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Buying a home can be an adventure or an ordeal. People generally prefer homeownership over renting. When mortgage rates are low, and rent increases in big cities, buying a property would appear to be a much better option than renting. If you are considering the differences between buying vs renting a home, you should ask yourself the following questions...

You’ve purchased a home in your dream neighborhood and you're slowly but surely fixing it up to make it absolutely perfect. Perhaps you’re adding a deck, pool, or doing a kitchen remodel. All of these things can impact your budget, so how will you pay for them? Perhaps a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is a way to check some things off your list and make your home perfect.

Your credit score is a number that indicates the level of risk of default you represent to a creditor at a given moment in time. There are several scoring models, but most are based on the FICO Score, a credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation, which is used in most lending decisions. It ranges from a low score of 300, which represents an extremely high risk, to 850, representing an extremely low risk.

Metro Credit Union is doing everything possible to help you get through these challenging times. One way to cover projects, bills, and unexpected expenses is through your home’s equity. With our Home Equity Line of Credit you can borrow up to 90% of your home’s value with fixed rates as low as 1.99% for 60 months.

Choosing a Home Equity Loan should be easy.  You’ve got equity in your home.  Your credit is good.  You can afford the payment.  What’s the big deal?  The truth is, all Home Equity Loans are not the same, and some lenders advertise rates or terms that very few borrowers qualify for, only to switch you into higher rates or less favorable terms somewhere during the process.

Like many people, when you bought your house and got your mortgage loan, money might have been a little tight.  Not only did you have the new house payment (including the new property taxes), but you also had to buy new furniture, right?  But then, after a few years or maybe a new job, you started to have a little extra money and you’ve wondered whether it makes sense to pay extra toward your mortgage, or if you should invest the money.  It’s a good problem to have, but there isn’t one right answer for everyone.  It depends on you, your discipline, your risk tolerance, and your goals.

The term ‘mortgage’ is used pretty ubiquitously to refer to any loan for real estate. If you’re a first-time house buyer, you may not realize that the term is in fact rather general and describes a range of different categories of mortgage loan. Heading to a lender without knowing the difference between these various types of loans can result in you making the wrong decision, or just getting very confused. Read on  to learn the different types of home mortgage loans so you can keep up with all the jargon.

When most people want to save or invest their money, the first place they approach is a bank. Credit unions are becoming an increasingly popular alternative, and there are many reasons why credit unions might be better for both individual and business finances over heading straight to the bank. Here are a few of the main differences between credit unions and banks.

Did you know that mortgage rates are down considerably? If the current value of your home has increased it may make sense to refinance at a better rate, or refinance to consolidate debt or plan a home improvement project.

When you're in the market for a home loan, you know you can trust your credit union to provide a great rate, great service, and all with fewer and lower fees. Here are some things to consider when purchasing your new home with June being National Homeownership Month.

It’s a new year and Metro Credit Union is happy to introduce Save and Succeed, a FREE, online literacy program through Metro Credit Union. Explore Metro Credit Union’s Save and Succeed courses to improve your money skills on topics like credit, investing, financial goals, career objectives and more.

This is the second Metro Credit Union staff member to be awarded the monthly 5 Star Service Award. Jessica Hanika, Mortgage Loan Originator, made the entire home buying experience easy and convinced this member to stick with using Metro Credit Union after starting the process with another financial institution.

Spring is now upon us and you may be thinking spring cleaning, remodeling projects or a complete move into a new home. A new residence is a chance to bring fresh energy into your life.

Is a new house on your resolutions for the New Year? Here are six tips to get ready for reaching this important goal.

The refinancing of a mortgage is a rather convenient option for those looking to restructure their financial situation. Refinancing refers to the attainment of a new loan to take the place of an older one. Refinancing is categorized as “rate and term” or “cash-out.” Learn more.

Choosing between a 15-year versus a 30-year mortgage plan is an option to choose from. Although the structure of both mortgage strategies are the same, there are some considerations to keep in mind before selecting a mortgage plan. Learn more.

Buying a home may signify different things for many different people. However, the most common of those things is the dream of owning a home, a place where memories are made. Of course the financial implications are perhaps the most obvious concern, however, the emotional side of buying a home is often overlooked. These six tips can help you manage the financial and emotional sides of buying your first home.

You can learn about the buyers and what they want. Starting early in the process and completing small projects can provide some of the best results. Here are some tips for making improvements to your home, and smartly utilizing your time and resources.

A house is usually one of the biggest assets that a person owns. Whether it is big or small, it plays an important role in a person’s life. That’s why homeowners should decide very carefully when taking out a home equity loan. Before taking out a home equity loan, here are some things to think about.

As the name suggests, a closing is the last step in purchasing and financing a home. In the case of a home loan, a closing day concludes a home purchase and the closing of a loan on the same day. Closing day is deemed one of the most important days of the purchasing process. Everyone wishes it to be pleasant and hassle-free. A buyer’s active participation is necessary to ensure everything goes according to plan.