Washington County Weekend Post

METRO — Many couples go out for a night on the town in celebration of Valentine's Day. Romance typically prevails on such nights, but there's more to planning Valentine's Day dates than just roses and chocolate. The following are a few tips to make sure this year's Valentine's Day date night goes off without a hitch. ■ Make a dinner reser- vation. Restaurants fill up on Valentine's Day, so make a reservation no matter how frequently you may patron- ize the place you want to go to. Nothing derails a dinner date more quickly than being told there are no tables available. ■ Cancel the reserva- tion if you must. If plans change and you cannot make it, be respectful of the restaurant and call to cancel your reservation. No-shows cost restaurants substantial amounts of money, especially on Valen- tine's Day. ■ Arrange for trans- portation. If you plan to open a bottle of wine or make a champagne toast while out on the town, arrange for a car service to pick you up after dinner or use public transportation. Drinking and driving is dangerous, and local law enforcement may even have checkpoints set up to protect residents from drivers who might have celebrated a bit too much. ■ Bring cash. Few restau- rants remain cash-only, but bring cash with you anyway just in case your card won't swipe correctly. You don't want to embarrass your date by leaving the restau- rant to go get some cash, so prepare for this in advance. ■ Review the menu. If you or your date has special dietary needs, peruse a restaurant's menu before making a reservation so you know there's something for both of you. If Valentine's Day is a first date, ask your date in advance if he or she has any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Valentine's night out planning pointers METRO — Romance takes center stage on Valentine's Day. February 14th is a chance for couples to express romantic senti- ments that reflect just how much they care for one another. The relationship site Marriage.com offers that happily married couples with long histories together manage to preserve some elements present in the early stages of their rela- tionships — a time when couples typically make a concerted effort to show affection for one another. Romance is a key compo- nent of successful relation- ships. Couples may discover they don't need to leave the house to enjoy a romantic night together. Hide romantic notes Engage in a romantic scavenger hunt by hiding notes that express thought- ful sentiments and give your partner a list of clues to guide the hunt. Start with a clue such as "Where did we go on our first date?" If it was an Italian restau- rant, you can attach the next clue to a bunch of basil in the refrigerator, and so on. Alternate watching films Both of you probably have all-time favorite movies, but they may not be the same films. Encourage bonding time by queueing up two separate films to watch, yours and your significant other's. Whether one is a rom-com and the other is an action flick, watch them in succession while cuddling on the sofa. Prepare a meal together Valentine's Day dinner can be all the more intimate when you dine alone at home. Together, shop for the ingredients for a deli- cious meal you both enjoy. Pour two glasses of wine and divvy up meal prepara- tion tasks. Steal a few sample bites (and kisses) along the way. Cook to a romantic playlist to really enhance the ambiance. Dress up the bed Create a warm and inviting bedroom with some luxury bedding. Splurge on sheets with a high thread count and a new down duvet. Fluffy new pillows and room accents can make the space even more inviting. This new bedding may inspire extra cuddling together under the covers. Slow dance When was the last time you enjoyed a dance in each other's arms? Turn up "your song" and sway to the beat. Dancing together can rekindle romantic feelings and needn't be reserved for special occasions like weddings. Dialing up the romance at home for Valentine's Day comes down to simple, thoughtful gestures. Good faith estimates are a mandatory part of every property sale, as required by the Real Estate Settle- ment Procedures Act — commonly referred to as the RESPA. The document ensures that you understand and agree to take care of all of the fees and costs associat- ed with buying the home. Of course, this arrives in a mountain of paperwork, only adding to the possibili- ty of confusion. The good faith estimate is simply intended to aggre- gate what you'll be expected to pay. If you've never seen one, it might be best to acquaint yourself with the standard items that will be found there. Here's how the good faith estimate break down. Settlement and lender fees Your estimate itemizes the financial transaction between clients and lenders. One portion of these fees goes to lenders, and the rest are fees and costs associated with closing — including legal and real-estate costs. When you apply for a loan, the broker is required to provide this estimate within a three-day period. Dates when payments are due are outlined in the document. When called in to review your good faith estimate, take the time to examine everything and remember that no question is too insignificant. If there are any disagree- ments, formal written changes can be made; you may also walk away from the deal. Be aware of the reality of the situa- tion, though: They call this a good faith estimate for a reason. It might not be accurate down to the penny, so the law allows for a margin of error at 10% when estimating fees and costs. Still, this agreement is legally binding, so once it's signed, the deal is done. What's included Borrowers are entitled to more than one good faith estimate before completing this process. You don't have to accept the first pass. So, study the list found on the good faith estimate sheets. Many of the various charges won't compare to your larger closing costs, and the bottom line could fluctuate depending on the outlines of your mortgage. Origination fees and clos- ing or escrow fees make up the bulk of your costs, but the estimate will also include smaller fees like notary services too. Other costs associated with clos- ing include attorney's fees, the title search, transfers and taxes, title insurance, recording the deed and perhaps incidentals like pest control. Originating fees cover everything from securing credit reports, application fees, document drafting, wire transfers, processing and appraisals, among other things. Admit- tedly, this is a long list. But a qualified real-estate agent can help you sort through it all. Why it matters Your good faith estimate is a critical element in pre- cisely itemizing your sale. You're locking in the total purchase price for the property, and will be walk- ing away with the clearest possible idea of where the money is going. Evaluating this document line by line ensures that you have enough cash to move for- ward. If anything seems confusing, or out of order, have your real-estate agent evaluate the estimate. And if things still don't line up, remember that this is your last chance to decide against buying. © ADOBE STOCK Good faith estimates 2B • WASHINGTON COUNTY POST • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2022 GMTODAY.COM REAL ESTATE Place your ad 24/7 @ www.gmtoday.com/classifieds Southeast Wisconsin For assistance call 262.306.5000 or conleyclass@conleynet.com MOVIES COMING SOON February 18 Dog Uncharted Sneakeralla February 25 The Desperate Hour Tyler Perry's A Medea Homecoming No Exit March 2 Against the Ice March 4 The Batman Tyson's Run Lucy and Desi Fresh How to create a romantic night at home

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