Fun Things Going On - Mental Health Awareness

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Real Estate

 

Happy May Day!  Vacuna Farms has started blueberry picking (403 Vacuna Rd, Kingsland, GA).  They post when they are open.  Next projected open day for picking is this Saturday.  I'm certainly going to try to get out there.  I would like to say I have been doing all kinds of fun and interesting activities.  Unfortunately, Florida NEFAR (NE Florida Assoc. of Realtors) is changing over their forms (ALL their forms) from NEFAR to FARBAR.  I have been in fairly constant training for the past couple of weeks to try and keep up with the changes.  They are not huge changes, but even little changes can have large impacts.  I always enjoy learning, but having to gulp down large amounts of information in a fairly compressed amount of time is always challenging.  The only other projects at the moment involve grass seed in the back yard to help it recover from the, thankfully, absent Armadillo that camped out in our yard all winter.  For excitement I am going to pick up some fresh herb plants.  My parsley didn't winter over and the rain took out all my thyme.  The Sage is still in good shape.  I do so like to cook with fresh herbs when possible.

I have included an interesting article quoting Dave Ramsey about why Now is the Time to Buy.  Dave Ramsey has some interesting video's on YouTube regarding a research project he did on how people become millionaires - and who they are.  It is considered considerably controversial as the majority of the (10,000!) millionaires he interviewed were just ordinary people.  Teachers, plumbers, accountants, engineers.  They managed to accumulate wealth through hard work, and living without debt.  I thought you might enjoy the article.  It's at the end of this email.

If you are looking for some FUN THINGS GOING ON:

  Unleashed Axe Throwing Bar & Lounge
 
Tickets:    unleashedcamden.com

 May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Unleash your Inner Peace!   
For the entire month of May, we want to support mental health awareness with a special offer that's sure to lift your spirits!  
For the entire month, enjoy a soothing 25% discount on all experiences in our Rage "Smash" and Paint "Splatter" Rooms.  Book online at unleashedcamden.com and use promo code: MENTALHEALTH at check-out!
Need a break from the chaos? Our Rage "Smash" Room is here for you – "cheaper than therapy" and "no prescription needed!" Let off steam in a safe and controlled space where smashing your worries away is not only allowed but encouraged!   
Looking for a creative outlet? Our Paint "Splatter" Room is your go-to haven to express yourself freely and release those bottled-up emotions in a burst of colors!    Let your inner artist shine and paint the walls, ceilings, floors and EACH OTHER!
Join us in destigmatizing mental health challenges and embracing self-care through fun and therapeutic experiences. Take this opportunity to prioritize your wellbeing and give your mind the TLC it deserves. Together, let's paint, smash, and spread positivity this Mental Health Awareness Month!   
**Offers valid for online reservations only booked between 5/1/24 and 5/31/24 on standard Rage & Paint experiences only. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount.**

  Event by Fernandina Beach Main Street, Teak and Ivy and Amelia Linen and Wood
 
309 1/2 Centre St, Ste 205, Fernandina Beach, FL, United States, Florida 32034   May 2 -3  10am
Shop downtown during normal business hours on Thursday and Friday of Shrimp Festival weekend for some stellar sales from your favorite stores!

  Event by Coastal Camden Art League   Friday 5-8pm
 2006 Osborne Rd, St. Marys, GA
Please join us for an artist reception in honor of Artist Chris Dougherty!!! Refreshments will be served and Amanda Mood Music will be performing on the front porch!!!

