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

Guide To Home Loan Process

View Full Image

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Home

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.

Credit Union Glossary

View Full Image

Types Of Auto Loans



View Full Image

Advantages Of Credit Union Auto Loans

Buying the car of your dreams is a great achievement that can only be fulfilled if you get a good car loan from a trusted lender at a decent rate of interest. One of the best options is to apply for a car loan from a credit union.

Although there are numerous lending options available in the market, getting an auto loan from a credit union is easier. Credit unions have the funds as well as amicable relationships with car dealers. This makes them one of the most trusted lending organizations when it comes to providing car loans.

Below is a list of advantages associated with getting a car loan from a credit union:

  • Favorable rate of interest: Credit unions are non-profit organizations that work for the benefit of their members. Therefore, you will get a lower rate of interest on your car loan from the credit union. A favorable rate of interest can significantly affect loan repayment amount and contribute towards great savings for you.
  • Fewer formalities: When you apply for an auto loan from a credit union, there are fewer formalities and lesser paperwork involved during the whole process. All you need to do is become a member of the credit union and then work towards the loan application process. There are also no hidden charges or fees involved.
  • Better customer service: Credit unions offer an impressive standard of customer service and their only motive is to pass on the profits to their members. When you apply for an auto loan, all the financial information will be provided to you in a simple manner. The final approval also does not take much time and you can expect to get a loan without much delay.
  • Shorter loans: Credit unions provide their members with an option of choosing their loan term. A longer loan term is equivalent to more interest and can put a financial burden on you. But when you opt for a shorter loan term, the monthly installment might be high but you will have to shell out lesser rate of interest.
  • Relaxed membership requirements: It is very easy to become a member of a credit union. The membership requirements are not stringent and almost anyone can join. Another advantage is that credit unions are more in sync with the local communities and can make the auto loan process much easier for you.
  • Beneficial for members: The credit unions are always working towards providing incentives to their members in the form of lower interest rates on the loan and saving amounts. Since profit is not on their agenda, they take utmost care of their customers and provide optimum services.
For auto loans in Killeen, TX, look no further than Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We can be contacted at (254) 690 – 2274.

Car Loan Tips




View Full Image

Home Loan Process At Credit Union






How To Apply For An Auto Loan



Advantages Of A Credit Union




View Full Image

Steps To Applying For A Home Loan

A credit union is a non-profit cooperative that provides home loans at low interest rates to its members. The organization aims at passing on the profits to the members and therefore adds a lot to their savings. It is important to be clear about the home loan requirements so that you can easily purchase the home of your dreams.

Below are some steps that you need to follow while applying for a home loan:

  • Get pre-approval: In simple terms, pre-approval is a written application that states how much amount the lender will let you borrow. This document is necessary so that you know exactly how much you can borrow and how much money you need to put from your side. This will help you divide your budget according to the monthly expenses. Various factors such as employment history, credit score, down payment etc. are taken into account while pre-approving a home loan.
  • Make the offer: After zeroing down a particular property, you need to prepare an offer in consultation with your real estate agent. Offer contains details such as purchase price, closing date and the time period for which the offer holds good for you. This is given to the seller who can accept or reject it. If your offer is accepted, you need to get home inspection done from a qualified professional. 
  • Complete the loan application: After coming to a conclusion regarding the price, you need to complete the loan application formalities. The lender will determine the terms and conditions of your loan, ask you to complete the loan documents and may also demand additional documents. These can include: pay stubs for the past few months and tax return details etc.
  • Get the interest rate locked: Locking the interest rate with your lender ensures that it does not go up while your loan is still getting processed. This is imperative because home loan interest rates can fluctuate on a daily basis and you would want the lowest interest rates for big financial savings.
  • Go through loan processing: In this step, your home will be evaluated to judge its market value. Apart from this, the lender will review your loan application, cross-check the documents, verify the financial information and also check the title details to ensure that all the legalities are in place.
  • Closing: During the last stage, your home loan documents will be sent to a title company so that you and the seller can duly sign them. A photo identity proof along with the down payment amount is required for closing. Apart from this, many other documents such as loan note and deed etc. need to be reviewed and signed.
We, at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union offer affordable financing services in Killeen, TX.  To know more about our credit union, call us at (254) 690 – 2274.
GCTFCU Blog | Credit Union Killeen TX | Home Loans, Secured Auto Loan in Central Texas
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

