RWO Wedding 2019

INSIDE ENJOY

-THE WEDDING DRESS -INCOGNITO MENSWEAR: HERE COMES THE GROOM -WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY HIGHLIGHTED -AND SO MUCH MORE...

SPECIAL BRIDAL SECTION

distinctive

engaging

Your special day deserves a memorable venue!

The Rochester Museum & Science Center, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center offer out-of-the-ordinary venues for weddings, showers, anniversary parties, and more for up to 200 guests.

To schedule a tour of the Science Museum or Planetarium, contact our hospitality team at hospitality@rmsc.org or 585.697.1943 To host an event at the Cumming Nature Center, please call 585.374.6160

RMSC.org

Hospitality

inspiring

COME ENJOY AN INCREDIBLE

WITH HAIR WE LO

303 MACEDON CENTER RD I FAIRPORT, NEW YOR

E“BRIDAL PARTY EXPERIENCE”

OVE SALON & SPA

RK I (585) 678-4466 I WWW.HAIRWELOVE.COM

{ THE WEDDING DRESS }

THE WEDDING DRESS PHOTOS BY CHARLENE MANN FORD

The Wedding Dress is a full-service bridal boutique featuring gorgeous bridal gowns as well as bridesmaids, mothers dresses, flower girls, special occasion dresses, accessories and tuxedos.

This small town boutique offers big city style at an affordable price.

Their staff includes professional consultants and skilled seamstresses all dedicated to making your wedding day perfect.

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Visit Jessica, Kasey & Nancy at The Wedding Dress and let them help you find your dream wedding gown.

At TWD they make your wedding gown search an experience and not just a decision. They take care of their brides from Yes to I Do. Buying a wedding gown isn’t just a decision, it’s an emotional process and they have spent years perfecting it.

TWD is a family owned bridal shop - Jessica, Nancy, Meghann, Kasey and Carol. The Wedding Dress &

Tux Shop was established in 1979.

They are a Rochester Premium Retailer for Sincerity, Lillian West , Allure, Allure Romance, Justin Alexander and Casablanca Bridal.

The staff visits NYC and Chicago Bridal Markets each year to bring updated styles to the boutique.

The Wedding Dress understands the need for modern sophistication mixed with traditional elegance

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{ THE WEDDING DRESS } “Don’t let your dreams be just dreams.”

WHAT THEIR BRIDES SAY...

The ladies at The Wedding Dress and Maggie Sottero are FANTASTIC! I cannot rave enough about this little shop and the wonderful people that work there. My dress was a Maggie Sottero that truly wowed everyone at my wedding. I can only hope that every girl out there can have the experience

that I had when looking for a wedding gown.

I could never thank Jessica & Kasey at The Wedding Dress enough for helping me find my dream wedding gown. From start to finish they provided nothing but exceptional service and are the nicest girls I could have ever asked to

work with. On top of helping me find my dress, they were even able to find the bridesmaids dresses I had wanted that seemed to be impossible to find!

Kasey & Jessica are truly talented at what they do! I will be forever thankful for my amazing wedding dress, and for how beautiful I felt in it on my wedding day!

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{ THE WEDDING DRESS }

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{ THE WEDDING DRESS } “The dress...make it an experience not a decision.”

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37 E SOUTH ST GENESEO, NEW YORK 14454 (585) 243-5312 WWW.THEWEDDINGDRESSNY.COM

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CHARLENE MANN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS BY CHARLENE MANN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Charlene Mann photography is one of Rochester’s, premier wedding and portrait photographers for over a decade. Charlene began photography at a very early age, along side her dad and his camera, she began fascinated with how he was able to “freeze time”.

would give it a try, never thinking this would lead her to where she is today. After photographing weddings as a second photographer for a few seasons, she was ready and then

While attending Roberts Wesleyan College, studying Art education, Charlene worked part time at a local portrait studio, she fell in love with not only taking the portraits, but getting to know her clients on a level that resulted in capturing them candidly.

“To see their reactions when they looked at their portraits and how they felt about themselves was priceless, I knew I had found my calling “Charlene said.