  Downtown Fernandina Beach
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is always the 1st weekend in May! We want to thank Baptist Medical Center Nassau “Changing healthcare for good!” for being our Presenting Sponsor again in 2024! Festival hours: Friday, May 3rd from 6pm to 10pm (Food Booths open 3pm-10pm & Kids Fun Zone open 5pm-10pm). Saturday, May 4th 9am to 7pm (Food Booths until 8pm & Kids Fun Zone open 9am-8pm). Sunday, May 5th 10am to 5pm. For updated info, check our website: www.shrimpfestival.com  

  Event by The Firefly
 609 Osborne St, St. Marys, GA
The Firefly presents Cinco De Bruncho!
Sunday May 5th
Brunch menu
Live entertainment, DJ and games, DE FUNK 4PM-7PM

    Orange Hall Gilman Cultural Center
Join the St. Marys Garden Club on the grounds of Orange Hall for a fantastic plant sale. Perfect time to make purchases to spruce up your home or yard. The St. Marys Community Market will also be brimming with fruits, veggies, bakery items, and unique gifts.   Saturday 9am-12

   Event by Southern Saint Boutique
 708 Osborne Street Suite 102, St. Marys, GA
 Join Us If Your a boy mom, girl mom, dog mom, plant mom, future momma, or you just love your mom!  
:Sip & Shop Margs
:Free Gift First 20 Checkouts
:Shop The Newest Trends
:Stay Tuned For Last Minute Details

  Event by WW Motocross Park, WW Rumble at the Ranch and Soulshine Events
Reverend Horton Heat plays at 8pm on May 3, 2024. Gates open at 3pm and a wristband is $20. The wristband will get you into the car show Saturday, May 4, 2024 which will include hot rods, classics, rat rods and motorcycles. There will also be valve cover racing, pin up girl contest, and a freestyle burnout contest. All this is sponsored by Duval Ford.

  Yankee Pie pizza  Friday 5-8pm
First Friday is a night for downtown businesses to offer up fun, promote shopping local, and sponsor entertainment & activities. You'll find shops with unique discoveries open late and enjoy restaurants with casual food & drinks. So come & spend an evening with family & friends.
You never know what or who we will have going on at Yankee Pie! But you can always count on it being Family Friendly and a great time!

  Event by NineTwelve Car Culture  (New Location)
 Harbor Freight Tools
Join us May 4th at the Take 5/Harbor Freight parking lot from 9am-12pm  
Enjoy all types of vehicles at a prime location  
With food options near by along with shopping/tanning/messages and more  
Looking forward to breaking in the new location with you guys

  Event by Wee Pub South
 2603 Osborne Rd, Ste P, St. Marys, GA, United States, Georgia 31558      Live music with James Brian starting at 5:30pm!

  Dave Ramsey: Now is the Time to Buy
By Jeffrey Quiggle   April 30, 2024
Personal finance author Dave Ramsey said today’s economic conditions can favor homebuyers. But when interest rates go down, prices may go up.
NEW YORK – High interest rates understandably cause many people to shy away from buying homes, but there are a few other factors potential homebuyers should consider.

Dave Ramsey, personal finance author and host of The Ramsey Show, explained how taking a close look at the housing market — and one's own financial well-being — can lead to the conclusion that it's wise to buy a house now.

"The housing market is heating up with more homes for sale, but there still aren't enough to meet demand, so prices keep climbing," wrote the Ramsey Real Estate Team in an email sent to TheStreet on April 25.

The email cited housing market data it attributed to Realtor.com and Freddie Mac.

Specifically, the month-to-month median home price from February 2024 to March 2024 rose 2% from $415,500 to $424,900. Also, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate rose .08% from 6.10% in February 2024 to 6.18% in March 2024.

On a year-to-year basis, the data cited in the Ramsey email showed that total homes for sale rose from 562,444 in March 2023 to 694,820 in March 2024 for a 24% gain.

Ramsey explained one thing that is unlikely to change soon: high home prices.

"If you're ready to buy," the continued, "Now's the time."

Ramsey explains how economic conditions can favor homebuying now
Ramsey explained a few big reasons to buy a house now if your finances are in order for such a move.

First, there is a lot of speculation that interest rates will go down sometime late in 2024 or in 2025. Ramsey warns that lower rates would encourage more people to buy homes — and sellers would respond to the increase in demand by raising prices.

