Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Home

20. June 2017 Administrator Home Loans (0)
Buying a home is a dream for everyone as you can customize it according to your lifestyle and taste. However, buying a home is a task that should not be done in haste without prior planning. It is imperative to buy at the right time so that the purchase does not have any serious consequences on your present lifestyle. In order to know if you are ready for buying a home, you need to ask yourself certain questions. These are listed below:

What is your financial standing?

Without a doubt, your financial status needs to be strong before you embark on the journey to buy your own home. You need to look at factors such as consistent monthly income, a stable job, savings as well as your credit history. Since your finances will be finely scrutinized by the credit union and real estate agents, it is wise to be prepared well beforehand.

How much can you afford to pay every month?

If you are looking to buy a high-priced home, be prepared to shell out a high monthly payment. Even if you get a loan approval, consider having a re-look at the price range. You must be easily able to pay the EMI without affecting your monthly expenditure. Create your monthly budget and jot down your expenses for payments as well as luxuries. Always finalize your mortgage payments depending on your budget so that you don’t face any financial issues later on.

Which location do you prefer?

Once you buy a home, you can make numerous alterations in the property but the location will remain the same. Therefore, pay attention to this important aspect before buying a home. Decide whether you prefer to live in the city or countryside. Weigh the pros and cons of both and don’t limit yourself to a particular area. Conduct a thorough research on the Internet to discover good places where you can buy an affordable home.

What are the things you absolutely need in your home?

While conducting your home search, you will come across certain properties that will have all the features you desire but with a higher monthly payment. Therefore, you need to make a prior list of ‘must-haves’ in your property. For instance, a backyard or a specific number of bedrooms etc. could be on your wish-list. Decide on a particular home only after calculating the monthly installments and do your home search accordingly.

Whose names will be mentioned on the lease?

You will be made to sign a lease agreement in order to complete the home buying formalities. It is the most important document declaring the owner of the property. Therefore, if you are planning to buy a joint property, it is best to talk about that with your partner in advance. In certain instances, it may be beneficial to have your parent as your co-signer.

We, at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union, offer affordable home loans. To know more about the interest rates and membership benefits, feel free to call us at (254) 690 – 2274.
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GCTFCU Blog | Common Issues With Auto Loans
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Common Issues With Auto Loans

27. October 2012 Administrator (0)

An auto loan is one of the best ways of buying the car of your dreams irrespective of your present financial status. However, before getting your car financed, it is important to be well-versed with all aspects of such loans. You must have knowledge of how the interest rates work, number of installments involved, terms and conditions, etc. Before finalizing on an auto loan, it would be good to consult a financial expert who can throw light on common problems that are encountered in auto loans and what can be done about them. Such advice will be helpful in letting you know what to expect and how to avoid potential problems.

Auto loan issues and their solutions

  • Overspending: The ease with which you can buy a car through auto loans tempts some people to go for cars that are very expensive. They fail to see what the future implications of such a step could be and end up being stuck in a situation where the monthly payments they have to pay are higher than their monthly net income. To prevent such pitfalls, always stick to your budget and no matter how lucrative the deal seems to be, stick to a plan in which the monthly payments you have to make do not exceed 20% of your monthly income.
  • Research on the current interest rates: Some consumers get auto loans without having a clue about the current interest rates and are not even aware whether the interest rates being offered to them are competitive or not. Prepare yourself well in advance with some knowledge about the prevailing interest rates.
  • Review the contract before signing: Looking for an appropriate car loan can take its toll on the borrower to such an extent that he ends up signing the contract without going through it. Such a faux pas could lead to accepting terms and conditions that one is not even aware of. You can thus end up agreeing to get an extended warranty, rustproofing, etc. Such things can escalate your expenditure, so make it a point to crosscheck the contract carefully before signing.
  • Pressure tactics: The dealership staff is well trained at pressurizing consumers into accepting their deals and this can be quite baffling at times. The pressure and confusion clouds your thinking and in the rush of the moment, you end up signing the deal despite having second thoughts about it. Always resist such pressure and take your time to understand what you are getting into even if it means walking away at that time and coming back after a few days with a sorted mind.

For more information about auto loans in Central Texas, visit us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We are located at 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542. We can also be contacted at 254-690-2274.

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