Page 12/The Sun and News, Saturday, May 15, 2021First-time homebuyer?
Follow these steps.
Is homeownership a goal
of yours? It does offer
some benefits, in addition
to meeting your basic need
for shelter. The equity you
build in your home can be
a valuable financial asset,
and you may get to deduct
your interest payments on
your taxes. But if you’re a
first-time homebuyer, what
steps should you take?
First, make sure the time
is right for you in terms of
your personal and financial
situations. For example,
are you fairly confident
that your employment is
stable and that your earn-
ings won’t decline? Of
course, external events can
also play a role in your
decision. A recent study by
Morning Consult and
Edward Jones found that
12% of respondents post-
poned purchasing a house
during the COVID-19 pan-
demic.
But if you’re ready and
eager for homeownership,
consider the following
moves:- Save for a down pay-
ment. The more money you
put down for a home, the
lower your monthly pay-
ments, although there’s
also a point at which overly
large down payments can
be financially unwise.
However, if you can make
a down payment of more
than 20% of the purchase
price, you can generally
avoid having to pay for
private mortgage insurance
on top of your monthly
payments. Also, as a first-
time homebuyer, you might
qualify for down payment
assistance from your local
or state housing authority
or a nonprofit group.- Check your credit
score. A higher credit score
gives you a better chance
for a lower interest rate.
You can request a credit
report from annualcredit-
report.com, and you might
be able to get a credit score
for free from your bank. If
you need to improve your
score, you may want to
delay your home purchase. - Learn how much you
qualify for – and how much
you should spend. Once
you think you’re ready to
begin the home-purchasing
process, you may want to
contact a few lenders to
determine the size of the
mortgage for which you
qualify. Be aware, though,
that just because you can
get a mortgage of a certain
amount, does not necessar-
ily mean that you should.
You don’t want to become
“house poor” – that is, you
don’t want to spend so
much on your house pay-
ments that you are cash
strapped and can’t afford to
save for other goals, such
as college for your children
or a comfortable retire-
ment. You may want to
establish a budget for how
much you can readily
afford to pay for your mort-
gage each month – and try
sticking to it before you
buy the house. If you have
extra savings, put it toward
your down payment.- Prepare for unexpected
costs. You can plan for
your mortgage, utilities,
taxes and insurance – but
when you own a home,
you’ll always encounter
unexpected costs. You may
need to get a new furnace,
repair your roof or face any
number of other mainte-
nance issues. To help pre-
pare for these costs, try to
build an emergency fund
containing three to six
months’ worth of living
expenses, with the money
kept in a liquid, low-risk
account. Without such a
fund, you might be forced
to dip into your long-term
investments or take on add-
ed debt to pay for these
unanticipated expenses.
Homeownership can be a
rewarding experience –
and the rewards will be
even be greater when
you’ve “done the numbers”
and prepared yourself
financially.
This article was written
by Edward Jones for use by
your local Edward Jones
Financial Advisor.
Edward Jones, Member
SIPC
(^160498)
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF GAINES
KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
PUBLIC NOTICE OF POSTING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND
THE CROSSINGS PUD FOR BOSCH ARCHITECTURE
AT 1439 AND 1469 EASTPORT DRIVE –
PARCEL Nos. 41-22-05-276-001 & 41-22-05-276-
At a regular meeting of the Township Board for Gaines Charter Township,
held at the Gaines Charter Township Hall, on May 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., the
following Ordinance/amending ordinance was proposed. A major amend-
ment to the Crossing PUD to allow for a 52-foot, four story building with a
31-foot southern setback from Eastport Drive.
The property subject to the major PUD amendment is located at 1439 & 1469
Eastport Drive SE (#41-22-
05-276-001 & 41-22-05-276-005) and is described as: PART NEFRL 1/4 COM
AT A PR ON N LINE OF EASTPORT DR /110 FT WIDE/ SD PT BEING
1710.61 FT S00D 29M 47S E ALONG E SEC LINE & 421.57 FT 90D 00M 00S
W & 95.69 FT N 79D 03M 20S W & 199.66FT N 68D 06M 40S W & 125.