Charlene’s love of wedding photography began in 2004, while working at the portrait studio, she was approached by a client and asked if she had ever considered photographing weddings. This client ran a very successful wedding photography company and was looking for someone to second shoot for weddings. She thought she

Charlene Mann photography was launched in 2008, after years of wedding photography experience, she was confident to open her doors.

One of the many things that keeps Charlene marketable, is her passion (some call it an obsession) for photography and lighting. She has traveled all over the country this year including Hawaii, Las Vegas, the Florida Keys, and Nashville, to expand her knowledge of lighting and posing. “Brides want to feel like a super model on their day, and they deserve to” with the correct posing and lighting Charlene is able to give them that gift.

C h a r l e n e ’s w e d d i n g photography style can be defined as Fresh, journalistic, and of course timeless (you know, the ones Mom and Grandma would want to hang on their wall) but ultimately, she creates art from your day, with a focus on fashionbased imagery. Every wedding and couple are unique, so from beginning to end she stylizes her imagery to fit personalities, and vibe from her couples, creating unique wedding images every time.

stepped into the lead photographer position.

What a lot of people don’t understand about wedding photography and what Charlene absolutely loves most about weddings is that you must be a very versatile ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE :: MARCH/APRIL 2019

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{ PHOTOGRAPHER HIGHLIGHT } “To see their reactions when they looked at their portraits and how they felt about themselves was priceless, I knew I had found my calling.”

photographer. Its portrait photography, fashion photography, product photography, and food photography all rolled into one glorious day, making for a new challenge every wedding.

Charlene values each and every couple she works with, from beginning with the first meet, you will feel special and like you’re in very good hands, she listens to your plans for your day and is completely attentive, and will you make you feel comfortable asking any questions. She is not only experienced in wedding photography, but with so many weddings under her belt she can

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help you with a timeline for pictures and events. Her management skills are an added bonus, being able to manage a bridal party and big family portraits can be a struggle for some, this comes with the experience that Charlene brings to the table. “Your day should be as you pictured, with no added stresses”.

With each wedding, Charlene enters into it with at the very minimum $20,000 in the top of the line equipment, she always uses cameras that have the ability to record to 2 camera cards at one time. “Yes these

cameras cost a lot more, but its just another way to back up your images to prevent malfunction, I know I wouldn’t want to trust my day with anything but the best!” Charlene is properly insured as many venues now require that of their vendors.

Charlene received the couple’s choice award for 2018 through wedding wire, by maintaining a consistent 5 star rating. She feels extremely blessed to do what she loves and be recognized for it from her clients.

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charlenemannphotography@hotmail.com I www.charlenemannphotography.com

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VINE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS BY VINE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Vine Wedding Photography is located in Rochester NY. Our vision for Vine is simple, we wanted to give great wedding photography to clients who don’t necessarily want or need the luxury style or luxury price tag associated with higher end wedding photography.

All Vine photographers are handpicked and trained by one of Rochester NY’s

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top Wedding photographers. We ensure all Vine team members are properly equipped with knowledge, skill and the equipment to make your wedding day photography experience as flawless as possible, while creating great images for you to love and cherish forever.

Wedding photography collections starting at $999.

Call one of our wedding specialist today!

Vine Wedding Photography provides professional experienced photography at any budget.

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VINE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDES PROFESSIO WWW.VINEWEDDINGPHOTOG

ONAL EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHY AT ANY BUDGET GRAPHY.COM I (585) 260-4831

{ HERE COMES THE GROOM }

INCOGNITO MENSWEAR With over 5000 tuxedo shops and menswear stores closing in the last decade, how has Incognito Menswear & Tux Shop bucked the trend and continued to thrive?

Owner Randy Barkin, who has been in the Rochester tuxedo business since 1980 attributes it to staying ahead of their competition and understanding the industry trends.

“Many tux shops were very slow to understand that today’s brides and grooms were looking for a much

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different look and feel than their parents’ weddings” Barkin said. “They were so caught up in the concept of renting tuxedos they missed the fact that the customer wanted a more casual and practical look”. According to Barkin, more weddings are wearing suits today rather than the traditional wedding attire, the tuxedo. “Since our background was in the tuxedo business, we understood what engaged couples were seeking in a suit store for weddings” Barkin added.