Second, Ramsey suggested that homeowners can always refinance at some point in the future.

"If you wait to buy and home prices go up, you're stuck with the higher prices," Ramsey wrote.

Ramsey also warned that the Federal Reserve is unpredictable. Sometimes the certainty of now is easier to plan for than the uncertainty of the future.

Putting these economic circumstances aside, however, Ramsey explained his views on how to tell if you are financially ready to buy a house.

Ramsey suggests four major financial items you should consider to be sure you are ready for homebuying in this economic environment.

The first is to be sure you are completely out of consumer debt, including car loans, credit cards, and student loans.

Ramsey also believes people should have three to six months of an emergency fund available, because there are usually expenses and financial circumstances that come up that are difficult to predict.

Ramsey also recommends a down payment of at least 5% to 10%. But he strongly encourages putting 20% down, if possible, to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is a monthly fee that protects the lender if the borrower is unable to pay their mortgage.

Regarding house payments, Ramsey believes homebuyers should be sure their monthly payment will be no more than 25% of their take-home pay.

"Any more than that, and you run the risk of not having enough money left in your budget each month to put toward other important financial goals," Ramsey wrote. "You'll be house poor."

"We know how badly you want to be a homeowner and start building equity," Ramsey continued. "But we talk to people every day who bought a house before taking those steps and wound up regretting it because they got stuck with a giant, expensive burden."

© Copyright 2024, Cherokee Tribune. All rights reserved.

 
 HolmanSellHomes.com 
 
For years, virtual tours, drone surveys, and 3-D modeling were useful enhancements that helped sellers market their homes more effectively. Now, those tools are practically industry standards that prospective buyers have come to expect. 

In 2020, digital transaction tools went from being "nice to have" to a necessity. With E-signing software and video conferencing, much of the back-and-forth that used to happen in person can now be accomplished online. 
As an FSBO seller, you likely won't have access to the same tools as your competition, and that could lead you to a slower sale and less money. Or you can let me handle it. From marketing to closing and everything in between, I've got the technology to meet the expectations of modern buyers. 
 
 
Cathy Holman Home Stagging Expert

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper RE

717-801-5900
912-673-7373
 
  
cathy@holmansellhomes.com 
HolmanSellHomes.com
 ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.    
     
      

 Event by Southern Saint Boutique
 708 Osborne Street Suite 102, St. Marys, GA
 Join Us If Your a boy mom, girl mom, dog mom, plant mom, future momma, or you just love your mom!  
:Sip & Shop Margs
:Free Gift First 20 Checkouts
:Shop The Newest Trends
:Stay Tuned For Last Minute Details

 Event by WW Motocross Park, WW Rumble at the Ranch and Soulshine Events
Reverend Horton Heat plays at 8pm on May 3, 2024. Gates open at 3pm and a wristband is $20. The wristband will get you into the car show Saturday, May 4, 2024 which will include hot rods, classics, rat rods and motorcycles. There will also be valve cover racing, pin up girl contest, and a freestyle burnout contest. All this is sponsored by Duval Ford.

 Yankee Pie pizza  Friday 5-8pm
First Friday is a night for downtown businesses to offer up fun, promote shopping local, and sponsor entertainment & activities. You'll find shops with unique discoveries open late and enjoy restaurants with casual food & drinks. So come & spend an evening with family & friends.
You never know what or who we will have going on at Yankee Pie! But you can always count on it being Family Friendly and a great time!

 Event by NineTwelve Car Culture  (New Location)
 Harbor Freight Tools
Join us May 4th at the Take 5/Harbor Freight parking lot from 9am-12pm  
Enjoy all types of vehicles at a prime location  
With food options near by along with shopping/tanning/messages and more  
Looking forward to breaking in the new location with you guys

 Event by Wee Pub South
 2603 Osborne Rd, Ste P, St. Marys, GA, United States, Georgia 31558      Live music with James Brian starting at 5:30pm!

