Fun Things Going On - Staying Warm

Blog Post Image
Real Estate

Tea.  Tea is definately the answer to staying warm right now.  I have found some excellent tea at the new Ollie's in Kingsland.  I'm having some lemon ginger here at work.  At home I have Strawberry cuccumber which sounds gross but tastes excellent.  Sure, 58 sounds warm, until you walk outside and get hit with the wind.  It should be back up to 80 tomorrow but then back down to 38 the day after.  It's a wonder we aren't all out sick.  John and I are closing in on our big Valentines Date week we do every year. (well, 3 days anyway).  We are going to Universal for Mardi Gras this year for something new.  It sounds like it is going to be a lot of fun.  Need to keep the magic alive.  34 years and counting.

I found an interesting article on home value increases by area that I have placed at the end of the email if you are interested.

otherwise, if you are in area this week, here are some fun things going on:

Bad Axe Book Club - Unleashed Camden

Wed Jan 25th 5:00pm
 
Unleashed Camden258 Haddock Rd, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map 

319362875_925730261744198_1066935084620242309_n

The Bad Axe Book Club meets once a month at Unleashed Camden to discuss the past month's book, choose next month's, and then hang out and throw some Axes!
 
Register by calling the Camden County Public Library at (912) 729-3741 or stop by and pick up your copy of this month's book "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo.
 
The club will meet at Unleashed Camden on Wednesday, January 25th at 5pm.
It is free to sign up & there is no charge to attend, but for only $20 you can participate in All You Can Throw @ Unleashed.

Murder, Mayhem, and Martinis Walking Tour

Thu Jan 26th 6:00pm - 7:15pm
 
400 Osborne St, St Marys, GA 31558, USA map 

Walking Tour

Join Molly's Old South Tours and explore a one-hour walking tour. Full of beautiful historic buildings - such as Orange Hall and the First Presbyterian Church - "Murder, Mayhem, and Martinis" also explores the history connected to an assassination plot, a deadly cane fight, a gruesome theft, and more!
 
Following the tour, you're invited to make your own mayhem at Seagle's Saloon, which will offer Happy Hour prices exclusively for walking tour guests!
 
Price: $10 per adult, $5 per child
 

Georgia Coastal Railway Experience Train Rides

Sat Jan 28th
 
Georgia Coastal Railway440 S Lee St, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map 

Train

Not interested in a themed experience?

Georgia Coastal Railway invites you to enjoy a 1 hour train ride in historic, air-conditioned railcars from the golden age of railroading. Travel from downtown Kingsland to St. Mary’s and back crossing through neighborhoods, commercial districts, woodlands and cross over a beautiful southern Georgia marsh along the way. Due to the historic nature of our rail cars we are unable to offer ADA compliant seating on this excursion.

 

Golden Sand Passenger Coach: Climate controlled for your comfort.
Children ages 2 and under ride free in the lap of an adult.
This ticket allows you access to our Open Air Car for outdoor viewing when available.

Boarding Dates & Times:

  • January 21 @ 3:30pm & 6:30pm
  • January 28 @ 3:30pm & 6:30pm
  • February 4 @ 3:30pm & 6:30pm
  • February 11 @ 3:30pm & 6:30pm
  • February 18 @ 3:30pm & 6:30pm
*Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to departure time.
 

For more information: Call (904) 370-3744 or info@thegeorgiatrain.com

May be an image of book and text that says 'Book Club'26 THURSDAY AT 2 PM

Adult Book Club St. Marys Public Library Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook

Join the Adult Book Club as they discuss the January pick "Fifty Words for Rain" by Asha Lemmie
24 TODAY AT 5 PM – 8 PM

Kids Night Out Ops Pizza Kingsland

Duration: 3 hr
 
Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook
Calling all kids! From 5-8pm, we will have cartoons on the TV and Kids' Eat Free with adult entree!
We even have a suggested dress code! Pajamas, blankets and teddy bears🧸 are encouraged!
May be an image of text that says 'OUTE ERBANKS MUSICAL BINGO Dropping Beats, NotBalls!! EVERY WEDNESDAY EXCEPT THE 3RD WED @ 7:30PM HOSTED BY DJ DAVE MILLS MUSIC FROM THE 50S TODAY LOUD TUNES & OBX CREDIT PRIZES! IT'S A LOT OF FUN!! FREE TO PLAY ALL AGES WELCOME! OBX Mirka C 140 THE LAKES BLVD- KINGSLAND'25 TOMORROW AT 7:30 PM

Bingo - All Ages Welcome!

Outerbanks Bar & Grill - Kingsland, GA
Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook
Music bingo is a fun and exciting take on the classic game of bingo. With songs replacing the numbers on a bingo card, this game can be played by many. After receiving a card, the host will play music, and if you have that song listed on your card, you mark it off, when your card has bingo, you win a prize!
Families, teams, and single players are welcome.
Prizes awarded! Bingo starts at 7:30pm, so please arrive early!
Enjoy Food, Dinks, Music, and Good Vibes
Free to Play -TouchTunes!
 
