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"Let's see, the base price of one of the department's new Dodge Chargers is $21,955. But when you add the police package -- blinking lights, siren, video camera, an onboard computer and decals, to name a few accessories -- the price skyrockets to $42,000 per car."
This is what I thought they would cost. Highway Patrols add hemi's to their cars with special suspensions, bringing the cost up even more.
2021 Genesis G90
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I refinanced my mortgage not long ago and timed the market pretty well. I've got a 3.25% fixed 30 year mortgage. Unfortunately, I also have PMI, to the tune of over $200/mo.
Recently, home values in Colorado have been increasing, and I discovered that a house down the street from me and is the same model sold for a very nice price about 6 weeks ago. A price, if I understand PMI correctly, that would allow me to drop PMI as my LTV would be under 80%.
So .. my question is this. I want to drop PMI but I don't want to refinance. Do I simply contact my mortgage company and ask to do so? Do I need to get an official appraisal as justification?
Any and all thoughts welcome.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2021 Genesis G90
I still wouldn't buy one.
2021 Genesis G90
Do you remember the big pink elephant out in front of Peabody Chrysler Plymouth back in the 80's and 90's?
I worked there in the late '80's, and every so often some of the kids from Tufts would swipe it as a joke. (It was mounted on a trailer for parades and stuff) It was always found unharmed.
I know they closed down a few years ago, but I wonder where the elephant ended up.
Currently own: 2017 BMW M4, 2011 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X Used to own: 2008 VW R32, 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport, 1987 BMW 325IS
Steven Wright graduated from Emerson College in Boston that offers degrees in journalism, marketing, performing and visual arts and, communications. Guys like Jay Leno and Norman Lear graduated from there as well. Wright grew up in the town I live in as well as Amy Poehler of SNL and Parks and Recreation fame. Her mom was a teacher at the high school until recently and Ms Poehler visits town often without any fanfare.
I do remember the pink elephant from Peabody Chrysler. I have no idea where it is now.
Our town buys it's police cruisers as part of a consortium of cities and towns. Black and White Explorers and Taurus' are ordered once a year by the consortium and delivered to one dealer. The cars are then prepped by a specialist company. My town went with the Explorers as Ford designed the interiors to accept mounting pods and equipment from the Crown Vic. $25-30K is the norm if they are swapping equipment.
The Explorer Utility Interceptor has an MSRP of $30,405. Invoice is about $28,400. Add in computers, racks, radios, lettering, light bar, et al and it could hit $40K.
The PD trickles down the old cruisers. When a vehicle is retired, the better ones are handed down to other departments - fire inspection, building inspectors, DPW, recreation commission, et al. The rougher ones are scavenged for parts.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I saw a Crown Vic for sale, it must have been an ex- police car or taxi before. It was painted pure white, it still had black wheels, it looked like the springs and shocks were gone as it sat about 2 inches off the ground, and they wanted $6.995 for it....I couldn't imagine having it sit in my driveway, my neighbors would think I worked undercover for the Drug Enforcement Agency..
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
This is new to me - "Federal law requires lenders to tell the buyer at closing how many years and months it will take for them to reach that 80 percent level and cancel PMI. Lenders must automatically cancel PMI when the balance hits 78 percent." (Bankrate)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Seriously though. Solid advice. Thank-you. College was expensive when I graduated in 1998. It is insane today. I'm scared to think of what it is going to cost me in 10 years when my oldest son graduates high school.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Why do you think I'm a CCBA member? Admitting I have a problem is the 1st step!
Right you are, Bradd! Living with it (like I do) is the tough part!!!
2021 Genesis G90
somewhere in the reams of documents you signed is something about getting rid of it. 1st step is usually to call and ask what the process is. I'm sure there is paperwork to file, and they will tell you what else you need.
I have not had it in decades. I believe we got rid of it by selling the townhouse we had it on. Might have had it on the new house we bought after that, but if we did it was not long until we refi'd and made it go away.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My idea is to have deputy cops with cameras on the dash. They drive on the highways and catch people who zig zag from lane to lane, cut people off, drive slow in the left lane, don't signal etc. These officers can write tickets. Cost of officer $200 a day, car and gas etc $100 a day, number of tickets written, 10 a day @ $200 each = $2000 a day.
They keep the roads safe and make money for the government coffers.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Reading some articles shows how much thought goes into designing a police car beyond the mechanical requirements. There are various other special items:
custom headlight and tail light housings that makes it easy to add wiring for wigwag and other lighting features
modified bumpers to allow for easy installation of push bars
extra wiring for lights in the mirrors, quarter panels, et al.
Ford seems to be offering lots of the upfit items right from the factory so that local departments need to worry only about the roof lights.
Another neat thing is that Ford doesn't paint the vehicles black and white. Instead the department picks the base color and then Ford can vinyl wrap the doors, hood, trunk, roof in white. When the car is retired, the wrap can be pulled off and the vehicle can be sold off without need for paint.
FORD INTERCEPTOR POLICE CARS
One line I liked was:
The car accelerated briskly, and the special gearbox kept the car in low gears when other transmissions would upshift (very important when coming out of corners). In comparison, the Crown Victoria was all over the place and felt like a dinosaur in terms of agility and age.
