar Oak Cafe, Captain Seagles Seafood Restaurant and Saloon, Local's Dockside or Riverside Cafe.
So come shop, dine, and unwind by spending an evening with family & friends in Downtown St. Marys.
See you from 5-8pm!
Fri Aug 5th 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Two Rivers Gun Range, 1006 GA-110, Folkston, GA 31537, USA map
Two Rivers Gun Range hosts a Date Night on the first Friday of each month!
*Members bringing their significant other will receive their guest pass at no charge!
*Non-members purchasing a $20 day pass will receive a day pass for their significant other at no charge!
Fri Aug 5th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
The Makery on Lee, 111 S Lee St, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map
Join us as we celebrate the kids going BACK TO SCHOOL.
Stop in and enjoy a free mimosa or mocktail. We will also have a breakfast charcuterie spread and donuts courtesy of Wandaful Things. Come by, meet others, and celebrate the end of summer. (Must be 21 to indulge). Limited supplies.
Don't worry if you are a working Mom/Dad, we will be holding an evening event just for you on Friday, August 5th from 6-8pm.
We will also be collecting school supplies to help out our teachers and kids. ANY DONATION GREATLY ACCEPTED. *Those who donate will receive a 20% coupon.*
Sat Aug 6th 10:00am - 12:30pm
901 Dilworth St, St Marys, GA 31558, USA map
Need help for chaotic school mornings? Want to know that your little one is getting great nutrition with recipes so easy they can make and pack THEMSELVES (or with very little supervision) and so delicious they will WANT to make and eat them again and again? Spouses Bakery & Deli has GOT YOU!!
In this double length specialty class your little chef will learn how to make breakfast, lunch, and a snack on their own! They will then eat their lunch and take breakfast home for the next morning! The snack will be enough to try and take for later.
Feel free to drop your little ones off and get errands checked off your list OR stay and have fun with them!
*Discount automatically applied when registering before 7/17. Late fee automatically applies when registering after 7/30.
Sun Aug 7th 10:00am - 4:00pm
Kingsland Farmer's Market @ Tractor Supply, 1584 Boone St, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map
The Kingsland's Farmer's Market is opening again on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, from 10am-4pm. The Market includes produce, arts & crafts, and more! Located in the Tractor Supply parking lot in Kingsland.
For more information on the Market or how to become a Vendor, please call Mike Davis at 912-617-1570.
Mon Aug 8th 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Ballroom dance classes are back at Camden PSA starting August 8!!
Some of you have been anxiously awaiting the fall series where you can learn the Waltz, Bachata, and the Country 2-Step from your favorite ballroom instructors from
Ballroom On Amelia.
The series will kick off on August 8 with an extended “date night” including a dessert bar and preview of all three dances. The series will end with a masquerade ball, a night of dancing and hors d’oeuvres, on October 29 just in time for Halloween.
August 8-31 - Waltz
September 5-28 -Bachata
October 3-26 - Country 2 Step
Classes every Monday and Wednesday, 5:30-6:30pm in the Camden PSA Communtiy Room.
PSA Members: $80/month
Non-members: $100/month
Drop-in: $20/class
Each month (8 classes) will focus on one dance style.
The masquerade ball is FREE if you join the full 12 week/3 month series!
Mon Aug 8th 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Camden PSA will kick off the ballroom series on Aug 8th with an extended “date night” including a dessert bar and preview of all three dances.
The series will end with a masquerade ball, a night of dancing and hors d’oeuvres, on Oct 29th.
Tue Aug 9th 7:00pm
Cottle and Gunn, 711 Osborne St, St Marys, GA 31558, USA map
Cottle & Gunn is thrilled to have author Katherine Smith at the shop for a reading of her book “Rules for the Southern Rulebreaker, Missteps of Lessons Learned.”
Since the kids will just be going back to school, let’s have a party! Add in some Bloody Marys and snacks for a grand time. Grab a friend, or make a new one, and come to this fun evening event.
