January 2021 - High Point FCU

Simple Steps to Start Saving

If you’re ready to start saving but you don’t know where to begin, High Point Federal Credit Union can help.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Set a goal

What’s your secret (or not-so-secret) financial dream? Do you want to open your own business? Explore the Australian Outback? Buy a boat?

What are your long-term financial goals? Do you want to make your friends jealous and retire before you hit 50? Do you dream of sending your child to college?

Choose your goals and assign a target dollar value to each one.

When you really start saving, first prioritize building an emergency fund that has three to six months of living expenses. Thinking of your bigger personal goals now will help keep you focused.

Step 2: Start tracking your expenses and income

You’re about to turn into one of those budgeting geeks.

For three months, keep a record of your expenses and all income. At the end of the three months, tally up your totals to figure out the average of each.

Step 3: Trim your expenses

If you find that your income exceeds your expenses by a fair amount, give yourself a high-five and skip to the next step.

If you spend more than you earn, or your numbers are too close for comfort, look for ways to trim your expenses, and save that extra cash.

Step 4: Create a budget

Don’t freak out — this isn’t as hard as it sounds. Just take your averages from step 2 and use them to designate a specific dollar amount for each monthly expense. Don’t forget to include savings in your budget!

Step 5: Choose your savings tools

It’s time to choose a place for your savings to call home. For long-term savings, look for an option that offers an attractive earnings rate, like a share certificate at High Point Federal Credit Union.

Keep that emergency fund and other short-term savings in an account that allows you to make withdrawals without asking too many questions, like a checking account at High Point Federal Credit Union.

Step 6: Make it automatic

Is this the first time you decided to start saving? Yeah, we didn’t think so. Make it the time you actually carry out your plans by setting up an automatic monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account.

Contact High Point FCU to open a Savings Account today!

Buying A Home in The Winter

Q: What do I need to know about buying a house in the winter?

A: Icy driveways and snowed-out open houses can be less than thrilling, but there are surprising benefits to purchasing a home during the coldest time of year.

The challenges

It can be difficult to check out a property that is covered in snow. There will also be some structural elements, like the septic tank, roof and A/C system that can be difficult or impossible to inspect.

Home-shopping during the winter also means working with fewer homes for sale. That’s because most sellers put their houses on the market in the spring, hoping to sell well before autumn.

Finally, if you decide to go through with a sale during winter, expect delays during the process. Inclement weather can push off the scheduling of important events, like the inspection, appraisal and final walk-through.

The advantages

Homeowners who choose to list their properties for sale during winter may be quite eager to sell. You’ll also find homes that have been on the market since the previous spring with an equally motivated seller. Plus, the smaller pool of buyers during the winter puts you at an advantage. These factors will make it easier for you to negotiate a lower price and to ask for extras like light fixtures and appliances.

Buying a home in the winter can also mean enjoying better service from the professionals you work with during the process. Your real estate agent, home inspector and lender will have fewer clients and therefore be able to provide you with optimal service.

Finally, inspecting a home during harsh weather will enable you to see how the house handles the cold, snow and ice and to check out the heating system.

Tips and tricks

If you’ve decided to go house-hunting during the winter, keep these tips in mind:

Ask for photos showcasing the home’s exterior during the spring and summer months.
Offer a starting bid that is well below the listed price.
Ask for documentation, such as inspection receipts and purchase dates, for the home features that are difficult to check out because of the weather.

Next season’s sellers will start listing homes right after the Super Bowl. So, if you can’t find that perfect house just yet, hang tight until you find what you seek.

The real estate market may cool down during the winter, but if you know how to optimize the advantages, you can walk away with a hot deal during the coldest time of year.

Are you in the market for a new home? Contact Olean Area Federal Credit Union to ask about our home mortgage options!

Financing a Home Renovation with a Home Equity Loan

Q: I’m doing some home renovations this spring and I’m not sure how to finance this expense. There are so many options! Which one makes the most sense?