5 Things You Need to Know Before Buying Your Next Car

Gone are the days when you had to hop from one dealership to another to choose a car of your choice. In the modern era; technology has come to everyone’s rescue. You can now look for a car of your choice online and book it likewise. You can also get easy Auto loans to support your purchase. But if you are willing to buy your next car, there are a few things your must be sure of, before you do so.

  • Cars have a known depreciation rate. Therefore before you buy your next car, calculate if the interest you pay on your car loan is feasible for you or not. Also note that the longer time you take to pay it off, the more will the interest be.
  • Before you decide or finalize the cost of your new car it will be better to calculate the trade-in value of your current car. You must be aware of the same so that you know how much to expect for it, from the dealer.
  • You must research well about the interest rates on your auto loans. You might often have seen that when auto companies advertize they tell you how much you will have to pay every month. However the trick here is that, the interest rate is where most of the cost lies. It does not matter what you pay every month but infact what matters is how much you pay over the years.
  • Unless your income increases, you should not take a new auto loan until the old one is paid off. However if you are someone who has a fetish for new cars then you must watch out for the sharp depreciation in cars and the interest costs associated with it.
  • If you buy a new car but fail to afford it, this could be a troublesome situation. So it is highly suggested that you beforehand calculate and watch for the operating expenses, insurance, gas mileage, annual excise taxes, and other costs of ownership.

For any details regarding auto loans, contact us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union at 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542, Phone: 254-690-2274.

Cheap Auto Loan - 72 Month Auto Financing

Buying A New Car? Questions To Ask Yourself

The purchase of a new car can be a complicated decision which requires a lot of meticulous planning. There are several things that you need to consider while buying a new vehicle, as a significant amount of monetary investment is required for such a purchase. Several questions that an average consumer is likely to face have been mentioned below:

  • The first thing that you need to think about is whether you should go in for a brand new or a second hand model. This decision depends largely on the financial options available to you to finance the vehicle. If you have sources of funds at your disposal or are likely to get quickly approved for a large loan sum, you can opt for a new vehicle. However, if you are on quite a low budget and are unlikely to obtain a loan easily, it is better to stick to a used one. There are several dealerships that will be able to provide used cars in excellent condition to customers based in Texas.
  • If you are taking an auto loan, the kind of car that you purchase is going to have a significant impact on the monthly premium amount that you will have to contribute towards your auto loan. If you go in for a high end car model, your monthly premium is going to be high while if a vehicle in the medium range is opted for, the monthly payment that you have to make will be a reduced one.
  • If you are taking an auto loan to finance your vehicle in the state of Texas, another aspect that you need to consider is the kind of credit that you enjoy. Your credit history is thoroughly examined by the loan provider before granting or approving a vehicular loan for you. Those with a low credit rating generally have to pay high interest rates towards auto loans. So, if you have bad credit, it is advisable to wait for a while, improve your credit ratings and then apply for a car loan.

For all kinds of Auto Loans, contact us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union at 3305 E Elms Road Killeen, TX 76542 or give us a ring at 254-690-2274.

Cheap Auto Loan - 72 Month Auto Financing

Tips To Lower Your Car Payment

Car loans are the most important monthly expense for a majority of people. People get attracted to new cars and usually follow the general trend of paying lesser amount as down payment and more monthly payments. In most of the cases, it is impossible for the car to be refinanced. One possible way out that can help you to lower your monthly car payment without even refinancing the car is private debt restructure.

