Top 10 Family Vacation Spots

Where it used to be difficult to decide on a vacation spot that would please the whole family, a new trend, family-friendly resorts solves the problem of where to go for that great family trip. Experience everything from an African Safari to the Wild West with one of these top 10 family vacation spots.

#1 Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Experience the thrill of an African safari without leaving the continent at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in Orlando, Florida. Start by greeting the 33-acre property via the lobby’s 65-foot window. Over 200 animals from 100 different species roam the property.

#2 Hilton Waikoloa Village

If a trip to the islands is on your agenda, take the family to the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii. Parents can sign kids up for Camp Menehune, a day and night camp where they get to feed swans, hunt for treasure and search the tidepools for sea life.

#3 Tanque Verde Ranch

Tanque Verde literally means “Green Pool.” This 640-acre ranch is Tuscan, Arizona is a green oasis in the Sonoran Desert. Turn into cowboys and go on a specialty horseback ride with lunch in Cottonwood Grove. Riding lessons are available.

#4 Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort

Take a wonderful winter vacation at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort near Salt Lake City, Utah.In addition to skiing, family members can enjoy ice skating, snowboarding, snow tubing, luge sledding and snowshoe tours.

#5 Atlantis Resort

Explore a lost civilization with an Atlantis Resort vacation. Located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, it has 11 exhibit lagoons and thousands of animals such as stingrays, lionfish and sharks. This trip is for the water-loving family with miles of beaches, seven water slides and 11 different pool areas.

#6 Tyler Place Family Resort

Family vacations have been the specialty of Tyler Place in Highgate Springs, Vermont since 1933. Not only do they provide activities for grade school kids, they cater to kids from newborns to teens with musical games, a fleet of strollers, bikes with baby seats, water skiing and camp outs.

#7 Vista Verde, Steamboat Springs

At Vista Verde in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, kids can learn horseback riding basics and hold powwows in teepees while parents take a wine tasting class or have a romantic candlelight dinner.

#8 Earthshine Mountain Lodge

Located in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, Earthshine Mountain Lodge is a refreshing way to experience pioneer life. Press apple cider, make candles, apprentice in a blacksmith shop and learn the ways of the Cherokee Native American tribe.

#9 Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa, Gainey Ranch

At the Hyatt Regency in Scottsdale, Arizona, parents get plenty of R&R while the kids are entertained at Camp Hyatt Kachina. There are separate programs for kids aged 3 to 6 and 6 to 12. The camp activities are influenced by Native American culture.

#10 The Hotel Hershey

The Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania pairs adult activities like golf and spa treatments with the Cocoa Kids Club, a supervised program featuring arts and crafts and sports activities. Older kids get to go hiking and participate in team-building activities.

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Top 10 Tips To Save Water This Summer

With the warm summer weather comes an increase in activities around your home, outside and inside, that use water. Here are 10 tips for smart water usage.

Check Your Connections

1. Check hose connections and outdoor faucets for leaks. Replace or adjust them as soon as you notice a leak. Also watch lengths of hose when water is running through them for holes or other damage.

Strategically Schedule Your Water

2. Be strategic by scheduling when you water lawns, gardens and flower beds. Watering before the heat of the day means less water is lost to evaporation. A regular watering schedule also keep plants and lawns from drying out and becoming stressed, which in turn leads to the need to water more.

Regularly Adjust Your Sprinklers

4. Stay pointed in the right direction. Regularly adjust the direction of your sprinklers to make sure you aren’t watering the sidewalk or driveway.

Make A Clean Sweep

5. Use a broom on driveways and walkways as a first step to cleaning them. Use the hose as the second step.

Maintain Your Pool

6. Don’t let your pool make an unwanted splash on your water bill. If you have a pool, make sure it is regularly maintained and thoroughly checked for leaks.

Use A Rain Barrel

7. Set up a rain barrel. Then use water collected to water trees, shrubs and flowers. In a similar vein, see if downspouts can be directed to deliver water to certain areas that need it such as lawns or garden beds.

Fill Your Appliances

8. Appliances are most efficient when full. Wait until there is a full load to run the dishwasher or washing machine.

Inspect Your Appliance

9. Inspect other appliances that use water to make sure they are performing in an optimum way. Don’t forget your evaporative cooler or hot water heater.

Don’t Wait For The Tap To Get Cold

10. Keep a container of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting tap water run to get cold for drinking. This has the added benefit of giving you a cool drink instantly.

Saving a drop here and a drop there really makes a difference when it comes to water usage. What looks like a small amount of wasted water adds up quickly when it happens every day or all summer long. In a similar way making what seems like a small step now will help keep your home green. Then you can enjoy summer the way it was meant to be.

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Keeping A Germ Free Home During Flu Season

Flu season can be a dangerous time of the year. We all like to think our home is safe and germ free, but germs can be lurking everywhere! Thankfully, there are ways that you can keep your home germ free during the flu season and keep your family healthy and safe!