Shop offers a variety of products and services all under one roof including: a complete tuxedo business with over 5000 tuxedos and accessories in their Penfield location, a fully stocked new suit and menswear store, a tailor shop and most uniquely New York’s only resale store for men, specializing in quality second hand menswear. The second hand menswear store is what has given Incognito the competitive advantage over other menswear stores; specifically the national chains.

Today, Incognito Menswear & Tux

“Many of our customers want to

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{ HERE COMES THE GROOM } “The truth is, using a local company like ours is the best way to assure you have no worries, come the wedding day, with your menswear.”

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{ HERE COMES THE GROOM }

purchase the wedding suits rather than rent, but others feel they won’t be needing a suit in today’s casual clothing environment, so we give our customers the option to rent or purchase that new suit. They’ll receive the same new suit as those buying, complete with alterations included, but are able to rent at a reduced rate. Our resale store allows us to sell those suits worn only once a great price.” Barkin explained.

For those weddings that are looking for tuxedos, Incognito gives couples the ability to try on styles right at their location in Penfield. “The tuxedo business has been taken over by national chains with catalogs in small corners of their stores and mannequins to look at” Barkin said.

The second floor at Incognito is a fully stocked tuxedo operation that gives the brides and groom the chance to try on the styles in their appropriate sizes rather than look at a catalog or mannequin. Barkin says many couples aren’t sure if they are looking for tuxedos or suits when they first come in but by trying things on allows them to see what looks best and compliments the rest of the wedding theme. “It makes this part of their wedding planning much easier” he added.

Despite the success that Incognito has had over the last decade, Barkin still gets frustrated that some couples feel they need a national company in order to accommodate today’s weddings that have groomsmen ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE :: MARCH/APRIL 2019

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{ HERE COMES THE GROOM } ““Many tux shops were very slow to understand that today’s brides and grooms were looking for a much different look and feel than their parents’ weddings.”

spread over the world. “The biggest thing we hear from couples at bridal shows, is that they want to use Incognito, but they have guys all over the US and world and assume they need a company that serves those areas. The truth is, using a local company like ours is the best way to assure you have no worries,

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come the wedding day, with your menswear” Barkin said. “We have all our tuxedos and suits here so when the guys come in for that final fitting, even if it’s the day of the wedding we can adjust anything right on the spot. We can have that groomsmen, in and out of our store in 15 minutes with a perfectly fitting outfit. Rather

than take your chances with 6 or 60 different locations across the country, you can choose one that has been doing it right for over 30 years.”

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{ PHOTOGRAPHER { THE PERFECT VENUE HIGHLIGHT } }

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{ THE PERFECT VENUE }

VENTOSA VINEYARDS “Our mission is excellence,” says Lenny Cecere, proprietor of Ventosa Vineyards— and he means it. Lenny has put the winery on the map, one happy wine-drinker at a time.

“Ventosa” translates to windy in Italian, a perfect name for the setting with its breezes off of Seneca Lake which moderates the temperature of the vineyard.

Mediterranean roots of the winery date back to Lenny’s grandfather who came to Geneva, New York, from Italy.

Beer, wine and spirits were hard to come by when Pr o h i b i t i o n and the Great Depression brought about hard times.

As a tavern owner, Lenny’s grandfather learned to make his own wine as a means of survival. Driven by his grandfather’s perseverance and his own enthusiasm, Lenny pursued his own calling with the help of his wife, Meg. After years of careful planning, they planted the first of what is now a 21 acre vineyard in 2000 and opened the winery, café and banquet room of Ventosa Vineyards in 2005.

Every year, the owners return to Italy and have modeled the décor of the winery in Tuscan fashion to reflect their love of that country. The interiors of the tasting room and banquet room offer an equally Mediterranean feel, as does to the alfresco dining on the terrace. Guests enjoy views of Seneca Lake and cool winds as they feast

on Tuscan-inspired fare from Cafe Toscana: paninis, pizza, salads, and homemade soups.

Excellence in the vineyards equates to excellence in the bottle. Giving up volume for the sake of precision, Ventosa has set a high bar on what goes into the bottle —a sure fire way to keep each visitor pleased. Each

winter, vines are meticulously pruned.