May be an image of 7 people, people standing and outdoors27 FRIDAY AT 3 PM – 4:15 PM

An Occupied Town: St. Marys in the War of 1812 Walking Tour

St. Mary's Howard Gilman Memorial Waterfront Park
 
Tickets
mollysoldsouth.com/st-marys-war-of-1812-walking-tour
 
Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook
If you think St. Marys was a peaceful riverfront town centuries ago, think again!
War arrived in January 1815 with the British occupation of St. Marys during the War of 1812. On this walking tour, meet the colorful characters who participated in the local battle (including a British admiral who had burned Washington), take in the beautiful historic homes involved in the occupation of St. Marys, and discover buildings you may not have known existed, such as a fort located along the riverfront.
Date: Friday, January 27
Time: 3:00 to 4:15 p.m.
Price: $15 per adult, $8 per child
Starting Location: Howard Gilman Waterfront Park
100 St. Marys St.
St. Marys, GA 31558
Ending Location: St. Marys Welcome Center
400 Osborne St.
St. Marys, GA 31558
For information and reservations visit mollysoldsouth.com or call 904-735-8243
 
 
 
Tickets
mollysoldsouth.com/st-marys-war-of-1812-walking-tour
 
Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook
If you think St. Marys was a peaceful riverfront town centuries ago, think again!
War arrived in January 1815 with the British occupation of St. Marys during the War of 1812. On this walking tour, meet the colorful characters who participated in the local battle (including a British admiral who had burned Washington), take in the beautiful historic homes involved in the occupation of St. Marys, and discover buildings you may not have known existed, such as a fort located along the riverfront.
Date: Friday, January 27
Time: 3:00 to 4:15 p.m.
Price: $15 per adult, $8 per child
Starting Location: Howard Gilman Waterfront Park
100 St. Marys St.
St. Marys, GA 31558
Ending Location: St. Marys Welcome Center
400 Osborne St.
St. Marys, GA 31558
For information and reservations visit mollysoldsouth.com or call 904-735-8243
27 FRIDAY AT 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM

Seagles - Man Apart Live

Seagle’s Restaurant 
Event by Man Apart
 
Duration: 4 hr
 
Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook
Man Apart bringing all of your favorite top 40 hits from the 70s, 80s, through today along with original hits that will have you singing along all night!

Paddle the Okefenokee Swamp - Folkston

Sat Jan 28th 9:00am - 3:00pm
 
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge2700 Suwannee Canal Road, Folkston, GA 31537, USA map 

321095945_1167573400544799_7177554458800769145_n

Paddle the headwaters of the St. Marys River with St. Marys Riverkeeper and learn about the Okefenokee Swamp from our Guest Expert – Michael Lusk, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Manager. The route begins at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area within the National Wildlife Refuge (be prepared to pay a $5 parking fee). From this launch site, we’ll paddle up the Suwannee Canal and then explore portions of Mizell and Chesser Prairies with a lunch and restroom break halfway through at Cedar Hammock Canoe Shelter. We will then return to our launch site via the same route for a round trip adventure of about 8 miles. Lunch is provided. Please be sure to indicate any dietary restrictions on your registration form. All kayak skill levels are welcome; however, it is advised for more moderate-advanced paddlers to participate due to the length of the paddle. More information will be provided upon registering.
 
 
Suggested donation: $45 per person (includes lunch)
You are welcome to bring your own kayak or canoe. If you need to rent, please contact Okefenokee Adventures at (912) 496-7156. Be sure to mention Paddle the Swamp event with St. Marys Riverkeeper. $25/canoe or single kayak, $30/tandem kayak. St. Marys Riverkeeper is not responsible for reserving kayaks or canoes.
 
 

Live @ Kingsland Station: Christina Vukel

Sat Jan 28th 6:00pm
 
Kingsland Station440 S Lee St, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map 

Christina Vukel

Kingsland Station welcomes Christina Vukel! At just 16 years old, Christina has created a name for herself with over 150,000 Spotify streams, 3,000 Facebook followers, and a dedicated fan base in her Florida hometown..

Live performances include covers from popular radio light rock songs from 70s to 2022. Her original songs of the similar genre are intertwined. For live events she performs with guitar, ukulele.

Purchase Tickets

52nd Thiokol Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony

Fri Feb 3rd 10:00am - 11:30am
 
Kingsland Depot Heritage Center200 E King Ave, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map 

thiokol

Save the Date! Everyone is invited to attend the Thiokol Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony on February 3, 2023.

The ceremony will be held at 10:00 A.M. at the Kingsland Depot at 200 E. King Avenue in Kingsland. This event is free to the public.

