So long, farewell... A new "Disaster Relief" law in Florida has blocked the construction of a proposed fuel terminal in Ormond Beach! The law, which was passed in response to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, eliminates regulations in areas within 100 miles of where the hurricanes made landfall. The proposed fuel terminal, which would have been located at 874 Hull Road, was met with strong opposition from...
FunBox, the world's biggest bounce park, and has arrived here in Port Orange! I drive past it everyday on the way to work and it looks awesome!!! It's 25,000 square foot jumping zone! Connecting 10 different play areas. FunBox is designed for kids and adults (ME) with something for everyone to enjoy. One of the things that sets FunBox apart from other bounce parks is its focus on social media. The park...
The experience of snowbirds, people who live in colder climates and travel to warmer climates for the winter months, can vary depending on their individual needs and preferences. However, there are some common themes that many snowbirds share. One of the most common experiences is the sense of escape and relaxation that comes with wintering in a warmer climate. Snowbirds often report feeling less stressed...
With the recent news about mortgage rates, many people have asked me about buying down their mortgage rate. For example, if you prequalify with a lender, you can buy down your interest rate from 8% to 7%. Making your monthly payment cheaper and more affordable. If you're purchasing a home and you're asking yourself "Should I buy down my mortgage rate?" the answer is most likely no if you believe:...
With interest rates at their highest levels since 2000 and affordability lowest since 1984, it's a fair question to ask whether it's a good time to buy a house. To answer this question, it's important to consider both the past and the future. Looking back: Compared to last year, it is not a good time to buy a house. Interest rates and home prices are both higher today. Looking ahead: However, interest...
Yesterday, the yield on the 10 year Treasury bond hit a high of 4.8% which lead to the average 30 year fixed mortgage rate hitting a 23 year high. It toped at 7.7%. A year ago from today they were 6.6%. What about mortgage applications? According to Mortgage Bankers Association's Survey, applications decreased another 6% from last week. Which is 22% lower than this time last year, hitting a 27 year low...
Transform386 passes the Volusia County Council. This spending plan for $329 million in federal hurricane relief dollars, with $200 million going to housing programs. The plan still requires federal approval. The Transform386 project includes $145 million for single-family home repairs and replacement, $50 million for new multi-family construction and $5 million for rental repairs. The plan also includes...
I first heard about the diverging diamond traffic pattern from a friend a year ago. We then watched this YouTube video on it and ever since I thought these should be everywhere! A number of studies have shown that Diverging Diamond Interchange or DDIs are very effective at improving safety and traffic flow. For example, a study by the Federal Highway Administration found that DDIs reduced total crashes...
Yesterday Mortgage Rates hit new highs with the 30 year fixed rate sitting at 7.51% for a 30 year fixed rate. These are the highest rates we've seen since 2002. I was hopeful by the fall of this year we'd be back into the 6's but unfortunately that projection is being pushed to 2024. All if this is because the bond market has been struggling and has rebounded like analysis projected. If you want to...
Trains are so back! Florida's Brightline, the first privately owned high-speed passenger train service in the United States, will launch today, with trains running between Miami and Orlando at speeds of up to 125 mph. It's not London to Paris but hey, it's still pretty neat! The trip will take 3.5-hours, which is about 30 minutes less than the average drive time. One-way tickets will start at $79 for...