FT N 78D 32M 07S W FROM NE COR OF SEC TH WLY 6.32 FT ALONG A
348 FT RAD CURVE LT / LONG CHORD BEARS N 89D 28M 47S W 6.32 FT/
TH 90D 00M 00S W 153.68 FT TH NLY 164.99 FT ALONG A 548 FT RAD
CURVE LT / LONG CHORD BEARS N 06D 04M 57S W 164.37 FT/ TH NWLY
100.62 FT ALONG A 248 FT RAD CURVE LT / LONG CHORD BEARS N 26D
19M 51S W 99.93 FT/ TH 90D 00M 00S E 221.74 FT TH S 0D 00M 00S
253.06 FT TO BEG SEC 5 T5N R11W 1.11 A AND PART OF NEFRL 1/
COM AT E 1/4 COR TH N 0D 29M 47S W ALONG E SEC LINE 621.51 FT TO
NLY LINE OF EASTPORT DR /96 FT WIDE/ TH 90D 00M 00S W ALONG SD
NLY LINE 421.57 FT TH NWLY 96.27 FT ALONG 252 FT RAD CURVE TO RT
/LONG CHORD BEARS N 79D 03M 20S W 95.69 FT/ TH N 68D 06M 40S W
147.69 FT TO BEG OF THIS DESC - TH N 68D 06M 40S W 51.97 FT TH
NWLY 126.63 FT ALONG A 348 FT RAD CURVE TO LT /LONG CHORD
BEARS N 78D 32M 07S W 125.93 FT/ TH N 0D 00M 00S 253.06 FT TH 90D
00M 00S W 221.74 FT TO NELY LINE OF SD DR TH NWLY ALONG SD DR
222.41 FT ON A 248 FT RAD CURVE TO LT /LONG CHORD BEARS N 63D
38M 43S W 215.03 FT/ TH N 89D 20M 16S W 79.77 FT TH N 16D 25M 56S
W 52.96 FT TH S 89D 20M 10S E 0.86 FT TO A PT 1328.22 FT N 89D 20M
16S W FROM E SEC LINE OF NE 1/4 TH N 0D 06M 29S W 8.57 FT TO N
LINE OF S 1134 FT OF NE 1/4 & S LINE OF N 1198.06 FT OF NE 1/4 TH S
89D 24M 04S E 772.14 FT TH S 0D 29M 47S E 147.67 FT TH 90D 00M 00S
W 95.99 FT TH S 0D 29M 47S E 297.46 FT TO BEG SEC 5 T5N R11W
The Township Board of the Charter Township of Gaines will consider the pro-
posed amendment at its Regular Meeting on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 7:00 PM,
held at the Gaines Charter Township Offices, 8555 Kalamazoo Ave., SE,
Caledonia, MI 49316.
A true and complete copy of Ordinance to Amend the Gaines Charter Township
Zoning Ordinance, therefore amending The Township Zoning Map, can be
inspected or obtained in the office of the Township Clerk at the following location:
Charter Township of Gaines
8555 Kalamazoo Avenue, SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
616-698-
Michael A. Brew, Township Clerk
Caledonia Legion Auxiliary
hosting plant swap next weekend
Caledonia American
Legion Post 305 Auxiliary
will host its annual plant
swap next weekend.
The exchange will take
place Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.
and Saturday 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
Auxiliary members started
the plant swap approximately
14 years ago as a way to raise
funds to aid homeless veter-
ans through freewill dona-
tions. The plant swaps have
raised approximately $1,
annually.
Members have collected a
variety of plants from their
own homes and through plant
donations to begin the swap.
The public will be welcome
to browse, swap labeled
plants, shop, and also donate.
This is an excellent oppor-
tunity to freshen up land-
scape with a new look and
help a great cause, organizers
said.
New items will be added
each day, and experienced
gardeners will be on hand to
answer questions.
Scots outhit the Wildcats 9-
in the game.
Canyen Veldhouse had a
two-run single and Clark a
two-run double for the Scots
in their four-run inning.
Clark was 2-for-4 at the
plate in the Caledonia win.
Brown, Coble, Klomparens,
Mandsager, Dixon and Senti
all had hits for the Scots too.
Veldhouse started on the
mound and got the win, strik-
ing out seven and walking
one in six innings. The three
runs against him were
unearned. Clark closed out
the game on the mound to
earn the save.
Middleville TOPS 546
Chris opened the May 10
meeting, followed by roll
call. The club enjoyed a
no-gain week.
Chris began with the read-
ing of Barb Cady’s Monday
Moment of Truth. It gave
reasons why adequate sleep
is essential for humans. Lack
of sufficient sleep will
increase weight, affect appe-
tite hormones, increase heart
disease and stroke, and may
reduce social skills. A good
amount of sleep maximizes
memory and problem-solv-
ing skills, improve athletic
performance, and improve
immune function.
Members went on to dis-
cuss how to curb cravings,
following tips from a recent
TOPS magazine. Cravings
may never be totally elimi-
nated. The more one knows
what triggers cravings, the
better they can be managed.
The group discussed what
triggers cravings and what to
do to make them easier to
reset.
Alice won the Ha-Ha box.
The meeting ended with
the KOPS and TOPS pledges.
TOPS, a weight loss group
meets every Monday at
Lincoln Meadows in
Middleville. Press Apt 205
for entrance. Weigh-in is
from 4 to 4:15 p.m., followed
immediately by the meeting.
A mask must be worn
when in the building. Social
distancing is practiced.
Anyone with questions
may call Chris, 259-953-
- The first meeting is
free.
C O R N E R S T O N E
PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Join Us In Person or Online
However It Works Best For You!
Sundays 9:30 & 11am
cornerstonemi.org/Weekend
1675 84th St. SE, Caledonia, MI 49519
BASEBALL, continued from page 8
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