A: As a member of Olean Area Federal Credit Union, you have several options for funding a home renovation. You can open a HELOC, or a Home Equity Line Of Credit, which is an open credit line that’s secured by your home’s value for up to 10 years. You can also fund your renovations with an unsecured loan or use your credit cards.

One of the best ways to fund a home renovation, though, is by taking out a HEL, or a Home Equity Loan. Let’s take a closer look at this popular loan option.

What is a home equity loan?

A home equity loan is a loan secured by a home’s value. When homeowners open a HEL, they will receive a fixed amount of cash in one lump sum. Most home equity loans have a fixed interest rate, a fixed term and a fixed monthly payment.

What are the advantages of a home equity loan?

The primary benefit a HEL has over other loans is its fixed interest rate. This means the loan will not be subject to increasing interest rates and borrowers know exactly how much their monthly payment will be for the entire term of the loan. Also, the interest paid on a home equity loan is often 100% tax-deductible (consult your tax adviser for details).

Another benefit of the HEL is its repayment plan. Borrowers will be making payments toward the loan’s principal and interest throughout the term. At the end of the loan term, the entire balance will be paid in full.

Are there any disadvantages to taking out a home equity loan?

While a home equity loan offers the funds needed to cover a home improvement project with an affordable repayment plan, it’s important to know about every aspect of a HEL before applying.

Obtaining a HEL could potentially include closing costs. It’s best to find out if there are any fees and, if so, how much these fees will amount to before applying for the loan.

Also, when taking out a home equity loan, borrowers will receive their funds in one shot. This makes a HEL a great option for homeowners who know exactly what kind of work they will do on their homes. However, if they only have a vague idea about the renovations they want to do and how much they’ll cost, they may end up borrowing an insufficient amount.

Finally, borrowers will need to make a monthly payment on their loan throughout its life. Before taking out a HEL, be sure you can afford the payments.

Call, click, or stop by Olean Area Federal Credit Union to learn more about home equity loans and to start applying for your loan today.

Five Steps to Take After a Financial Setback

As we sail into 2021, many Americans are struggling with the aftershocks of financial setback. Whether it’s due to a layoff, a smaller workload, medical expenses or a change in family circumstances, the financial fallout of COVID-19 has been distressing.

Recovering from a financial setback, due to a pandemic or any other reason, is never easy; however, with hard work and the ability to look forward, it can be done. Here’s how.

Step 1: Assess the damage

Evaluate exactly how much financial recovery you need. Are you thousands of dollars in debt? Do you need to find a new job? What are the long-term financial implications?

Crunching the numbers and putting it all on paper will make it easier to take concrete steps toward recovery.

Step 2: Accept your new reality

Shock and denial are valid stages of grief for any major loss or setback, but for recovery to be possible, it’s important to reach a place of acceptance. You can vent to a close friend, express your feelings in a journal, de-stress with your favorite low-cost hobby and then let go. Constantly harping on what could have been will only drain you of the energy you need to move on.

Step 3: Outline your goals

Clearly defining your goals will make it easier to go forward. Are you looking to rebuild a depleted emergency fund? Find gainful employment? Pay down your medical bills?

As you work through this step, choose goals that are SMART:

Specific

Measurable

Attainable

Realistic

Timely

Step 4: Create a recovery plan

Your plan should consist of consecutive steps that lead to a life of complete financial wellness. Here are some steps you may want to include:

Trim your spending until you can spend less than you earn.
Build a small emergency fund to help get you through an unexpected expense.
Seek new employment or new income streams.
Start paying down debts.
Save more aggressively, with one eye toward your retirement and another toward a large emergency fund with up to six months’ of living expenses.

Step 5: Make it Happen

Put your plan into action! If you were careful to set goals that are SMART, you should be able to take the first steps in your plan immediately.

