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UP TO $10,000 DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE

UP TO $10,000

DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE

%0, 30-Year Deferred Second Mortgage

 

Program Highlights

• FHA-insured, VA-guaranteed or USDA-RD 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages.
• Assisted Low Rate: 4.25 %* Mortgage with a 0%, non-amortizing 30-year Deferred Second Mortgage up to $10,000.
• Discount/Origination Fee any combination not to exceed 1% of the principal loan amount.
• Continuous Funding
• NO Intangible Tax
• NO Doc Stamp Fee

 

What home Qualifies?

The single family home may be attached or detached, a condominium, townhome, certain manufactured homes or PUDs. Home must be located within Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa or Walton Counties (or one of the 13 Participating Counties). The total purchase price of a new or existing home ranges from $250,200 – $334,882.

 

Who Qualifies?

• Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers who have not had a present ownership in a principal residence during the past three years.
• Borrowers must meet normal mortgage requirements to demonstrate credit worthiness. Borrowers must have a minimum 640 FICO score to participate.
• Borrowers must occupy the purchased home as their principal residence.
• Qualified Veterans and homebuyers purchasing in a designated targeted area do not need to be first-time homebuyers.
• Household income may fall within the following limits within Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton Counties.

Maximum Income Limits

       

Non-Targeted:

Family of 1-2:          $67,889-$78,000

Family of 3+:            $78,072-$90,361

Targeted Areas (Escambia County):

Family of 1-2:          $69,240

Family of 3+:            $80,780

 

Down Payment & Closing Costs Assistance

• The Authority will provide a 0% non-amortizing 30-Year Deferred Second Mortgage up to $10,000 to be used exclusively with the 4.25%* Mortgage, which is not forgivable and becomes due when first mortgage is satisfied or upon sale, transfer, rental or disposition of property.
• The down payment assistance offered with FHA-insured First Mortgage Loans can provide up to 100% of the homebuyer’s cash to close (as long as there is no cash back to the borrower).
• Maximum Income and purchase price limits are the same as the limits for First Mortgage Loans.
• The down payment assistance proceeds may be used for any eligible use associated with the Mortgage Loan closing process, including but not limited to closing costs, Lender fees, Servicer fees, pre-paids, mortgage insurance premiums, discounts and the reimbursements of earnest money and pre-close fees, such as credit report and appraisal fees.

 

Questions?

If you have questions please contact the Escambia County Housing Finance Authority at 800-388-1970 or 850-432-7077

 

Gourmet Dining Literally Reaches New Heights

If you happen to be traveling to Las Vegas, Paris or Tokyo, and also happen to have a love of extreme dining, this just may fit the bill. Not for the faint of heart, this restaurant straps its guests into their chairs before hovering 165 feet above the ground. It offers diners quite an exhilarating view; just please don’t drop your fork.

Part of the growing trend known as “extreme dining,” which also includes supper in the dark and eating in the jungle, Dinner in the Sky takes the concept to, well, new heights, with a select group of guests seated around a table suspended 165 feet in the air. The aim is to elevate dining to out of the ordinary.

Such was the case with the Brussels edition of Dinner in the Sky, which carried 22 diners above such sites as the Royal Palace, the Atomium and the Cambre forest.

Belgian creator Stefan Kerkhofs designed and built 40 platforms and charges up to 250 euros ($310) a head for the experience, with Las Vegas, Barcelona, Paris, Monaco and Tokyo among the many popular destinations. While the views from up above are spectacular, the aim is to ensure that the food is too, with some of the world’s top chefs preparing the meals. Of course, safety is another priority. Diners are carefully strapped into seats not dissimilar to those on a rollercoaster and hoisted gently by crane to the dining altitude, which depends on wind and other weather conditions, but hits a maximum of 165 feet.

You can see pictures of the experience on the Dinner in the Sky website, www.dinnerinthesky.com.

Source: Yahoo! News

2014 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2014, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2014. During this holiday period, qualifying items related to hurricane preparedness are exempt from sales tax. This holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport, or to the rental or repair of any of these items.

Notice to Businesses with Multiple Locations

This publication is being mailed to your business’ main office if you report sales tax for all of your locations on one consolidated tax return. This publication was not mailed to each of your locations. Please be sure you notify all of your individual store locations about this sales tax holiday and the specific provisions in this publication. A list of qualifying items and a copy of this publication are available on our Internet site:  www.myflorida.com/dor

 

Qualifying Items

Selling for $10 or less:

• Reusable ice (reusable ice packs)

Selling for $20 or less:

• Any portable self-powered light source
• Battery-powered flashlights
• Battery-powered lanterns
• Gas-powered lanterns (including propane, kerosene, lamp oil, or similar fuel)
• Tiki-type torches
• Candles

Selling for $25 or less:

