If you own a home and have thought about borrowing to make home improvements, chances are you’ve heard about home equity borrowing. This popular and flexible borrowing solution, which lets you tap your home’s equity, can be an attractive way to finance not only home improvements, but also other major life expenses. You can even … read more »
From a checking account to a mortgage to planning retirement, there are as many phases of banking as there are in your lifetime! Don’t let it overwhelm you – that’s why we’re here. We can sort the short-term goals from the long-term planning out for you. In the meantime, if you’re looking for some background banking info, you’ve come to the right place! Our resource library has articles on all kinds of accounts and loans.
The Home Mortgage Appraisal: How Consumers Can Benefit
FDIC Consumer Information – A home appraisal is often required as an essential component of the mortgage financing process. Because the consumer pays the cost of the appraisal when applying for a mortgage to buy or refinance a home, it’s worth learning more about what the consumer is getting for the money, and why lenders … read more »
“Link-in” the Job You Want
How to leverage the power of the most powerful professional network: It may not be as fun as sharing silly memes on Facebook. Or posting pictures of your last vacation on Instagram. But, when it comes to helping you find a job, it’s one of the most useful social networking sites available today. It’s LinkedIn, … read more »
6 Steps to Take Before You Buy a Home
Buying a home. It’s the American dream and one you may hope to realize soon. You may have even begun looking at homes online or canvassing neighborhoods to find the home that’s right for you. But before you set out on your home buying journey, there are six important steps you should take to be … read more »
Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
For many people, having debilitating fears and anxiety is a part of life. Some are plagued by a fear of heights or closed-in places. Others fear snakes, reptiles, or spiders. Many share a fear that can be even more daunting than the thought of death — the fear of public speaking. Chances are if you … read more »
How to Protect Your Money and Accounts Online
Being able to bank or shop online is a great convenience, but you want to be sure you’re protecting yourself before you hit “submit.” If the wrong people access your accounts, you might find yourself with a lot less money than you thought — and a lot of work to set things right. Here are six steps … read more »
Solutions to the Tax Changes on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
Recent changes to the national tax code have impacted several areas, including the deductions some home owners were used to taking. This reform affects home equity loans and lines of credit. Here’s the information you should know, and some solutions to help you better manage these changes. First off, what is Equity? Home equity is … read more »
How Getting Preapproved for a Mortgage Differs From Being Prequalified
You’ve probably heard this one: A home is the biggest — and most important — purchase of your life. Although that bit of conventional wisdom may be enough to cause even the coolest homebuyers to break out in a nervous sweat, this process doesn’t have to be the most complicated you’ll ever face. Securing a … read more »
5 Financial Resolutions for the New Year
A brand new year provides the perfect opportunity to make meaningful life changes, including improved financial wellness. These five financial resolutions can help get your year off to a promising start. 1. GET ON BUDGET Take charge of your finances by creating a budget. Start by calculating after-tax income and subtracting fixed monthly expenses. Then … read more »
Home Makeover: Indoor Edition
Winter may have you spending more time in your home, but that doesn’t mean your home improvements have to stay dormant. There are still plenty of things you can do inside your home to improve its appearance, keep you busy, and most importantly, beat those winter doldrums. Best of all, you don’t have to spend … read more »