Beware Coronavirus Vaccine Scams

Believe it or not, there is a light at the end of the socially distanced tunnel. After months of trials, the FDA has approved two vaccines for the coronavirus.

Don’t like getting needles stuck in your arm? No worries. You may not be getting that shot for a while. That’s due to a whole lot of rules and guidelines about who gets the vaccine first, and there’s nothing you can do to change that.

The really bad news, though, is that those low-down scammers want to make you think otherwise. Yes, they’re back, and this time, they’re using news of the vaccines to get to you and your wallet.

Here’s what you need to know:

Long distribution process

The public is jumping all over each other in excitement for the vaccine — but the government is taking this whole process slowly, and there’s no way to pay under the table to cut to the head of the line. Expect a drawn-out distribution that may take months. If someone asks you for money to get your vaccine sooner, run the other way. Yes, it’s a scam.

DON’T pay money for the promise of getting your vaccine sooner.

Only through verified sources

Mama taught you not to take candy from strangers, and you shouldn’t be taking shots from them either. The COVID-19 vaccine will only be distributed through doctors — and we’re talking about the MD type. This is one item you can’t order on Amazon, even if you have Prime.

DON’T get your vaccine through an internet retailer.

No cost

Are you covered? If so, you’ll get your shot at no charge. All insured Americans can expect to get their vaccine for free.

DON’T pay for a COVID-19 vaccine.

No need to share information

Private information should be kept that way. There’s no need to share your Social Security number or financial account details to get your shot.

DON’T share personal info with an unknown contact.

FDA-approved only

So far, only vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have been given the thumbs-up by the FDA. A vaccine approval is big news; if the FDA says yes to any more vaccines, expect to see it in the headlines.

DON’T agree to receive a vaccine you haven’t heard of or read about.

What Do I Need to Know About Today’s Real Estate Market?

Q: What do I need to know about today’s real estate market?

A: Trends and stats in real estate are constantly changing, especially during the unstable economy of COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know about the real estate market today.

Is it a buyer’s market now?

Pickings are slim for homebuyers right now, giving sellers the upper hand and driving up prices for buyers. Low supply also means homes are on the market for less time than they would likely be in other years.

If you’re in the market for a new home right now, it’s best to be prepared to change some of the items on your list of must-haves into nice-to-haves.

What does low inventory mean for sellers?

An uneven balance of supply and demand that favors sellers means homeowners looking to sell may be able to get a higher price for their home than anticipated.

Is home equity up?

According to the NAR , home prices have swelled to a national median of over $300,000. This makes it a great time to sell a home.

If you’re selling your home, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced agent to ensure you’ll get the best possible offer for your home.

If you’re planning to buy a home in this market of increasing home prices, work out the numbers and determine how much house you can afford before starting your search.

Are interest rates still low?

Interest rates reached record lows in 2020 and economists are predicting that low rates will continue through 2021.

For buyers, this helps make homes more affordable; however, it’s important not to let a low interest rate make you think you can afford a home with a price tag that’s really outside your comfort zone.

What do I need to know if I don’t plan to buy or sell a home soon?

According to Freddie Mac , equity will likely continue rising in 2021. You may want to monitor how much your home is worth this year since you may change your mind about selling. Similarly, this can be a great time to tap into your home’s equity with a home equity loan or line of credit from Olean Area Federal Credit Union. You can easily explore our home equity loan rates by clicking here, and our line of credit rates by clicking here.

If you’re interested in purchasing a home this year, check out our Mortgage Loan options, contact us for current rates, or click here to start applying for a loan today!

Debt Consolidation: Not A Silver Bullet, But Still A Good Idea

Using a personal loan to refinance your existing debt can make your debt more manageable. You’ll have one monthly payment at one interest rate instead of many smaller bills due on different days of the month.

Will personal loans work for you?

1. Have I fixed the debt problem?

Think about why you’re in debt. If a medical bill, job loss or some other temporary hardship describes your situation, the fact that you have a job or have paid the medical bill means you’ve solved the problem that caused the debt in the first place.