Throughout the summer and fall, the vineyard manager keeps a close eye on the clusters and manicures the vines accordingly to get the most sun exposure and little room for moisture. Grapes are picked by hand so we are able to get the best juice possible. Grapes that aren’t perfect are pruned off and discarded.

This results in a lower production volume, but higher quality wine. The winery goes to great lengths to perfect the wines and make certain they are enjoyed by guests. It is mandatory that all red wines stay in the bottle for 1 year before they are released in the tasting room.

A t Ve n t o s a Vineyards, you will find classic varietals such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Chardonnay, along with Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, and, Italian varietals, Sangiovese and Tocai Friulano. Several have received awards at various international wine competitions over the years. Ventosa was thrilled when its 2011 Estate Grown Lemberger was selected as the winner of the prestigious 2015 ROCHESTER ROCHESTER WOMAN WOMAN ONLINE ONLINE :::: MARCH/APRIL MARCH/APRIL 2019 2019

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{ THE PERFECT VENUE } “Ventosa Vineyards brings the ambiance of Tuscany to your wedding ceremony and/or reception. Accommodating up to 280 loved-ones, Ventosa offers one of the most unique venues for wedding receptions—La Vista e Bella banquet room.”

NY Governor’s Cup trophy, choosing it as the best wine in NY! This was the first time a dry red wine from the Finger Lakes had won this award.

in wine, food and service, all menu items are made the day of the special event. Gluten-free or other special dietary-restrictions are available.

WEDDINGS

Couples who want to host their rehearsal dinner or bridal shower at Ventosa can utilize the winery tasting

Ventosa Vineyards brings the ambiance of Tuscany to your wedding ceremony and/or reception.

Accommodating up to 280 loved-ones, Ventosa offers one of the most unique venues for wedding receptions—La Vi s t a e Be l l a banquet room.

Inside, handpainted murals, elaborate chandeliers and wall sconces help create a beautiful European setting.

With ceremonies available on-site overlooking the lake, you can be sure to capture perfect shots, even if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate!

Access to the expansive terrace allows for a stunning panoramic view of the vineyards and sunsets over Seneca Lake. The landscape and close attention to detail bring the venue to life, attracting couples from across the country—and from around the globe. With excellence the mission

room, which can accommodate up to 80 guests. Services provided by Ventosa include event planning, rentals, AV equipment, and event furniture. Ventosa has an exceptional in-house staff and recommended vendors to help carry out the details of your special day! Our Day-of

Coordinator will ensure everything goes as scheduled so you don’t have to!

Ventosa has received highly-esteemed awards year-after-year based on the outstanding experience they provided to newlyweds. They are one of the top 5% wedding venues in the Nation on top wedding sites. Voted 5 stars on WeddingWire. com & theKnot. com, please read the wonderful reviews past brides and grooms have graciously given the team a t Ve n t o s a Vineyards.

If you would like to learn more about hosting your special e ve n t o n t h e estate or would like to set up an appointment for a guided tour, please email info@ ventosavineyards. com or call (315)719-0000 and an Events Coordinator will gladly help you.

Ventosa would be delighted to welcome and be of service to you, your family, & friends on your special day! We look forward to working with you in planning what you’ve always dreamed of….the Perfect Day!

4110 MAPLE ROAD, AMHERST, NEW YORK 14226 I @STEVENSEBASTIAN

Agness Top Rated Semi-Dry Riesling in the Finger Lakes

Agness Wine Cellars Best Choice for Celebrating Life’s Finest Moments www.agnesswinecellars.com

Salon & Beauty Boutique Let us travel to you on your wedding day or spend the day with us at the salon! Our team of professionals can accommodate small and large bridal parties for all your hair and makeup needs.

We specialize in airbrush makeup, lashes, and extensions.

Plan a spa party for you and your bridal party at the salon before your special day!

