- First-time buyer?, Excellent idea! Homeownership is an excellent long-term investment. Once you've decided that it's time to take the leap to homeownership, there are a few things to keep in mind. Review your existing debt load. What are your current monthly payments? Student loans, credit cards, and other debt can deter you from getting an approval due to a high debt-to-income ratio. If you can, pay off debt or…, It's essential that first-time homebuyers know what they can afford., Use your rent payment as a measuring stick, but don't forget you'll be responsible for unexpected expenses (e.g. repairs) that your landlord may be covering now. There are also budgeting tools you can utilize to determine affordability. If you're not sure how much you can afford and want to take your first step, stop into your local Visions branch for a pre-qualification. Next steps. Once you…, Ready to apply?, Apply now!
- (The Seventh is Through the Front Door), Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or seasoned homeowner, purchasing a new place to live can be an exciting time. It can also be a little stressful. The friendly experts at Visions can help take some of the pain out of the home-buying process with these simple steps., Clean up your credit., Credit is always king, but it takes center stage during the mortgage process. Paying down your credit card balances, consolidating your debts , and getting rid of any derogatory marks will get both your credit score and debt-to-income ratio in better standing. Need support with this step? We offer free credit counseling . , Prequalify., Stop into one of Visions' convenient branches with 30 days of pay stubs, two years of W-2s or tax returns, and two months of bank statements. Prequalification is free for Visions members, helps you set a realistic price, and lets sellers know you're serious. , Start shopping., You're ready – congratulations! It's a big decision, but a lot of fun to see how your dreams take shape. , Apply for a loan., Call 800.242.2120 to schedule an interview or apply online. , Wait a little., Our mortgage processors will order a flood certification, an appraisal to determine the market value of the property, and a credit report. Upon approval, the mortgage department will issue a commitment letter agreeing to finance your home, which you should receive in seven to 10 business days after your mortgage file is processed. Review it with your attorney, sign it, and return it as soon as…, Close., The closing is the meeting where the credit union issues your mortgage, property ownership is transferred to you, and you get the keys. Visions prepares a closing checklist so you can work with your attorney to make sure nothing delays the process. In addition, Visions' mortgage process is designed with you in mind. Whether you're concerned with down payments or if it's your first time in the…, Useful Mortgage Resources:, Mortgage Rates – Browse mortgage rates for various mortgage products. Loan and Savings Calculators – Crunch the numbers. How much home can you afford? What should your down payment be? Mortgage Products - Browse mortgage products. Mortgage Application - Are you ready for the next step? Apply for a mortgage or prequalification .
- Preparing for Baby Costs, Oh, baby., I found out in February., I came home to a scavenger hunt – clues scattered by my wife throughout the house. At the end, I discovered a drawer filled with tiny booties, a Captain America onesie, and a board book about dads and babies. And there I was. I was going to be a dad in October. Elation and excitement turned to planning and anxiety. Amidst the thoughts of, What color should the room be? and, Is it a boy or a girl…, Plan ahead (if you can), My wife and I knew we wanted to be parents, which is something I want to be clear about up front: not everyone has that luxury. To quote the great Dr. Ian Malcolm, "Life uh...finds a way." So while the considerations I'm putting forth here are great for parents who plan ahead, know that – depending on your circumstances – the advice may shift. That means establishing a budget (which can actually…, About that budget..., Perform a Google search about the average cost of having a baby and you're going to get different numbers. Like, super different. But, as an expecting parent, I figured we'd probably be looking somewhere around $5,000 (with a frequent prayer that it will be less). That's based on where I live, the insurance we have, and anecdotes from friends and families who had their own little ones with…, You're going to buy a lot of stuff. Look for discounts, First time parents need a bunch of stuff. Bottles, crib, mattresses, books, car seats, monitors, swaddles, and cute outfits for holidays so that you can laugh when she looks like a super tiny but super pudgy Santa at Christmas. Y'know – the important stuff. The first thing we did was sign up for discounts and look for sales. There are dozens of discount baby clothes options online, secondhand…, Ask your network, We had the advantage of siblings and friends who have had babies before. You may, too. Ask around or post on social media for baby items. I can almost guarantee that you'll have parents reach out almost begging you to take stuff so that they can clear space in their ever-expanding closets for new clothes. Don't have baby friends? Join a group online. Nearly every community has a local group for…, Don't discount the value of a baby shower, Our baby shower was one of the single biggest hauls of items we received. The big-ticket items, the wishlist items, and everything in between. Remember: anything that you're not spending money on is money you can save. And you're going to need to. , Plan ahead for those long-term costs, Unless you're fortunate enough to have a family support system or can afford to have a parent stay at home (that's assuming you're part of a two-parent household, which not everyone is), you're going to have to pay for childcare. And the cost? Wooboy. Just look up the average cost of daycare . Like searches for the cost of having a baby, the numbers vary. And they vary drastically based on…, The other stuff and the unexpected, There's paint, nightlights, changing tables, diapers, and a million other things. Make that wishlist early and add to it often. It'll help you reevaluate your budget as you go. Oh, and remember our dear friend, Dr. Ian Malcolm? Life will uh...find a way, so remember that your baby is going to be calling the shots at the end of the day. They may come early and there may be unexpected costs, so…