  • Think of a solid reason to get a restructure. Often the lenders only grant these so called ‘hardship loans’ in the case of an emergency or financial crisis like medical emergency, bankruptcy or loss of a job.
  • Work out your own DIR or debt to income ratio. A high ratio will cause you to face tough times to make monthly payments. To calculate your DIR, divide all your monthly expenses with your gross monthly earnings. For instance, your income is $2000 and your monthly expenses (including the car payments) are $1000. So, your DIR would be 50 per cent, which is considered to be very high by the lenders.
  • Determine the current rate of interest on your auto loan. Make out what would be the interest rate that you can easily manage. It is very important to be very clear before you request for any modification in the rate of interest.
  • Drop a line to your lender to know about the hardship plan. Make sure that you put forward all the required documents in support of your claim like bank statements and income documents.
  • Make sure that all the proposals of the hardship plan are in writing and that the terms and conditions will be of assistance your present financial condition.
  • Be prepared to make changes in your personal budget and expenditure so that you are able to pay back a heavy car loan.

To avail cheap auto loans in Central Texas, contact us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. Our unique loan plans can assist you in getting lowest rates for auto loans. We can be contacted at 254-690-2274.

Secured Auto Loan - Cheap Auto Loan

Auto Financing In Texas

It is very important that you act smartly in a deal to buy a car or you will end up losing much more money that you actually should. Generally, most of the car buyers arrange money before buying a new car. This scheme, known as auto financing, means the way you are going to pay for your new car. You can get your car financed by getting an auto loan which you can use in two ways: either pay the money to buy the car, or use it for lease.

If you have purchased a car before, you might know that the loan provider will check your credit report before doing any sort of deal with you. However, this is not the only requisite for taking an auto loan. Auto dealer will also try his best to appease the deal and give you special offers on car financing. But, you need to be extremely watchful.

Remember, you should be well prepared for this. Consider all the options of auto financing before visiting the dealer so that you can manage your car loan as well as your credit. Bear in mind that no deal is permanent until you have a hard copy for it. When you are done with the negotiations, do get the sales contract prepared.

Overstated interest rates
Be careful to verify your monthly payments as well as the interest rates. Different car buyers are charged with different rates of interest depending upon their credit history. If you have a poor credit history, you will be charged a high rate of interest and this is where the car dealer profits from your loan.

Independent auto financing
If you have a pre-approved auto financing, you can go up to the car dealer and purchase the car as a ‘cash buyer’. It would be good if you go for independent auto financing to buy a new car.

To get Auto Loans in Central Texas, visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We have amazing deals on auto loans for our customers. We are located in Killeen, TX. You can also call us at Phone: 254-690-2274).

Secured Auto Loan - Cheap Auto Loan

Consolidating Your Car Loans

For the families that have more than one vehicle, it is logical to get your car loans consolidated. Consolidation of car loans is a process through which you can combine all your vehicle loans into one payment. Car loan consolidation can be very beneficial to you if:

  • You want a lower rate of interest
  • You have to pay several loan installments in one month
  • You want to cut down your monthly payment

Requirements for loan consolidation

  • Income proof- Most of the lenders seek a job of at least 6 months. However, long term employment would increase your credit worth. Gather at least six months pay statements to present for the verification of your job and income.
  • Insurance- Make sure that you all the vehicles that you want to cover under the consolidated loan are insured. Some insurance companies also offer discount on multiple vehicles.
  • Residence proof- A stable residency will increase your credit worth. You should be able to put forward at least six months utility bills for your address and a proof of identity.
  • Credit history - It is important that you have knowledge about your credit rating. Most of the time, you can be rejected for a car loan only because of a poor credit history. It’s not that you can’t consolidate your loans without a good credit history, but do not expect discounted rates of interest.

Benefits of consolidating car loans

  • A person who is paying large monthly payments can benefit from loan consolidation by increasing the time period of the loan. However, increased time period means more interest payment at the end of the day.
  • For the people who have multiple loans, consolidation can help to keep a record of the due monthly installments and pay them in time.

As a concluding point, car loan consolidation depends upon the situation of each and every borrower. Those who are already laden with debt should think before opting for consolidation.