• Any gas or diesel fuel container (including LP gas and kerosene containers)

Selling for $30 or less:

• Batteries, including rechargeable batteries and excluding automobile and boat batteries

(listed sized only)

o   AA-cell

o   C-cell

o   D-cell

o   6-volt

o   9-volt

• Coolers (food-storage; nonelectrical)
• Ice chests (food-storage; nonelectrical)
• Self-contained first-aid kit (already tax-exempt)

Selling for $50 or less:

• Tarpaulins (tarps)
• Visqueen,  plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting
• Ground anchor systems
• Tie-down kits
• Bungee cords
• Ratchet straps
• Radios (self-powered or battery-powered)
• Two-way radios (self-powered or battery-powered)
• Weather band radios (self-powered or battery-powered)

Selling for $750 or less:

• Portable generators that will be used to provide light, communications, or to preserve food in the event of a power outage

Note: Eligible battery-powered or gas-powered light sources and portable self-powered radios qualify for the exemption even though they may have electrical cords.

 

 

Youth Bicycle Helmets and Child Restraint Systems and Booster Seats Become Tax Exempt on July 1, 2014

Child Restraint Systems and Booster Seats for use in a Motor Vehicle

Effective July 1, 2014, child restraint systems and booster seats for use in motor vehicles are exempt from sales tax. Components or accessories that are sold separately from the child restraint system or from the booster seat remain subject to sales tax.

Example: A customer purchases a travel system stroller that includes a stroller, an infant car seat and an infant car seat base. At the same time, the customer purchases a car seat mirror, so that the driver will be able to see the child while driving. The infant car seat and car seat base are designed and approved to be used in a motor vehicle as a child restraint system. The sale of the travel system is therefore tax exempt; however, the sale of the optional mirror is subject to sales tax.

 

Youth Bicycle Helmets

Effective July 1, 2014, bicycle helmets marketed for use by youth are exempt from sales tax. To qualify for the exemption, a helmet must state on a label or packaging, or in its general instructions for use, that it is intended for use as a bicycle helmet for youth. The exemption does not apply to bicycle helmets marketed for adults.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

This document is intended to alert you to the requirements contained in Florida laws and administrative rules. It does not by its own effect create rights or require compliance.

For forms and other information, visit our Internet site at www.myflorida.com/doror call Taxpayer Services, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, at 800-352-3671.

For a detailed written response to your questions, write the Florida Department of Revenue, Taxpayer Services, MS 3-2000, 5050 W Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0112l

E-Services – To file and pay sales and use tax electronically (e-file and e-pay), visit our Internet site.

How to Create a Pet-Friendly Home

Whether you’ve just bought a house or welcomed a new pet into your current abode, some updates may be necessary in order for you and your pet to live in harmony. Here are some tips on how to start off your relationship on the right “paw.”

Upholster your home with pet friendly fabrics: Choose smooth fabrics that are highly durable, like synthetics, so they are easy to clean. (Note: The cleaner your home, the cleaner your pet. The cleaner your pet, the cleaner your home.) go for tightly woven fabrics such as twills, denims, sateens and poplins, which are resistant to scratches and tears. “Microfiber, micro-suede, and ultra-suede fabrics are a dog-owner’s best friend. They’re stain-, soil-, water- and odor-resistant, but still look like fabulous designer goods.

Choose dark colors and patterns: It’s either the dog or the white couch — you can’t keep both well-groomed. Washable throws for couches give a bit more flexibility, as do slipcovers. Stick with darker shades, textures and patterns to distract the eye from permanent doggie messes. Pets like to mark their territory and they seem to love to do it where you’d least like them to. Patterns are also known to hide those hairs from your shedding dog and cats more easily than solids.

Keep pet-hair-removal accoutrements nearby: If you’ve got a pet that sheds, keep a drawer of rollers and sprays that help eliminate pet hair on any surface. You can also throw an antistatic dryer sheet into the dryer with hair covered fabrics to remove the excess hair.

Create pet friendly flooring: Hard surfaces are much easier to clean and are way more durable than carpeting, where pet hair and odors like to hang out. However, a rug chosen with your pet in mind is a must. Pick a carpet that is both attractive and comfy for your pet. For overall flooring, though, focus on wood, tile and laminate. But beware: Wood is the most vulnerable to damage.

Familiarize yourself with pet friendly cleaning products: Floor cleaning products are especially challenging for pets. It’s best to keep them away until your floors are completely dry. The pads on your dogs’ feet can be very sensitive to chemicals and if they get itchy then your dog will lick the chemical residue off — which can result in one very sick dog.

Keep your home from smelling like a zoo: Most high-quality pet stain and odor neutralizers remove odors from indoor accidents, but for those lingering odors in carpets and furniture, rent a carpet cleaner from a local hardware store.

Source: AOL Real Estate