When shopping for car loans, you may be wondering how different lenders come up with a range of rates for you. While they may have their own formulas and calculations, they are generally guided by the three C’s: collateral, capacity to repay, and credit history.
If you're a first-time home buyer, a loan may already be on your to-do list. Here are a few helpful tips to help you through the process:
Spring is a popular time to upgrade your car and enjoy driving something different. We Florida Financial wants to guide you toward making the perfect car purchase with these easy tips!
When it comes to holiday spending there are tons of ways to get off-track. Unexpected costs can come from any angle, and it is important to be prepared for them during the holidays.
You might have big plans for 2017, and you likely have made a resolution or two for the New Year. As we say goodbye to January, how are you doing on those goals? Have you already lessened your resolve? The important thing to remember about making attainable goals is to make them specific and measurable.
March is Credit Education Month! The best way to celebrate is to take charge of your credit habits. Learn more about how you can improve your credit standing below.
Florida is a great state to live in. Naturally, you’d want your own house to come home to. And unless you can pay for one in full, that means applying for a Florida home loan.
How do you know if you should refinance your mortgage? If you think that the refinance wave has passed you by, think again. Mortgage rates are only slightly higher now than the bottomed-out low rates we saw a few years ago.
If you’ve been thinking of buying a second home, you may not want to wait much longer. You may have heard that mortgage rates are expected to rise this year, which means waiting could cost you. Securing a mortgage for your second home now, while rates are low, means you can buy more home for your money.
If retirement is in your 5 to 10 year plan, you may be starting to think about buying your retirement home now. Or, you might want to buy a second home as a vacation home for your family. Either way, now is a good time to buy.
While credit unions have been around for more than a century, plenty of consumers are often faced with myths about what credit unions are – or aren’t. Credit unions are an excellent alternative to banks, and often have plenty more to offer. Let’s take a closer look as we debunk some misconceptions about credit unions.
Retirement. It’s not exactly like death and taxes but it’s pretty much inevitable. So like everything else in life, it pays to do a little planning. With this wise thought in mind, I headed off on Tuesday, June 13 to the Members Financial seminar on Social Security at the credit union’s Pembroke Pines branch.
It Finally Pays To Learn About Finance. Literally!
That is why We Florida Financial has partnered with Zogo, a gamified mobile app, to help our members learn the basics of personal finance. The best part? You get paid to use it.
Q: With 2020 drawing to a close, I’d love to give myself an end-of-year financial review before it goes. Where do I begin?
A: Giving yourself an end-of-year financial review is a wonderful way to check on the progress you’ve made toward your goals, highlight areas needing improvement, and update your accounts, funds, and investments. Here’s all you need to know about this important end-of-year ritual.
It’s time to start thinking about Christmas. Some of you are reading this on your phone while waiting in line at Starbucks, preparing to buy your first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season, but it’s time to start thinking of peppermint mochas instead. Even if you’re the “Bah, Humbug” type of person who regularly posts Facebook rants about the neighbors putting up their lights before Thanksgiving, making financial plans for the holiday is still a really good idea. It might be too early to hang a stocking, but it’s never too early to sock money away.
We are all live busy and hectic lives. If many of us could afford it, we would pay for a personal assistant to help with chores, run errands and keep us organized. The good news is that as credit union members, we already have a right-hand assistant. It’s called electronic banking. And it’s free.
In the throes of a pandemic, keeping your credit score at a good level might not be top of mind if your job is in jeopardy and you are wondering how to keep the roof over your head and feed your family.
It is important nevertheless to do everything to keep your score intact. Your credit report is important. Blemishes stay on your file for seven years and can affect your ability to get a job, rent an apartment, or secure certain types of insurance. Here are some practical ways to achieve that goal.
It’s hurricane season. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a 70% chance of 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes. Floridians are always being urged to make preparations. Most of us do, to some degree. This year however, things have changed. We are in the midst of a pandemic that shows no signs of abating. Under these circumstances, we need to make changes to our usual hurricane preparation plans. Here are some suggestions on how to proceed:
In the age of data breaches, phishing scams and fraudsters using technology to steal identities, we have to be so careful with our personal information. Criminals take the information they steal and sell it on the Dark Web. Not just once, but, many times over. What is the Dark Web? It’s a whole different side of the internet that is anonymously used by criminals to buy and sell stolen identities for illegal profits. Once your identity has been stolen, it can take up to 6 months or longer to fix and cost thousands.
Did you ever wonder why car dealers want to have you finance at their dealership? It’s customary in the industry for lenders to pay dealers a fee for these loans, and in some cases dealers are allowed to mark up the rate (APR) and keep the difference. It’s perfectly legal but I bet you didn’t know about it.
When you come directly to your credit union, you get a great rate and we have rate discounts for many members. We offer rate discounts for members in our Premium and Select relationship levels. If you have certain services with us, such as a checking account and a credit card, you may qualify for additional rate discounts. We also give “loyalty discounts” to reward members who have been with us for certain periods of time. And if you take advantage of our We Drive onsite dealer partner, we reduce your rate even further. Plus we give you lower “new car” rates on pre-owned vehicles up to two model years old with less than 36,000 miles. We’ve got rates that go as low as 1.74% with all discounts as of October 2019.
Please call or stop by We Drive to talk with one of our friendly staff and start taking advantage of what your credit union has to offer.
Not a member? Ask about joining. It’s easy and open to everyone in South Florida.
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