1 East Ave I Hilton, NY 14468 I 585-448-6037 bykatiealtobelli@gmail.com I www.salonbeautifulyou.com

{ THE PERFECT VENUE }

THE PLANTATION The Plantation Party House has been serving the Rochester area for 52 years. Those who have attended events there know that it is an ideal venue for gatherings of all kinds, from weddings and receptions, to corporate events, to charity banquets and award ceremonies, to proms. It is still somewhat of a “hidden gem” due to subtle marketing and a quiet location. Nestled among big old trees on 25-acres of private land about 12 miles from Downtown Rochester in Spencerport, NY. The Plantation Party House differentiates itself from other event venues in the Greater Rochester, NY area in a number of important ways.

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Sue & John Zamiara and The Plantation Party House staff use every opportunity to showcase The Plantation’s trademark “Zamiara hospitality.” Experienced personal attention is given to every detail of client events, excellent service, and delicious food. The event planning professionals, maitre d’, and formallyattired event staff at The Plantation Party House bring decades of experience to bear for clients. It all began in 1967 when Jean & Stanley Zamiara purchased “The Plante-ation” from owner Frank Plante.

They changed the name to “Plantation Pines Party House” and a family enterprise was born with ownership of the business

eventually passing from the one Zamiara generation to the next.

Located on The Plantation Party House property are a large parking lot, gardens, banquet hall with a centrally-located bar and dance floor, coat/receiving area, ample restrooms, a private bridal suite, a multi-level deck, a large gazebo, and a pond with a fountain. The property’s manicured grounds are flanked by rustic forest. All facilities, staff, and amenities at The Plantation Party House are booked for one single event at a time.

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{ THE PERFECT VENUE } “The Plantation’s trademark “Zamiara hospitality.” Experienced personal attention is given to every detail of client events, excellent service, and delicious food.”

This level of privacy and dedication means that if you attend an event at The Plantation Party House you won’t be sharing the grounds with golfers, find yourself aimlessly searching for parking spots, have to wait for people outside of your party to get drinks from the bartender, or bump into strangers in the bathrooms.

The banquet hall features an understated tan and black carpet, neutrally-colored walls/ceilings, and elegant lighting f i x t u re s . T h e w h i t e g a ze b o and decking are chic but neutral, and are cradled in greenery in the warm months and blanketed in snow in the cold months. This “blank canvas” works with any event color scheme, theme, or décor and clients are free to decorate as much or as little as they like. No two events at The Plantation Party House are ever quite the same.

Whether in the heat of the summer or in the cold of Rochester winter, The Plantation Party House is a beautiful AND comfortable place to gather. The banquet hall is air-conditioned when it’s hot outside and heated when it’s cold so 129

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guests can enjoy as much (or as little) sun/snow as they like during events.

The grounds are stunningly beautiful in every season, offering innumerable photo opportunities—You don’t have to leave the property to pose in the woods, by the

House take food service very seriously.

Feeding large groups of hungry people all at once requires experience and skill to do well, and they have been doing it for a long time. The menus clients build with the help of The Plantation Party House planning staff are delicious and exciting but also classic, flexible, and accommodating for diners with special dietary needs. Those guests will receive personalized menus upon arrival for their convenience Food is prepared with care, and great attention is given to presentation and service. If you like to eat, but also like to photograph your food and post it on social media, you’re going to enjoy your meal at The Plantation Party House.

water, on a park bench, under a grand old tree, or against a high-contrast white brick wall—whatever a client’s event photography aesthetic, The Plantation Party House has backgrounds to meet their needs.

The Zamiara’s have seen tastes and trends change over their fifty plus years in business. Those changes helped direct the creative growth of The Plantation Party House into the beautiful estate it is today. They say that their True North through it all has been the desire to work personally with clients. That priority has served them and their customers well and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Finally, the staff at Plantation Party

info@plantationpartyhouse.com

PHOTO BY CR PHOTO

CONTACT US TODAY 585-352-3300

WWW.PLANTATIONPARTYHOUSE.COM

CONTACT: MEGAN LOVE AT (585) 314-7955 I RFMEGAN@GMAIL.COM INSTAGRAM: MLIPS22

BRIDAL PARTY SPECIAL

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{ HOME AFTER THE HONEYMOON }

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{ HOME AFTER THE HONEYMOON }

THE FINANCES OF HOME BUYING

BY SHARON QUATAERT

As you start thinking about buying a house, one of your first considerations will likely be affordability – can you afford a house payment on top of whatever debt you already have? Or, should you pay off the debt you have prior to buying a home? And, if you decide to pay it off, what’s the best way to get it done quickly? So much to think about! But, we’re here to help with a few answers and a few ideas.