If, on the other hand, you accumulated debt by overspending on credit cards, a debt consolidation loan may not be the answer just yet. First make a budget you can stick to, learn how to save and gain responsibility in your use of credit. Getting a debt consolidation loan without doing those things first is a temporary solution that can make matters worse.

2. Can I commit to a repayment plan?

If you’re struggling to make minimum monthly payments on bills, a debt consolidation loan can only do so much. It’s possible that the lower interest rate will make repayment easier, but bundling all of that debt together could result in a higher monthly payment over a shorter period of time. Before you speak to a lender, figure out how much you can afford to put toward getting out of debt. Your lender can work backward from there to figure out terms, interest rate and total amount borrowed.

If you’re relying on a fluctuating stream of income to repay debt, it may be difficult to commit to a strict repayment plan that’s as aggressive as you like. You can still make extra principal payments on a personal loan, so your strategy of making intermittent payments will still help. You just can’t figure them into your monthly payment calculation.

3. Is my interest rate the problem?

For some people, the biggest chunk of their debt is a student loan. These loans receive fairly generous terms, since a college degree should generally result in a higher-paying job. Debt consolidation for student loans, especially subsidized PLUS loans, may not make a great deal of sense. You’re better off negotiating the repayment structure with your lender if the monthly payments are unrealistic.

On the other hand, if you’re dealing with credit card debt, interest rate is definitely part of the problem. Credit card debt interest regularly runs in the 20% range, more than twice the average rate of personal loans. Refinancing this debt with a personal loan can save you plenty over making minimum credit card payments.

4. Will a personal loan cover all my debts?

If you have more than $50,000 in credit card debt, it’s going to be difficult to put together a personal loan that can finance the entire amount. It’s worth prioritizing the highest interest cards and consolidating those instead of trying to divide your refinancing evenly between accounts. Get the biggest problems out of the way, so you can focus your efforts on picking up the pieces.

Debt consolidation doesn’t work for everyone, but it can do wonders for many people. The ability to eliminate high-interest debt and simplify monthly expenses into one payment for debt servicing can change a family’s whole financial picture. Gather your account statements and your paycheck stubs, and contact High Point Federal Credit Union today!

5 Reasons we Overspend (and How to Overcome Them)

What makes us overspend? Let’s take a look at five common reasons and how we can overcome them.

1. To keep up with the Joneses

When people who seem to be in the same financial bracket as we are can seemingly afford another pair of designer shoes for each outfit, we should be able to afford them, too, right?

Break the cycle: Learn to ignore how your friends and/or peers choose to spend their money and develop a self-image that is independent of material possessions. Let the Joneses keep up with you!

2. We don’t have a budget

When all of our spending is just a guessing game, it can be challenging not to overspend.

Break the cycle: Create and stick to a monthly budget that covers all of your needs and some of your wants.

3. To get a high

Research shows that shopping and spending money releases feel-good dopamine in the brain, just like recreational drugs.

Break the cycle: There’s nothing wrong with spending money to feel good, so long as you don’t go overboard. Try putting some “just for fun” money into your budget so you can make that feel-good purchase when you need to do so without letting it put you into debt.

4. Misuse of credit

Credit cards offer us incredible convenience, but they also offer us a gateway into deep debt. Research shows that consumers spend up to 18% more when they pay with plastic over cash.

Break the cycle: When shopping in places you tend to overspend, use cash and you’ll be forced to stick to your budget. You can also use a debit card with a careful budget so you know how much you can responsibly spend.

5. Lack of self-discipline

Sometimes, we just simply lack the discipline not to exchange immediate gratification for long-term benefit.

Break the cycle: Define your long-term financial goals. Create a plan for reaching them through small and measurable steps. Before giving in to an indulgence you can’t really afford, remind yourself of your long-term goals and how much longer your timeframe will need to be if you spend this money now.