To obtain cheap and secured loans easily and quickly, consider Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union only. For any assistance, call us at 254-690-2274.

Lowest Used Car Loan - Secured Auto Loan

Auto Loan Tips For First Time Buyers In Texas

It is not a simple task to buy a car for the first time. Most of the people seem to be confused and puzzled about where to go to get a car loan. But, it is very easy to find a loan for a first time car buyer. Given here are some easy but important tips that can help you in getting a loan and buy a new car for yourself.

  • Do not even try to lie about your monthly expenditures to give the impression that you can meet the monthly installments. It would be good if you accurately determine how much you can actually afford to borrow. This way you can modify your application according to your needs. 
  • Try to make as much down payment as you can. This will help you to reduce your monthly payments for the loan. While applying for a loan, try to convince the lender as much as possible. Simply by showing an effort to reduce the monthly payment, you can make a better impression on the lender than those who apply for the loan blindly.
  • Find out a lender that specialize in granting loan to people that do not have any credit history. You are likely to have a higher chance of success in getting a loan than when you apply in a bank or so. However, your ability to repay the loan will be assessed by these lenders also.
  • Do make sure you find out all the hidden charges in the deal. Also find out if there are any pre-closure charges levied by the lender in case you wish to pay up loan amount to lender before the agreed term.

Thus, following these sure shot tips will definitely get you a good deal on loan to buy a car for the first time. To obtain cheap auto loans in Central Texas do visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We have amazing deals on auto loans for our customers. Call us at phone: 254-690-2274. We are situated at Killeen, TX.

Lowest Used Car Loan - Secured Auto Loan

Factors Influencing Auto Loan Interest Rates

Central Texas offers a variety of options for those who wish to obtain auto loans for financing new or old vehicles. There are different sources of loans to suit different purposes. There are certain lenders that may provide loans with low rates of interest that may involve higher monthly installments. On the other hand, you may also be able to find money lending institutions or individual lenders who may give out loans that make it possible for you to pay in small installment amounts but that involve higher interest rates. The option that you choose is largely dependent on your particular requirements and your earnings.

There are several factors that can determine rates of interest on purchase of vehicles in the state of Texas. Some of them have been enumerated below:

  • The interest rate is largely dependent on the kind of car that you decide to buy. If you are purchasing a car that belongs to the high end category and is highly priced, you may be charged a slightly higher interest rate than if you go in for a medium range or a second hand car.
  • The time period within which you are willing to pay back the money that you borrowed also has a major role to play in determining the rates of interest for your loan. Generally, it has been observed that the longer the period of the loan, the rate of interest is lower. On the other hand, if the loan term is only a few months, you may be able to repay the loan at a little higher rate of interest.
  • The most important factor that influences interest rates when it comes to auto loans is your previous record in repaying loans that you may have taken in the past. Your previous repayment has a major effect on your credit ratings information; which is available with most financial institutions that you may approach for loans. If you have been consistent in repaying all previous loans, you are likely to enjoy a good credit rating and thus may be able to obtain cheaper interest rates.

To get great deals on Auto Loans in Central Texas, visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We are located in Killeen, Texas (Phone: 254-690-2274)

Cheap Auto Loan - 72 Month Auto Financing

Long Term Auto Loans

Every person has a desire to have his own car. However, due to a number of reasons, it is not possible for everyone to afford a car. One reason could be that you cannot manage to take out some money from your monthly budget, or you do not want to shell out money for a car due to some other future commitments. In such circumstances, long term auto loans can be of great help. These loans put forward longer time for the repayment of the loan, thus, not putting any burden on your monthly budget.

The long term auto loans are a bit different from other loans. You get enough time for repaying your loan amount. There are very low monthly installments, so you need not worry about making much contraction in your monthly expenses. These loans are also available in secured as well as unsecured forms.

You can considerably reduce your rate of interest with the secured loans. On the contrary, the unsecured loans have a fairly lower repayment term and higher rate of interest as compared to the secured loans. You need to place something as collateral if you wan to have a secured loan. Due to the paperwork involved in this process, it may take some time. However, if you are in an immediate need of loan, you can opt for the unsecured loans.

