Assume that your aunt sold her house on December $31,$ and to help close the sale she took a second mortgage in the amount of $$30,000$ as part of the payment. The mortgage has a quoted $($or nominal$)$ interest rate of $8\%$; it calls for payments every $6$ months, beginning on June $30,$ and is to be amortized over $15$ years. Now, $1$ year later, your aunt must inform the IRS and the person who bought the house about the interest that was included in the two payments made during the year. $($This interest will be income to your aunt and a deduction to the buyer of the house.$)$ To the closest cent, what is the total amount of interest that was paid during the first year? Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to the nearest cent.