High-traffic Areas

There are some spots in your house that receive a lot of traffic, such as faucets, doorknobs, remote controls, toys and toilets. These are areas where germs build up quickly. That is why it is important to disinfect these areas often. Once someone from your family comes into contact with the flu virus, they can easily spread it to other areas of the house. Try to keep it from spreading by cleaning these high-traffic areas.

Disinfectants

When you want to get rid of dirt, soap and water will do the trick. However, when you want to get rid of germs, you are going to need something with a little bit more power. That is where disinfectants and sanitizers come into play. These types of cleaning products are used to kill viruses and bacteria. Keep in mind, however, that disinfectants need time to work. Sometimes they need between a few seconds to a few minutes. Read the directions on your disinfectant product to ensure that you get the maximum benefit from it.

Take Out the Trash

During the cold and flu season, your family is going to use a lot of tissues. As a result, your trash will be filled with dirty tissues that are simply overflowing with germs. This is why it is extremely important to empty your trash can often. Also, ensure that your family members do not leave their dirty tissues lying around. This is just asking for more germs to spread to other surfaces.

Be sure to keep these tips in mind when it comes to keeping your home germ free this flu season. Just remember, there is no sure-fire way to stop the spread of the flu. Thus, as soon as you notice signs of being infected, you should contact your doctor right away for treatment. The sooner you seek treatment for the flu, the quicker you can get back to your normal life!

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Why Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage is Important

While plenty of people pick out the house they want and then go to the lender for a mortgage, this is actually quite backwards. If you are hoping to purchase a home soon, getting pre-approved for a mortgage should be the first item on your list. Here are some reasons why this will make buying a house a much less painful experience with a pre-approval in hand.

Establishing a Purchase Range

There is no sense in viewing homes you cannot afford. Getting a pre-approval will give you an idea as to how much you can reasonably purchase, so there will be no let-down later in the process. Having a range to use when house hunting will save you time and frustration, as well as save the time and frustration of homeowners and your realtor. Your pre-approval amount will also tell you how large of a down payment you will need, which is largely dependent on how much you are approved to borrow.

Finding Credit Problems First

Some people decide to buy a home and have one picked out, only to find out that their credit is destroyed and they don’t qualify for a mortgage. In another scenario, you may think you are prepared to buy and find out your score is only 20 points from being within prime range. Getting a pre-approval first will tell you what you can reasonably expect to be offered from lenders. Then, you will be able to make your own decision about whether or not you want to focus on some credit repair before taking the plunge.

Allowing You to Move Quickly

If you are searching for the perfect house and find it without being pre-approved, another person can swoop in and buy it before you can get all of your paperwork in order. This is not uncommon at all, as many people find the house, make an offer and close within 30 days. If you want to be able to snap up the right house for you, having a pre-approval can help speed the process.

Getting a pre-approval for a mortgage is important because it will save you time and effort. If you need to do some credit repairs first or gather some documentation, you won’t have two realtors and a homeowner waiting on the process. If you are serious about home ownership, having a pre-approval in hand will make it easier for everyone involved.

Pre-Approval

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Top 10 Mortgage Tips

When getting a mortgage, you should do your research and know how to proceed wisely. For most inexperienced buyers, this is hard. However, if you can follow these top 10 mortgage tips for borrowers, you will land the best mortgage at the lowest APR.

1. Document

Above all else, when you want to borrow a large sum of money, you will want to document your finances. Then, when you have to head to the bank and speak with a lending representative, you can avoid any unnecessary delays in the process.

2. Lock In Early

With a mortgage, you will want to lock in rates quickly. Remember, the APR will fluctuate, and you will want to get in at the best time.

3. Shop Around; A Lot

Now, more than ever, the mortgage market is competitive and a buyer should take advantage of this by looking at plenty of options. Remember, you should not hurry; instead, you should find the best mortgage for your situation.

4. Look At Credit

Before getting a mortgage, you need to look at your credit. If it is in great shape and you have a score of over 750, you should not take action. On the other hand, if you have a low score, you should fix your credit and pay off old debts.

5. Keep Your Down Payment Small

If you have a lot of cash saved up, you should not put it all on the down payment. Think about it, when getting a house, you will need cash to make repairs and upgrades. Luckily, with a few grand in savings, you can pay for this easily.

6. Be Aware Of Rights

Now, a consumer enjoys plenty of protection when he or she takes out a mortgage. Of course, you should still read up on these laws.

7. Start Early

When you want to get a mortgage, you should start early. Otherwise, you may end up with problems when one delay after another occurs.

8. Look Local

Sometimes, you should head to your own bank and look for a loan. If you have a great relationship with them, you may get a low rate.

9. Really Think About It

Now, a home purchase is a big deal. To avoid overspending, you should sit on any big decision.

10. Do Not Fear

Without a doubt, getting a mortgage is not a scary process.