These loans may also require you to pay a certain amount of down payment. Your can lower your interest rates by making a bigger down payment. Most often, people try to pay 25 to 30 per cent of the cost of the car as a down payment.

You can search the market for the most bendable terms and conditions. There are also different repayment terms for long term auto loans, so you can choose the one that is best suited to your needs.

For auto loans in Central Texas, do visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We have amazing deals on auto loans for our customers. Call us at Phone: 254-690-2274. We are located at Killeen, Texas.

Cheap Auto Loan - 72 Month Auto Financing

Texas Auto Loan Facts

There are many options for obtaining auto loans for those who wish to purchase a vehicle in the state of Texas. Texas has a well developed banking system that provides competitive interest rates to car buyers along with reasonable terms and conditions. The only requirement for qualifying for a loan in this state is to have a sound credit rating. It can get quite difficult to obtain a loan if you have a negative credit history. Thus the first thing that should be done in this case is to go about improving your credit ratings so that you qualify for auto loans in the state of Texas.

There are several things that can be done in order to improve your credit like repaying existing loans in a timely manner, not taking loans for an amount that you will be unable to repay, asking a person to stand in as surety, etc. There are credit counseling services provided by many experienced companies in Texas that can guide you regarding the best methods to improve credit in a short time period.

The kind of car that you are purchasing can also have a direct bearing on whether you are granted a loan by the lending institution or not. If you have a great credit rating, you can choose an expensive new car and still obtain approval from a bank for your auto loan. However, in case your credit is bad, you may have to settle for a second hand or a low priced car in order to qualify for a loan.

Before going ahead with an auto loan, you should conduct an online survey in order to find out the prevailing auto loan rates in Texas. This figure should then be compared to the actual rates being offered to you by banks in the area. You will also need to have a fair idea about the amount of down payment you may have to provide in order to obtain the auto loan successfully. In most cases, the down payment tends to be around twenty percent provided you have a reasonable credit rating in the state. It may increase if you have low ratings.

For Lowest Used Car Loan interest rates in Texas, visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union.

Lowest Used Car Loan - Secured Auto Loan

What Is Preclosure In Loans

There are many lenders in an around Texas that can be approached to obtain auto loans. Buying expensive vehicles by furnishing huge lump sum in one go is uite a difficult task. This is where the auto loan become a useful tool. Auto loan is a great method through which one can complete the payment in a stress free manner over a number of years. There is usually a fixed term for repayment of an auto loan in case of most money lenders in Texas. One generally needs to repay the borrowed sum before the end of this period so as to avoid legal issues.

Sometimes, you may find it easy to repay the remaining loan amount along with the interest accumulated on it long before the loan terms is touted to end. This may be on account of availability of money required to close the loan contract. The method of fulfilling your auto loan liability by repaying the remaining dues in one go before the expiry of the loan period is known as preclosure. This is quite beneficial as it helps you avoid escalating interest rates that may be revised due to general inflation in the economy from time to time. It also helps eliminate the burden of furnishing monthly payments out of your salary. Not to mention you save on the interest part as well. Certain financial institutions do charge a small preclosure fee on your loan amount that was due.

Almost all individual money lenders as well as money lending institutions offer the chance of going in for a preclosure to borrowing customers. You can read about the particular terms of initiating the preclosure process in your loan document. It is advisable to be aware of this process before you sign the loan contract so that you can conveniently get a preclosure for your loan amount.

A preclosure in relation to an auto loan is not likely to affect your credit ratings in a negative way at all. On the contrary, it is bound to strengthen your credit score thus making you better eligible for future loans. Most banks in the future are likely to prefer providing loans to you on account of your great record of repaying a loan even before it falls due.

For Auto loans in Central Texas do visit Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We have amazing deals on Auto Loans for our customers. Call us at Phone: 254-690-2274. We are situated at Killeen, Texas.

Secured Auto Loan - Cheap Auto Loan