Securing a Mortgage While Self-Employed

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You can still become a homeowner while being self-employed. There are programs that take self-employed incomes into consideration and work to make the process achievable. One such program is the Bank Statement Program by Cross Country Mortgage LLC. This program allows potential homeowners the opportunity to qualify for a mortgage without some of the income documentation that is typically required. They offer loans up to $3.5M while accepting supplemental income and personal or business bank statements.

Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay

Wondering if this particular program would benefit you? Reach out to Cross Country Mortgage LLC today! Not sure Cross Country Mortgage is right for you? Not ready to reach out to a company to get a mortgage but know it’s in your future? See the list of tips below for things to focus on that will benefit your future mortgage endevours: 

  • Maintain a low Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio – increase your income and reduce your debt! You want your DTI to be below 50%. Calculate your DTI by adding up your monthly minimum debt payments and dividing the total by your monthly pretax income.
  • Maintain or raise your credit score; credit lenders want to see a low credit utilization ratio. Find your utilization ratio by dividing your balance by your credit limit. 
  • Make sure to keep your personal and business expenses seperate to create a clear distinction and a favorable application profile. Keep expenses seperate by maintaining different bank accounts, credit cards, and financial documents. 

Seawalk Music Festival

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Event Lineup - Click to EnlargeThe Seawalk Music Festival is coming to Jacksonville Beach this weekend! This two-day festival will take place at the Seawalk Pavilion on February 25th and 26th. There will be a variety of musical guests as well as vendors, so come prepared for a fun day of friends, music, and food on the oceanfront. The festival is FREE for everyone; please bring money for food, beverages, and artisan vendors. The event runs from 12-8:30pm on Saturday and 12:30-7:30pm on Sunday. To learn more, visit the festival website HERE. 

National Wine Day

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Wine has been a staple in human culture since its invention in 7000 BC. So it’s no suprise that there’s a National Wine Day! Celebrate with a glass of your favorite wine today. Consider visiting one of the local wineries below (click on the location to visit winery websites):

Panama City Beach Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival

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The Panama City Beach Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival is this weekend. Come by Aaron Bessant Park this Saturday and Sunday from to enjoy food, drinks, friends, and more! The 6th Annual Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival will be open to the public from 12pm-5pm with VIPs getting access at 11am. Event ticket prices vary according to the package you purchase, but General Admission is $5 online and $10 at the gate; kids 10-years-old and younger get in for free.

The festival will include over thirty of Florida’s most popular food trucks, over 50 national, regional, and local craft beers, lawn games, music, and family fun. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the sunny Florida weekend. Please be sure to bring cash and card to purchase food, drinks, and other goodies provided by artisan vendors. For a complete list of participating food trucks, beers, and artists, please visit the Facebook event page HERE or visit the official website HERE. 

 

Panhandle Stompers

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Looking for something fun to do Wednesday nights? Miss going out dancing? Join the Panhandle Stompers at the Blue Moon Bar and Grill in Lynn Haven on Wednesday nights to learn dances ranging from beginner to experienced. The Stompers welcome all skill levels and all ages! Lessons are free but they do accept tips. Janene Epperson, the founder of the group, says that “Panhandle Stompers is a line dancing/ couples country western dancing group,” that dances to country, pop, rock, hip hop, and many other genres of music.

Epperson also offers private dance lessons. She, and/or the Panhandle Stompers, will also come to parties and other events. Learn more by visiting the Panhandle Stompers Facebook page HERE or call 850-597-1661.

Valentine’s Day

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

While the exact historical origin of Valentine’s Day is unclear, it is known that it derives from Christian and ancient Roman traditions.

Some might recognize the moniker of ‘Saint Valentine’ but did you know that there are three distinct saints that go by Valentine recognized by the Catholic church? It is unclear which of the three saints is the direct origin of the annual holiday but that hardly matters. The importance of Saint V is that his historical figure is featured in stories that are overall tragic while emphasizing “his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure.”(1) 

Historical evidence indicates that the Catholic church might have introduced Valentine’s Day to combat the prevalence of the pagan festival, Lupercalia. A fertility festival celebrated on February 15th, Lupercalia was a celebration of the Roman god, Faunus, and the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.  Combined with the romantically tragic backstory of figurehead Saint Valentine, the erasure of the Lupercalia created an annual celebration of romance, fertility, dating, and affection. 

African-American History Festival

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Coming soon to Apalachicola – the 20th Annual African History Festival hosted in Franklin Square! From February 17-19th, the Hillside Coalition of Laborers for Apalachicola (H’COLA) will be celebrating Black History Month with the annual festival. H’COLA was founded to support the community, and their festival helps celebrate local African-American history along the Gulf Coast. They invite locals and visitors to enjoy this family-friendly event. The event will feature live entertainment, artists, craftsmen, vendors, children’s activities, history, education, health, and wellness. 

 

Pensacola Chocolate & Cheese Fest

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The First Annual Pensacola Chocolate and Cheese Fest is February 19th. It will be held at Community Maritime Park in downtown Pensacola from 10am to 6pm. The festival will feature food trucks and vendors specializing in chocolate and cheese items. There will be a featured festival ice cream, the Turtle Roll Ice Cream. Additional highlights include beer, wine, assorted vendors, chocolate martinis, contests, a bounce house, and more! Tickets are only $5 per person; kids 12 and under get in for free. Visit the Facebook event page here for more information. 

Tallahassee Highland Games

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The Tallahassee Highland Games are this weekend! Come to 7550 Apalachee Parkway from 8:30am-9:30pm this weekend to enjoy the festivities. The Games are put on by May and Fain Cultural and Sports. Participants in strength sports have the chance to use their finish to qualify for the upcoming International Highland Games Federation championships in California. Learn more about the event history by visiting the official Tallahassee Highland Games website. 

On Saturday, there will be an Opening Parade, a Scottish Fiddle and Instrumental Workshop, a beard competition, a performance by the Tallahassee Pipe Band, and more! Sunday will bring more fun with performances throughout the day by the Tampa Bay Highland Dancers and the Tallahassee Irish Step Dancers; there will also be a line-dancing mini-lesson. Throughout both days, there will be a number of sporting events such as the Caber Toss and Stone Press; for a detailed schedule, click here. There will be live music throughout the weekend as well as vendors, food, and a Whiskey Tasting Experience. 

Valentine’s Day Farm & Craft Market

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Mid-South Lumber Co of Northwest Fl is hosting a special Valentine’s Day Farm and Craft Market. Visit Mid-South Lumber (12904 Highway 231, Youngstown) on February 11th from 8am to 2pm. The Market will be a farm, garden, craft, and animal swap and sale. Vendors will have local produce, baked goods, canned goods, hand-made arts & crafts, plants, and small animals. The event is FREE for buyers and sellers. Interested in becoming a vendor for this or future events? Contact Mid-South by email (midsouthlumber@knology.net) for a vendor application. A limited number of vendor spaces are available and applications will only be accepted until February 8th, so contact them soon! Visit the Facebook event page here for more information.