 Dave Ramsey: Now is the Time to Buy
By Jeffrey Quiggle   April 30, 2024
Personal finance author Dave Ramsey said today’s economic conditions can favor homebuyers. But when interest rates go down, prices may go up.
NEW YORK – High interest rates understandably cause many people to shy away from buying homes, but there are a few other factors potential homebuyers should consider.

Dave Ramsey, personal finance author and host of The Ramsey Show, explained how taking a close look at the housing market — and one's own financial well-being — can lead to the conclusion that it's wise to buy a house now.

"The housing market is heating up with more homes for sale, but there still aren't enough to meet demand, so prices keep climbing," wrote the Ramsey Real Estate Team in an email sent to TheStreet on April 25.

The email cited housing market data it attributed to Realtor.com and Freddie Mac.

Specifically, the month-to-month median home price from February 2024 to March 2024 rose 2% from $415,500 to $424,900. Also, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate rose .08% from 6.10% in February 2024 to 6.18% in March 2024.

On a year-to-year basis, the data cited in the Ramsey email showed that total homes for sale rose from 562,444 in March 2023 to 694,820 in March 2024 for a 24% gain.

Ramsey explained one thing that is unlikely to change soon: high home prices.

"If you're ready to buy," the continued, "Now's the time."

Ramsey explains how economic conditions can favor homebuying now
Ramsey explained a few big reasons to buy a house now if your finances are in order for such a move.

First, there is a lot of speculation that interest rates will go down sometime late in 2024 or in 2025. Ramsey warns that lower rates would encourage more people to buy homes — and sellers would respond to the increase in demand by raising prices.

Second, Ramsey suggested that homeowners can always refinance at some point in the future.

"If you wait to buy and home prices go up, you're stuck with the higher prices," Ramsey wrote.

Ramsey also warned that the Federal Reserve is unpredictable. Sometimes the certainty of now is easier to plan for than the uncertainty of the future.

Putting these economic circumstances aside, however, Ramsey explained his views on how to tell if you are financially ready to buy a house.

Ramsey suggests four major financial items you should consider to be sure you are ready for homebuying in this economic environment.

The first is to be sure you are completely out of consumer debt, including car loans, credit cards, and student loans.

Ramsey also believes people should have three to six months of an emergency fund available, because there are usually expenses and financial circumstances that come up that are difficult to predict.

Ramsey also recommends a down payment of at least 5% to 10%. But he strongly encourages putting 20% down, if possible, to avoid paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI is a monthly fee that protects the lender if the borrower is unable to pay their mortgage.

Regarding house payments, Ramsey believes homebuyers should be sure their monthly payment will be no more than 25% of their take-home pay.

"Any more than that, and you run the risk of not having enough money left in your budget each month to put toward other important financial goals," Ramsey wrote. "You'll be house poor."

"We know how badly you want to be a homeowner and start building equity," Ramsey continued. "But we talk to people every day who bought a house before taking those steps and wound up regretting it because they got stuck with a giant, expensive burden."

© Copyright 2024, Cherokee Tribune. All rights reserved.

 
 HolmanSellHomes.com 
 
For years, virtual tours, drone surveys, and 3-D modeling were useful enhancements that helped sellers market their homes more effectively. Now, those tools are practically industry standards that prospective buyers have come to expect. 

In 2020, digital transaction tools went from being "nice to have" to a necessity. With E-signing software and video conferencing, much of the back-and-forth that used to happen in person can now be accomplished online. 
As an FSBO seller, you likely won't have access to the same tools as your competition, and that could lead you to a slower sale and less money. Or you can let me handle it. From marketing to closing and everything in between, I've got the technology to meet the expectations of modern buyers. 
 
 
Cathy Holman Home Stagging Expert

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper RE

717-801-5900
912-673-7373
 
  
cathy@holmansellhomes.com 
HolmanSellHomes.com
 ©2024 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.