For more information: (912) 576-1760 or http://thiokolmemorial.org/

Galentines - Unleashed Camden

Wed Feb 8th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
 
Unleashed Camden258 Haddock Rd, Kingsland, GA 31548, USA map 

323894327_495290476083936_4225859565398459218_n

 

Get ready to have the best Galentine's imaginable!
Grab your girl squad and join Unleashed Camden on Feb 8th @ 6pm, for a fun night, free from any relationship drama!

From bottomless mimosas, to learning the art of axe throwing, there is something for everyone. But that's not all—you will also create your own unique charcuterie board! Don't wait another minute; get your tickets and make it a night that you and your best girlfriends will never forget! 

 

Higher and higher stacks of coins with small houses on top
AndreyPopov, iStock, Getty Images

Fla. Top State for 2022 Home Value Increases

Analysis finds Fla. home prices rose 17.27% last year, the most in the U.S., with Vermont second at 15.15%. But in last-place Idaho, values sank 0.18%.

TAMPA, Fla. – Florida home values rose more in 2022 than in any other state, according to data analyzed from real estate company, Zillow.

The average value of a Florida home, per the most recent publicly available data measured in December 2022, was just under $405,000 – That’s up more than $56,000 from $345,305 in January 2022.

The 17.27% change in value outpaced every other state in the nation.

Vermont was the runner-up, with home values rising an estimated 15.15% in the 12-month timeframe. The average value of a home there was estimated to be $386,000.

The state with the highest value homes was recorded in Hawaii, where the average value was $902,175 in December 2022 – up 9.63% from $822,924 in January 2022.

On the opposite end of the spectrum was Idaho, where home values actually fell 0.18%, or by $825, since January 2022. The average home value was $459,947 in December.

“The housing market has indeed been turbulent over the past few years, with house prices being affected by inflation, the pandemic and many more factors,” a spokesperson from Santa Monica Realtors said. “This study provides a fascinating insight into which parts of America have seen the highest increases as well as the lowest.”

The housing crisis facing America is particularly acute in Florida. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University study the price of housing across the country and in the Sunshine State. The data from FAU and Florida International University, called the Beracha and Johnson Index, analyzes home prices by comparing their expected prices and list prices.

As recently as December, FAU reported that five Florida real estate markets were among the most overpriced in the country.

“We hear how slow the U.S. housing market is,” Ken H. Johnson, Ph.D., a real estate economist in FAU’s College of Business, said, “but consumers are still buying and selling, and that activity is keeping prices elevated in a lot of metro areas.”

The Beracha and Johnson Index does not consider historical market prices when showing rankings of value versus list price, according to FAU. However, even the researchers behind the Index say the prices in Florida will likely stay higher, as other markets decline.

FAU and FIU said in December that Florida markets like North Port and Cape Coral were starting to go down in price for the first time since their markets peaked, but that Florida prices remained elevated.

“It is hard to say where prices will go from here in Florida,” said Eli Beracha, Ph.D., of FIU’s Hollo School of Real Estate. “But it seems most likely that Florida housing markets will fare better than most other markets across the country due to the persistent shortage of homes for sale and the pace at which people are relocating to the state.”

While the real estate trends remain in flux, AgentStory, a tech real estate company, has focused on measuring how many real estate agents are actively engaged in the market.

Their proprietary end-of-year data for 2022 showed fewer agents were active at the end of 2022 than at the end of 2021, down roughly 6.5% in the Tampa area. Additionally, AgentStory said quarter-to-quarter, the data tells a different story than just looking at changes year-over-year.

While companies like Zillow or Redfin measure the market by list price and mortgage rates, AgentStory bases their analysis on multiple listing service data instead. Their data is also made up of averages rather than medians.

“According to the Tampa report, in Q4 2022, there were 2188 active agents and in Q4 2021 there were 2339. So the difference is -6.5%,” AgentStory told WFLA.com. “The annual comparison hides the fact that the first half of 2022 was strong and then dropped.”

Looking at listing data, AgentStory reported that Tampa area homes spent twice as long on the market in Q4 2022, compared to Q4 2021, for 34 days on the market compared to 17 days the year before.

Turning to the housing market more broadly, the reported rate for a 30-year-fixed rate mortgage is currently 6.15%, according to Freddie Mac, a federally-backed mortgage company. Freddie Mac reports the rates every Thursday. The new rate reported Thursday is the second week in a row with a decrease in level.

“As inflation continues to moderate, mortgage rates declined again this week,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said. “Rates are at their lowest level since September of last year, boosting both homebuyer demand and homebuilder sentiment. Declining rates are providing a much-needed boost to the housing market, but the supply of homes remains a persistent concern.”

© 2023 WFLA, Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved.

