• They are owned by their members. Anyone who opens an account with a credit union, albeit a small one, becomes a partial owner. So, every member has an equal right to vote for the leadership position of the union. However, to become a member, one needs to qualify. For this:
  • You should live, work or worship in a particular city or area,
  • Be a member of a certain group e.g. the same college, armed forces, a church, etc.
• You will have to fill out an application form, prove your eligibility, provide the name of a relative, employer or organization you work for and personal information such as your place of residence and work.
• Thereafter you will have to choose the financial services you are interested in.
• Once you are eligible for being a member of the credit union, the next requirement is to open an account with it.
• Credit unions are federally insured or protected by National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF).
• They consist of an upper management body which formulates strategies, makes policies and so on. This board generally comprises of elected volunteers.
• Service precedes profitability in credit unions and this is the reason for which they offer competitive rates for their services and products.
• Most credit unions offer savings and loan accounts to their members along with other additional products and services.
• Credit unions provide services such as Checking Accounts, ATM Cards, Credit Cards, Auto Loans, Payroll Deduction, Direct Deposit, Notary Service, Mastercard Cash Advance, On-Line Access, Mastercard Gift Cards, Wire Transfer, ACH Origination, Bill Pay etc.

Most people who wish to gain possession of a new house seek for a reliable source of money to help them realize their dream. As a first time property buyer, there are a few things you should consider before getting a loan. They are mentioned below -

Decide the type of house

Before you even apply for a home loan you should be clear about the type of house that you wish to buy. Your options include apartments, duplexes, condos and mansions. Deciding on the most suitable kind of home helps you get suitable terms based on the price of the house (and consequently the return term for the loan). This can even help you score a favorable return term for investing in 'need based' acuity.

Decide the number of years

You as a loan seeker should decide on the number of years that you want to return the borrowed amount over. If you have a decent income and can afford it you should try to pay the debt off in a short term such as 4 or 6 years. The quicker a loan is paid off the lower is the gross interest amount. But before making your mind you should take your overall budget and foreseen expenses into consideration as well because selecting a longer term can help you deal with the costs even if you wind up paying more interest. 

Determine your loan eligibly

You should deal with all impending charges, bills and loans and focus on maintaining a consistent streak to get your credit rating higher to increase your loan eligibility. This will help you file for a loan successfully in the first attempt. In addition you should not forget to carry all the important documents to prove your eligibility.

Know about the charges

You should infer about the any additional charges before applying for the loan. Additional charges include those related to administration, service and any other fees. Also, choose the lender based on the amount of overhead charges charged with the home loans.

Consider credit unions

Finally, look into any credit union in your local area as the interest rate offered by credit unions is significantly lesser than a typical bank. As the very basis of their existence is to help the community the staff at credit unions is always rooting for their clients and goes out of their way to guide them. You can also use such credit unions to address other financial needs such as opening a saving or current account.

We, at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union provide affordable home loans. For more details, kindly visit us at 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542 or call us at 254-690-2274.