With these 10 tips, you can land the mortgage you want. Not only that, you will experience fewer problems when following these tips.

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The 5th Annual Vermont Restaurant Kicks Off April 25

Do you love going to different restaurants and trying a variety of foods? If so, then you will be happy to know that the 5th Annual Vermont Restaurant will kick off on April 25th. It will last until May 4th. Participating in Restaurant Week is very easy. All you have to do is choose from a list of participating restaurants, make an early reservation, ask for a menu special and share your adventure on Facebook.

When you are making your reservations, make sure that you tell the restaurant manager that you will be coming to Restaurant week. You will be able to enjoy dinner for $15, $25 or $35 per person. At some restaurants, you will be able to have lunch for less than $10 per person. Vermont Restaurant Week is on Facebook. Make sure that you talk about your experiences on Facebook. You can also talk about your experiences on Instagram and Twitter. Make sure that you use the hashtags #vtrw.

The Bobcat Café And Brewery is one of the many restaurants that is participating in the 5th Annual Vermont Restaurant Week. This restaurant serves farm-fresh comfort food. It also serves house-brewed beers. The Bobcat Café And Brewery is open seven days a week.

Black Sheep Bistro is also participating in the 5th Annual Vermont Restaurant Week. Every entrée at this restaurant is $19. Every entrée also comes with garlicky mashed potatoes and a cone of frites.

Silver Place is another one of the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week. It serves Chinese food with an American twist. It is open seven days per week, but lunch is not served on Sundays.

L’Amante Ristorante will most likely be visited by a lot of people during the 5th Annual Vermont Restaurant Week. It serves Italian food, but the menu changes on a regular basis. Squash blossom fritters with truffle oil and honey and potato-crusted seabass are some of the choices that people have on the menu. This restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Additionally, you can eat at Juniper during Restaurant Week. This is a restaurant and cocktail lounge that is located inside of Hotel Vermont. The beverages and food are inspired by local, fresh products.

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New Rules for Home Loans: How Will They Affect You?

In January, 2014, new home mortgage lending rules aimed at strengthening protections for consumers went into effect in the United States. Created by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — a federal agency responsible for regulating financial protection for consumers — the new rules come in the wake of the banking crisis that left millions of Americans in foreclosure, underwater on their home loans or struggling to make payments that they were never financially qualified to make. The law tightens restrictions on the banking industry, spelling out clearly what constitutes a qualified mortgage and placing limits on the fees and terms of some home loans.

However, many lenders already have tightened their lending criteria significantly since 2012, so some of the restrictions will not come as much of a surprise. Borrowers who do not qualify for low-interest mortgage loans will still have the option of applying for a mortgage backed by the Federal Housing Authority; they will just pay more for the loan.

Some of the requirements of the new law seem glaringly obvious from a consumer’s point of view. For example, self-employed borrowers or those whose income includes regular overtime or commission income will have to provide proof of how much money they make. Just asserting that you make 20 percent more than your base pay in overtime every month will no longer work. Additionally, loans to borrowers with an income-to-debt ratio of more than 43 percent are limited.

Another restriction imposed by new law is the elimination of interest-only loans, which were popular right before the housing market collapsed and greatly contributed to thousands of foreclosures in parts of the United States. Consumers who relied on these loans to purchase homes later discovered that they could not meet the higher payments they faced when the interest-only period ended, causing them to default and lose their homes. Adjustable rate mortgages—another popular lending strategy used to help low-income borrowers qualify for a home loan — are still allowed. However, the borrower must be qualified to meet the highest possible payment within the first five years. In other words, you cannot qualify for an adjustable mortgage with very low initial payments that will increase substantially in two to three years unless you are in a position to pay those higher payments now. Further restrictions limit mortgage terms to no more than 30 years and the total cost of points and fees to 3 percent of the loan (for loans of $100,000 or more.) The law also prohibits lenders from providing financial incentives to loan officers for steering customers into high-interest loans or large loans that they cannot afford to repay.

In addition to lending guidelines, the new CFPB regulations contain stricter rules regarding the mortgage banking industry’s obligation to keep consumers informed about the status of their loans. Mortgage servicer’s must now send monthly statements, credit payments on the first day they are received and notify borrowers when their payments are 36 days past-due. Additionally, banks cannot begin foreclosure proceedings until at least 120 days after the last payment was received. Homeowners who file a completed application for assistance and are working with the bank to avoid foreclosure are also protected under the new law.

Undoubtedly, the mortgage banking industry’s response to the new regulations will be some initial belt-tightening, Nevertheless, according to Keith Gumbinger, spokesperson for the country’s largest publisher of consumer loan information, HSH.com, “…everybody has been preparing for the change for months.” The new law simply codifies much of what the industry already has put in place. What’s more, the protections it affords consumers…while they come too late for the many thousands of families who lost their homes…ensure that future home loan transactions are open, honest and above board.

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