January 2023
REAL ESTATE NEWS
Brought to you by Cathy Holman
Logo
.
Do Student Loans Affect your Ability to Buy a Home?
decorative image
Buying a home is a major investment that requires strong financials. If you have a large amount of student loan debt, you may find it challenging to purchase a home for many reasons. From saving for a down payment, to qualifying for a loan, to affording monthly mortgage payments, student loan debt can play a significant role in your ability to buy a home.

Student Loans vs. Homebuying

Debt-to-Income Ratio
One factor that plays a part in how likely a lender is to approve a mortgage loan is the amount of debt you currently have. Lenders prefer that borrowers have minimal debt since taking on more loan payments increases the possibility that borrowers will default on at least one of their loans. The lender will compare your debt with your income, which is known as your debt-to-income ratio.

When a lender goes to calculate your DTI ratio, they will add up your debt from all sources: rent/mortgages, car loans, personal loans, credit card payments, student loans, child support, alimony, etc. Then they will divide that sum by your gross monthly income (before taxes) to see how much of your income is going towards these payments. You can do this same DTI calculation on your own to see where you stand.

If you have a high amount of debt and a low amount of income, your DTI will be relatively high. For a conventional home loan, it's best to have a DTI of 40% or less. If you apply for an FHA loan, you can be approved with a DTI up to 50%.

Reducing DTI
If you want to improve your DTI ratio, there’s no easy way around it, you will have to spend some time paying off your debt. It's also possible to reduce your DTI ratio by refinancing your student loan. However, this option will place a line of credit on your credit report, which means that you should refinance at least six months before applying for a mortgage. The positive payment history that occurs in the interim will offset the initial drop in your credit score.

Credit Score
Having a high credit score increases your chances of getting approval for a mortgage loan and securing a low interest rate. Your payment history is around 35% of your credit score, which means that a lengthy history of on-schedule debt payments is necessary. If you make your student loan payments on time every month, this should improve your score.

Saving for a down payment
If you are spending a few hundred dollars each month on student loan payments, you may be unable to save enough money for a down payment. While a down payment of 20% is recommended when purchasing a home, it isn't always needed. There are various programs and methods to purchase a home with a down payment of just 5-10%. An experienced agent like myself can talk you through all the options.

If you have student loans that you are currently repaying, buying a home will likely be more challenging. However, approval for a mortgage loan is more likely if you can reduce your DTI ratio, continue to make on-time payments, and you set your sights on an affordable home.
Home Cleaning Hacks
decorative image
Keeping your home clean and tidy can feel like an impossible task no matter the size of your home. Whether you’ve run out of cleaning solution, want to reduce clutter, or just want a faster/easier way to clean odd spaces, here are some handy hacks to try.

DIY Window CleanerCreate Your Own Window Washing Solution
Cut through the grease and grime on your windows with three simple ingredients. Grab an empty spray bottle and add 2 1/2 cups water, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap. Optional: add a couple drops of essential oil for scent. Shake well. Spray your fast-acting cleaning solution on any glass surface, then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth to avoid streaks – a coffee filter works as a lint-free wipe too.

Use Mouthwash to Clean Your Toilet Bowl
Out of toilet bowl cleaner? Skip the store trip and extra cost and consider using mouthwash instead. Simply pour 1/4 cup of basic mouthwash into your toilet bowl. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then scrub the bowl to get rid of any grime.

Use a Pillowcase to Clean Your Ceiling Fan Blades
Ever switch off your ceiling fan after months of running non-stop and find yourself astonished by the pile of dust and grime on the blades? Fortunately, there’s an easy hack for cleaning them without knocking that grime all over yourself and your furniture. Make sure your fan is off, then grab an old pillowcase, slip it all the way onto a blade, and press the fabric against the blade while you slide the case off. The case catches all the dust! Repeat with each blade, then empty your case into the trash and toss it in the washer.

Keep Spices Organized with a Magnetic Rack
If you store your spices in a cabinet, there's a good chance that it takes you more time than it should to find the right spice when you need it. Installing a magnetic spice rack in your kitchen saves space and organizes your spices. These racks can be installed in a variety of places - inside pantries, on refrigerators, on the side of cabinets, etc. Displaying your spices in a fun/organized way can add to the aesthetic of your kitchen as well.

Remove Small Scratches on Furniture with Toothpaste
Furniture gets scratched - that’s life. Instead of having your furniture refinished for hundreds of dollars, just grab a pea-sized amount of any non-gel toothpaste. Rub it onto the scratch until it disappears. Wipe the area with a damp towel and your unsightly scratches should be less visible.

With these creative tips in hand, you can keep your home tidy and save yourself some time and effort in the process. Less time cleaning means more time to relax and enjoy your tidy home!

QUESTIONS? VISIT HolmanSellHomes.com
 
cathy15@comcast.net
cathy@holmansellhomes.com
HolmanSellHomes.com
If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. ©2022 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.