Sat Aug 13th 12:00pm - 8:00pm
Camden PSA, 1050 Wildcat Dr, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map
African American Culture Fest and Car & Bike Show is a community event and all are welcome to attend!
Event will feature Live Music, a DJ, Vendors, a Kids Zone (*Free backpacks and school supplies will be distributed while supplies last), and a Car & Bike Show.
Awards will be given for:
Best of Show
Best of Group
People’s Choice Award
Sponsor’s Choice Award
Top 20
Loudest 4,6,8 cylinder
Top 3 SPL
Best Power Wheels
Sound/Exhaust Competition
Bring your families and cars out and enjoy the festivities. BYOC (Bring Your own Chair). There will be no liquor allowed at the event.
Cost of Fair vs. Excellent Credit? $288 per Month
A borrower with a “fair” credit score could pay $103,626 more over the life of a 30-year loan compared to a similar borrower with an “excellent” score.
SEATTLE – Potential buyers considering a home buy one day usually receive the same advice: Try to improve your credit score.
For lower credit scores, home buying is out of the question. However even qualified buyers can pay less per month or opt for a bigger home if they improve their credit score before entering the market.
According to a Zillow analysis, buyers with “fair” credit could be paying up to $288 more on their monthly mortgage payment than those with “excellent” credit.
Rising mortgage interest rates means all homebuyers today can expect to pay around 62% more per month for a typical U.S. home than they would have a year ago. However, monthly increases are, according to the analysis, “exacerbated for millions of Americans with low credit scores or less than perfect credit histories.”
A borrower with an “excellent” credit score (between 760 and 850) can qualify for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 5.099% interest rate. For the same loan, a similar borrower with a “fair” credit score (between 620 and 639) qualifies for a 6.688% rate. That equates to a $288 difference in monthly mortgage payments and nearly $103,626 in interest over the life of a 30-year fixed loan. The numbers are based on the current price of a typical U.S. home ($354,165).
“If you find you have low credit, take realistic steps to improve your credit score by doing things like disputing possible report errors and paying down as much debt as possible,” says Libby Cooper, Zillow Home Loans vice president. “This could increase the amount of home loan you qualify for.”
Cost to buy a typical U.S. home based on FICO credit scores
Scores – Annual percentage rate
- 760-850 – 5.099 % ($1,538 per month, $553,743 over 30 years)
- 700-759 – 5.321 % ($1,557 per month, $567,739 over 30 years)
- 680-699 – 5.498 % ($1,608 per month, $579,014 over 30 years)
- 660-679 – 5.712 % ($1,647 per month, $592,782 over 30 years
- 640-659 – 6.142 % ($1,725 per month, $620,882 over 30 years)
- 620-639 – 6.688 % ($1,826 per month, $657,369 over 30 years)
There is one fairly new exception to the credit score rules, however: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which back over half of all U.S. mortgages, also consider on-time rent payments with borrowers’ permission. Many people have thin credit, usually because they don’t use enough credit services to create a credit score.
Going forward, these people won’t find that it improves their credit score, but if lenders agree to consider on-time rent payments, it could possibly net them a lower interest rate, which would translate in a lower monthly payment and lower 30-year cost.
© 2022 Florida Realtors®
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| Millennial Home Ownership is Finally on the Rise |
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Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 is part of the millennial generation. For many years, millennials weren't buying homes at the same rates as previous generations. In 2019, only 43% of millennials owned homes, which was well below the national average of 65% when taking every other generation into account.
Even though millennials were old enough to purchase homes in 2019 (23 to 38 years old), there are numerous factors that have caused this generation to avoid buying homes at the same rate as previous generations. However, 2022 marks a notable change in millennial homeownership.
What Kept Millennials From Buying Homes?
