EMIQUE

MAGAZINE

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Palm trees, white sand, and turquoise water–something both adults and children daydream about during work or school. The spring and summer months are the perfect time to take a beach vacation as the rates are lower than in winter. These top resorts are not only gorgeous; they also support family-friendly policies such as kids’ clubs and childcare to ensure everyone has a relaxing and fun beach getaway.

1- Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas

With the biggest water park in the Caribbean, a dolphin beach, 13 pools and endless entertainment for kids and adults, Atlantis is no ordinary resort. Expect to see many sea creatures–over 50,000 of them–water rides such as underwater tunnels, a theatre, casino and spa, among endless other attractions and prices from $375. With kids clubs, adults can relax worry-free during the day.

2-  Beaches by Sandals, Turks & Caicos

Recently awarded the No. 1 family hotel in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas by Travel & Leisure, this resort has it all. With a 45,000 square-foot water park and 12 miles of turquoise water beaches, this is a winner for the perfect escape. With a choice of the Italian, French or Caribbean Village, your vacation also includes culture. The resort has a wide variety of fun options for kids; there’s a Kids Club, Pirates Island, Xbox Games Garage and even Sesame St. characters for the little ones!

3- Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California

For history buffs or Old Hollywood fanatics, the famous red-roofed resort has been standing for more than 120 years. When it comes to activities and entertainment, the resort shows a fresh face with a kids’ club called Kidtopia, teen spa and salon and various night activities for the whole family, including family s’mores and dive-in movie nights. For adults, the activities are endless! Hotel del Coronado has high-end boutique shopping for women and golf for men. The resort also offers award-winning restaurants and has an incredible custom wedding package.

4-  South Seas Island Resort, Captiva, Florida

If you want to stay on the East Coast, South Sea Island Resort is the perfect choice. Voted one of the Top Ten Family Resorts by Parents magazine, there is something for everyone from toddlers, kids, tweens and teens. The Skully’s Family Interactive Center is home to Turtle Tots, Creative Corner and Skully’s Arcade and Redfish Lounge where toddlers can get hands-on with craft making, tweens can play in the arcade and teens can dance and sing karaoke. There’s also a Go! Fish program that allows kids to fish and Go! Sail where kids can get a “Junior Captain” certificate from the Offshore Sailing School. The Sanibel Sea School is the place to be for toddlers so parents can enjoy their vacations too–the options are endless!

REAL ESTATE

Glossary:

ABR® (Accredited Buyer’s Representative)

The ABR® designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to REALTORS® who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria, by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Why should you look for the ABR® designation before looking for a home? These three letters after a REALTORS® name tell you that you’ll be working with someone committed to your best interests, someone who has both made education a career priority, and has also demonstrated the experience needed to provide the finest in buyer representation.

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

An analysis provided by a real estate professional that surveys like properties in a given area or of a certain type for the purpose of determining the relative value of a given property.

PMI

Private Mortgage Insurance is coverage provided by a private mortgage insurance company to protect lenders against loss if a borrower defaults. Coverage is usually required for a loan with a loan-to-value (LTV) percentage in excess of 80 percent.

Title Search

A check of the title records to ensure that the seller is the legal owner of the property and that there are no liens or other claims outstanding.

PITI

Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance: four components of a monthly payment on mortgage loans.

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Closing Costs: Simple fees?

Closing costs are simply the fees associated with 1) purchasing a home, 2) borrowing money, and 3) preparing paperwork to finalize the sale. Your total closing costs will vary depending on where your new home is located, what type of property you are buying, the price of your home and the complexity of the transaction.

It is extremely important that you work closely with your buyer’s representative in the early stages of your home search to estimate what these costs could be, since closing costs can easily represent thousands of dollars.

The main categories are:

DISCOUNT POINTS TO BUY DOWN THE MORTGAGE

If you want to reduce the ongoing cost of your mortgage over the life of the loan, you’ll want to consider this optional fee. Amounts can vary significantly, from 0.5 to 3 points on the total mortgage amount. This is a one-time charge that is fully deductible as mortgage interest.

COSTS FOR ORIGINATING THE

MORTGAGE.

This generally includes a variety of fees such as the loan origination fee, the appraisal fee and the cost of credit reports. Other related closing fees may include hazard and mortgage insurance, and interest accrued on the mortgage between closing date and the end of the month.

TAXES AND OTHER LOCAL FEES

Charges will vary according to local government requirements. Some may demand that property taxes be pro-rated according to when you officially own your home. You may also be required to pay personal property taxes, homeowner’s association dues, and other assessments that are specific to the area that you are moving into.

DOCUMENTATION COSTS

You will have to pay for any research involving public records and title history for your new property. This insures that the title is unencumbered by other ownership claims or liens and can be delivered to you at closing. Other costs include recording and transfer fees, which cover legally recording the deed to your name.

Rebac.net