Expert Tips
Get Out of Your Rental
If you’ve been renting and waiting to buy your first home, now is a good time to make your move. A number of industry analysts predict that interest rates will rise slightly over the year, while continuing to stay very affordable. Home prices are also expected to rise, now that more buyers are again competing…
Read MoreBudgeting for Your Next Home Purchase
Whether you’ve owned a home in the past or are looking to purchase for the first time, saving up for the purchase can be one of the most difficult aspects. We work with members on a daily basis to develop savings plans so they can afford to purchase a home down the road. There are…
Read MoreHow to Prepare for Your Home Purchase
“How do I prepare to get a mortgage?” Talk about a frequently asked question. The fact of the matter is that most people aren’t aware that there are things you can do to set yourself up to get a mortgage. Certainly, you need to fill out a mortgage application and retrieve the required documentation for…
Read MoreTrim Your Heating Costs
Keeping warm in the winter shouldn’t break the bank or in this case the credit union. The average US family spends the same amount of money on heat leaking out of their homes, as they do on 41 gallons of milk (energyhog.org). The main budget eater that is on everyone’s mind is the monthly utility…
Read MorePet Proofing Your Home
Bringing a new pet home can be a lot like bringing in a new baby. You will need to do a few things prior in order to keep your pet safe and your home tidy! Take a good look at your home for potential dangers. In many ways, this may feel like child-proofing your house…
Read MoreBrighten Your Home in the Dull of Winter
As the holiday spirit wears off and the dead of winter sets in, the long, cold days can take its toll. You come home from work after a long day and would love to enjoy the view from your back deck – but brrrr. It’s already dark outside and the unbearable cold sends a chill…
Read More3 Questions to Determine if You’re Ready to Own a Home
Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make, so it’s important to not rush into it. It may feel like you’re throwing away money while renting (especially if your mortgage payment could be cheaper than your rent), but you may be able to avoid other expenses that homeowners incur. Before…
Read More7 Steps to Keep Your Moving Plans on Track
Planning a move, whether to a new house in the same town or across the country, can be very stressful. Once you begin the process of moving, you quickly discover that there’s more to moving than just packing and unpacking. Having just moved last month, I decided to share the list that I created to…
Read MoreWhat is PMI?
Have you ever laid awake at night wondering what is Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI? Benefits of PMI Don’t confuse Private Mortgage Insurance with homeowners insurance, which insures the actual property in case of a loss. PMI protects the lender when there is less than 20 percent equity and the borrower defaults on a conventional…
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