First, can you afford a house with your current expenses and current debt? There’s a lot of “rules of thumb” out there but the one we think makes the most sense is that your new mortgage related debt should be no more than 28 percent of your pretax monthly income.

“Mortgage related debt” means the combined amount of your mortgage payment, property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Keep in mind that homeownership also involves home repairs and upkeep – which can add up. So, if you can forgo using this amount to pay a mortgage and housing related expenses and not fall behind on your other debts, this is a good indication that you’re on the right track toward home ownership.

But What if Those Numbers Don’t Work for You?

But if setting aside 28 percent of pre

tax dollars for mortgage expenses seems out of reach because of the debt you currently carry, does this mean all is lost? Not by a long shot! It just means you need to take time to pay down your current debt to save for a down payment. Yes, this might mean cutting back on expenses or getting a “side gig” but you’re working toward

greater financial stability and that’s a good goal all around!

When you’ve made the decision to cut your debt, what’s the best way to do it? These are four good ways we’ve seen: 1. DEBT SNOWBALL: While

making minimum payments on everything else, pay down your smallest debt first. When that one is paid off, take the amount you paid to it and designate it to the next smallest debt.

This gives you a couple of payoff wins quickly and builds your payoff momentum and confidence.

2. DEBT AVALANCHE: While making the minimum payments on everything else, pay off the debts that have the highest interest rates first, regardless of how much debt there is. With this method, you’re paying the debt down and avoiding the future interest you would have accumulated at the same time. As with the Snowball method, when you’ve paid off the high interest debt, take the money you were using to do that and commit it to the next highest rate debt.

3 . D E B T CONSOLIDATION: Using this method, you roll multiple old debts into a single new, lower interest personal loan or credit card.

The key to this type of payoff method is that you need to have the discipline to not use your paid off credit cards at the same time you’re paying off the new loan, thereby racking up even more debt.

4. DEBT MANAGEMENT: There are non-profit credit counseling ROCHESTER WOMAN ONLINE :: MARCH/APRIL 2019

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{ HOME AFTER THE HONEYMOON } “First, can you afford a house with your current expenses and current debt? ”

agencies that will help you take control of your debt by negotiating rate reductions with your credit card companies and putting you on a strict repayment plan. This type of debt repayment is generally only available for unsecured debt (credit card, student loans, medical bills). Some of the better rated Debt Management companies are Cambridge Credit Counseling, GreenPath Debt Solutions and InCharge Debt Solutions.

How much do you have to cut back, pay off and/or save from a side gig?

Enough to pay down your debt and enough to save for a down payment and, maybe, closing costs.

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When mortgage people look at your debt to income ratio (DTI) they generally want to make sure you’re not spending more than 43% of your gross (before taxes) monthly income on debt. Their calculation goes something like this: So, you’ve got your debt paid down, your expenses under control and now you need to think about saving for your down payment. How much you’ll need depends on the price of the home you’re buying and the kind of financing you will be using to buy it. Conventional mortgages generally allow for 5%, 10% and 20% down payments while FHA mortgages

require 3.5%. Your mortgage loan officer is a great asset for you and will be able to guide you through the financing process and point you in the right direction in regard to how much of a home you will be able to afford. As your real estate agent, we will work hand-in-hand with your loan officer to make sure that from the kernel of the idea to buy a home straight through to the presentation of keys, your home finding and financing process will go as smoothly as possible.

Beat the Crowd.

See Homes Before They’re Listed.

Text DREAM to 585.738.3516

Sharon Q Realty 585.900.1111 • www.SharonQ.com

Escape the ordinary and experience the difference...c perfect wedding!

3013 MAIN STREET; CALEDONIA, NEW YORK 14423 I CALL

catering for the

(585) 538-4439 — WWW.REMINISCESODAFOUNTAIN.COM