- While we’re certainly one-of-a-kind, we didn’t invent the co-op. Financial cooperatives and credit unions have been around since the 1800s, evolving with a shared set of principles that govern and guide like-minded companies around the globe. From our commitment to community, to our unique mission in financial services, to your relationship and role as a member – the Eight Cooperative Principles…, Voluntary and Open Membership, and, Member Economic Participation, . Voluntary and Open Membership “Credit unions are voluntary, not-for-profit financial cooperatives, offering services to people willing to accept the responsibilities and benefits of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.” – National Credit Union Foundation The primary principle of cooperatives worldwide, Voluntary and Open Membership proclaims…, membership eligibility, ? We’re glad you asked… As a cooperative, we can’t simply march into another credit union’s territory and compete with their charter. We serve communities that require our services, and our charters are the bylaws that define those communities. Sometimes, the field of membership is defined by territories, like Otsego County , NY or the City of Reading , PA. Other times, it’s defined by employment…, secondary membership, . That means if a person is eligible to become a Visions member, then everyone in that person’s immediate family and household is also eligible to become a member – voluntarily and without discrimination. Member Economic Participation “Members are the owners of their credit union and contribute to its capital. Members, not shareholders, benefit from their credit union’s profits in proportion to…, Members will benefit the most by increasing their participation, . For example, compare our checking accounts :, Flex Checking , Without meeting any minimum balance or prerequisites, members can enjoy a Flex Checking account with a complimentary debit card , a free box of standard checks per year, and no dividends. It’s an excellent checking option with no monthly fees., Flex Checking Plus, By increasing your participation, you could skip the $8 monthly fee* on our Flex Checking Plus and earn dividends on your checking balance, while also getting free money orders and official checks, free wire transfers, unlimited refunds on non-Visions ATMs, and more – and still receive the complimentary debit card ! Flex Checking Plus requires a $1,000 minimum account balance or an aggregate of $…, Explore our cooperative principles:, , Autonomy and Education, , Democracy and Community, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, , Cooperation Among Cooperatives, Membership and Participation
- Student Loans, Resources, and Free Money, Preparing for college is all about choices, be it filling in the circles on a standardized test or picking which school to attend. The most important choice, though, may be how to pay for college. Full scholarships are limited. They're usually reserved for outstanding athletes and a select few academic standouts. What about the rest of us? For most, paying for college is a search for funding…, Student Loans and Other Resources Are a Big Part of College Funding, Financial aid and scholarships can cover a good chunk of college costs, but most need student loans to fill the gaps. Many will borrow between $30,000 and $100,000 to cover the price tag of a four-year degree. College graduates owe an estimated $1.3 trillion in outstanding debt and recent numbers from the federal government suggest many are working hard to pay it back. The troubling trend of…, 1. Figure Out the Cost of Attendance, Colleges across the nation are actually required to post their cost of attendance (COA) each year. This COA accounts for the tuition and fees; books and supplies; room and board; transportation; and personal expenses the average student would pay in an academic year, or one fall and spring semester. Look up the number and stare it down. Now take a deep breath and let's get to work., 2. Fill Out The FAFSA, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid unlocks your access to federal student loans and grants, the most practical college funding source you have. Federal loans carry low, fixed interest rates that tend to make monthly payments a little more palatable than the higher rates you could get from private financing or a commercial bank. As the name suggests, it's free to complete the…, 3. Find Some Free Money for College, Whether it's for $50 or $50,000, scholarships help drop that COA in a hurry. The search and application process will take a lot of work, but the paycheck you could earn would be priceless. To make the process a little more painless, write a general essay you can submit with applications as the opportunities arise. Many decision-makers simply want you to explain who you are, why you want to go to…, 4. Find Even More Free Money for College, Every school has a Financial Aid office. Find it and use it. Simple enough, right?, 5. Use Special Credit Union Student Loans to Fill the Gaps, After you've gathered all your federal funds, scholarships, and financial aid, take another look at that cost of attendance. If you're like most, you're going to need more., Student Choice offers students and parents options., Visions Federal Credit Union offers many benefits to member-owners, including affordable student lending in the form of Student Choice. These lines of credit are exclusive to credit unions and offer competitive rates, in-school deferment, and a graduated repayment option. We're also dedicated to financial literacy when it comes to college planning . Find more information, tips, and our…, Apply for a Student Loan