There are many reasons why millennials haven't purchased homes at the same rate as other generations. Some of the primary factors that have contributed to less interest in homeownership among millennials include:
- Entering the job market during the Great Recession
- Higher amounts of debt from student loans
- Stagnant wages
- Delayed marriage
- Rising home prices
- Low inventory
The financial challenges that many young adults have were exacerbated by the fallout from the Great Recession. Keep in mind that 40% of all unemployed individuals in 2009 were between the ages of 15-24 years old. The federal minimum wage has been at $7.25 since 2009 despite some states increasing their minimum wages. Even though the cost of living has increased substantially over the past few decades, median wages only grew by around 0.3% each year from 2007-2017. These factors combined to make it more difficult for millennials to buy homes.
Why Millennial Homeownership is Increasing
When the Federal Reserve dropped interest rates towards the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, buying a home became more appealing as a result of the reduced monthly payments. It wasn't until 2022, however, that millennials started buying homes at a higher rate than anticipated. While only 43% of all millennials owned a home in 2019, this same age group has accounted for around 43% of homebuyers in 2022.
What this data tells us is that millennials are now the primary generation that's buying homes. The vice president of demographics for the National Association of Realtors, Jessica Lautz, believes that "Some young adults have used the pandemic to their financial advantage by paying down debt and cutting the cost of rent by moving in with family." By saving up money during the first two years of the pandemic, millennials who were in a poor financial situation before the pandemic may now be at a point where they can afford to buy a home.
Millennials are also aging into more financial security, with steadier jobs and higher incomes in their 30’s and 40’s. Rising home prices haven’t helped, but homeownership rates increase considerably when looking at millennials who are around the age of 40. An increase in remote work post-pandemic has also allowed more millennials and Gen Zers to move to smaller, more affordable cities and improve their homebuying prospects.
In the coming months, it will be interesting to see what happens as interest rates continue to rise. Even though housing prices have increased by nearly 19% since March 2021, this clearly hasn't caused millennials to become less eager to become homeowners. |
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| Tips for Back-to-School Season |
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Summertime is the perfect season for adventures, vacations, and spending time in the sun. Once August rolls around, however, it's time to start getting ready for back-to-school season. Here are a few simple tips to get you and your children ready for the new school year.
 Set a Routine for Your Family
One of the first things you should do to get everyone back in the habit of waking up early and heading off to school is to set a routine that your entire family can follow. Speak with your children about the amount of time they must spend each day doing homework. You should also consider setting some free time where your child can do the things that they enjoy.
In the few weeks before the school year begins, try to re-establish your child's study routine, which begins by encouraging your child to wake up and go to bed at the exact same time each day. Practicing a set routine before the school year starts should help get everyone on the same page.
Get Organized
Whether you have kids or not, it’s a great time of year to clear out the clutter and get organized. Once the school year begins, things can get hectic quickly. Homework, sports, and extracurriculars can take over the calendar, leaving you little time to do other important tasks. While the summer season is still here, consider taking some time to clean, declutter, and invest in organizational supplies like storage bins, extra shelving, coat hooks, whiteboards, etc. Getting your home and yourself organized now will pay dividends throughout the school year.
Take Advantage of Sales
Many retail stores hold back to school sales that last throughout most of August, which means great deals on everything from school and office supplies to clothes and home goods. This is the perfect opportunity to buy books, school supplies, backpacks, and everything your kid needs for the new year. This is also a great time to update your child's wardrobe. Bring your child with you when you shop to help them get excited about heading back to school.
Even if you don’t have kids, you can take advantage of these fall sales to refresh your own wardrobe and home spaces and put yourself in the right headspace for the new season.
Keep Your Child's Mental Activity High
While most children will invariably want to spend most of the warm summer months having fun and spending time with friends, the lengthy duration of the summer can make it difficult for children to readjust to the school learning environment. It's even possible for children to forget a considerable amount of what they learned during the school year.
If you want to make sure that your children are properly prepared for the school season, try to spend 10-15 minutes playing educational games with your child. These games can easily be played at home or while you're on vacation.
The back-to-school season is the perfect time of year to make changes to your routine and your home. If you've been thinking of moving to a new place, it’s a great time of year to buy or sell a home and give yourself an opportunity to get settled before the start of the new school year. |
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