And this tidbit of information:
. "Also, a first for police cars is that it has a 75-mph rear crash rating, important when the car is pulled over on the side of the road."
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I say stay the course and build the college and remodeling fund.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
And as a business owner, they seem to put extra scrutiny on you. They will ask for tax returns, P&L statements, et al. Too much cash in the business, they may feel you should pay yourself an extra dividend every year to make that tuition payment.
As I said before, one school suggested that my wife and I were lucky to have so much equity in our home and that we had done well in saving for retirement and that perhaps tapping equity and redirecting future retirement savings towards tuition would be good ideas.
Now of course, a lot of that goes out the window if your kids are what they want. I really think that the grant given my son was in response to this:
GPA of 4.7
great SAT and ACT scores
Eagle Scout
9 varsity athletic letters
team captain twice
member of the marching band
music ministry at church
part time job
well written essays.
One college counselor I heard speak talked about kids planting a couple of trees and making sure those trees had deep roots. His inference was that kids should commit to 2-3 activities and show that they care deeply about those. Kids who are members of 15 clubs are building resumes and don't show commitment. My son had 3 trees - music, sports, Scouts - and he committed to all 3.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Look at it this way:
UConn is $26K a year right now. 3% price increase for 13 years brings it to $38K annually. 4 years of that is $152K. All 3 there will run you over $450K.
I have a friend who is lucky enough to have the financial means to pay the full amount for his 3 boys. By the time he is done in 2017, he will have spent close to $780,000 in tuition and lodging.
We did have our kids take on the max gov't loans, so they would have 'some skin in the game'.
My older one paid them off in less than 4 years. Now she can pay her own grad school bills.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
anyway, I am going to NH for a wedding in early June. Will be going up on a Friday (leaving in the AM to arrive mid-afternoon). mapquest, Garmin (and I assume the Hrundai Navi, which I will be taking on the trip) always want to send my over the GWB and up 95 to 91 then north. Though Google maps goes above that to shooting up the Hutch.
If I hit the GW at 10:30/11:00 on a Friday, intending to do that, is it a dumb idea? Subjecting myself to the cross Bronx, something I vowed to avoid again if I ever could!
I normally go up and over the TZ (to saw mill, up to 684 to 84 and over). Only maps out to 8 miles longer, and about 10 minutes estimated. That way I skip the Bronx and 95 mess. But, I thought about shaking things up, and I know that you are intimately familiar with this route!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
he did say he was planning to redirect the $ to paying off another student loan, leaving him with just one at 3.15%, for less than 5K. He has done a good job paying them off quick, highest interest rates 1st. once the last one is gone, he should be done the lease, and it will be interesting to see what he does! At this point, about all I can about guarantee is that it will be German (he is hooked).
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I'd stick with your TZ to Saw Mill to 684 to 84 route. You'll encounter less traffic overall. Your ride home Sunday night is going to be a nightmare. If you can afford to take the day off on Monday, I'd suggest staying an extra night for a smoother drive home.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Sunday, I think we are leaving mid-morning to get back. so should hit near the bridge in the 2-3 range. so who knows what to expect at that point. I decide from there what to do based on the traffic reports (Palisades, GSP, or scenic route over to 287).
staying an extra day (the wedding is Saturday) into Monday could happen. depends on everyone's work schedule and what rest of family is planning to do.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Hearing bradd and stick talk about driving routes through/around NYC make me realize I don't missing traveling for work one little bit. Though most of my nightmares were in Boston - went there a lot during the "Big Dig" fiasco.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2014 MINI Countryman S ALL4
When you get to the Mass Pike just take in to the first exit eastbound and go up 290 through Worcester and get on to 495 from there. Saves you a lot of Mass Pike (always a good thing)and runs a more diagonal route.
Now if you were going Memorial Day weekend you'd get the bonus of local fundraiser (scouts, foodbanks) in the picnic area serving hot dogs and such, Just edible to very good depending on the organization and the year.
I agree with Bradd on the extra day Monday.
Speaking of Bradd I'm not speaking of baseball on the past weekend. See you in September.
We are actually to western part of the state (Keene) so straight up 91. Skip the pike entirely.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
They has another one of those pulling it out of nowhere in that rarity of rarities, an under 2 hours game. Met and Marlins blanked each other through 7-1/2 innings. Marlins manage a run in the bottom on the 8th. Lagares gets a double that should have been an out, Duda walks and Murphy knock one into the next county. Familia does his 1,2,3 and we're done.
Sweet.
BTW - no way am I getting into retail college prices. The older ones are doing county college first (we have a very good one here) and while #1 doesn't know what she's up to and is in pause mode, #2 is well on her way to a degree is sign interpretation and is looking to go on to two bachelor degrees - one in teaching and one in sign language. Know we'll be splitting the costs. Pretty good head on her shoulders other than she knows little more about cars than the pedals and the wheels. He boyfriend, who she mostly lives with, has a Subaru. She's driven it. She can't tell me what model it is or even if it's a sedan or wagon. Great kid otherwise.
But it will be what it will be.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.