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

Home Loan Tips For First Time Buyers

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.

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GCTFCU Blog | Financial Tips For Youngsters
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Financial Tips For Youngsters

Financial intelligence is paramount for youngsters who want to achieve success and financial freedom early in life. This is because youngsters who make smart financial decisions at the beginning of their career ladder have better savings, fewer debts, emergency funds and other financial perks as compared to their counterparts.

Following are some proven financial tips for youngsters:

  • Practice Budgeting: One of the most useful financial tip is to learn how to budget. Budgeting helps you keep a tab on your incomes and expenses. It makes it easier to allocate funds for important things such as education, bills, grocery, etc.
  • Open A Savings Account: A savings account is one of the best modes of saving money for future investments as well as for achieving both long-term and short-term goals. You may consider being a member of the credit union as you will be entitled to many benefits and privileges reserved for members only.
  • Plan Ahead For Retirement: Start saving for your retirement while you are still young. You can be a part of an employer’s plan for the same. Such plans require you to contribute a portion of your income towards retirement goal.
  • Pay Off Your Debts Systematically: Start paying off your debts by getting rid of the smaller ones initially and gradually building your way up to the larger debts. This is referred to as the ‘Snowball Method’ and is great for keeping you motivated and focused. Take on a new debt in extreme cases only.
  • Build An Emergency Fund: It is important to keep aside some money in your emergency fund. So, if you start building your emergency fund while you are young, it will ensure that you have a substantial amount down the road.
  • Reduce Expenses: A great financial rule that can do wonders for youngsters is to minimize unnecessary expenses. Start by trimming off expenses that are futile and repetitive in nature. Eventually progress to cutting down expenditure on more meaningful yet avoidable items.
  • Manage Raises: When you get a raise, use it judiciously. Instead of spending it for leisure, you can either use it to pay off a long pending debt or save it.
  • Educate Your Children: Teach your kids the value of money at an early age. Embed it in their malleable minds that saving is not an option but a necessity. You can even take them to a nearest credit union and motivate them to open their own savings accounts.
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that operates for the common benefit and welfare of its member-owners. For more information, visit 3305 E. Elms Rd., Killeen, TX -76542 or call at (254) 690 – 2274.

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GCTFCU Blog | Why Shop At A Credit Union For Car Loans
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Why Shop At A Credit Union For Car Loans

Getting a car loan that fits into your monthly budget with favorable loan terms could be a cumbersome task in the present financial scenario. However, credit unions offer much relief in these conditions, as these financial institutions function on a not-for-profit model, making them user-friendly for car loans. If you are considering getting a secured auto loan from a credit union, here’s a look at why this is a great idea-

  • A key reason to opt for credit unions for car loans is the favorable interest rates offered at these institutions. All the earnings that are made through interest by credit unions are returned back to the members in the form of low interest rates. Low interest rates on car loans translates into lower monthly payments, a shorter loan period, and hence an overall cheap auto loan.
  • Applying for a car loan at a credit union is a convenient and customer-friendly process. Not only are the fees involved a lot lower than what one would expect to pay at a bank or a car dealership, but the overall process is also a lot less time-consuming. It is simply a matter of sitting with a financial agent and having your paperwork evaluated, after which the loan is usually approved on the same day. In most cases, the process is further simplified by enabling carrying out all the proceedings online or over the phone.
  • Even if for any reason your loan does not get approved the first time, you can expect to get some great financial advice on how you can strengthen your personal case, and what you can do to get approved the next time you apply. This level of personal concern is something that one can only expect at a credit union, owing to the relatively low number of members.
  • The fact that a credit union is committed to serving its local community means that you can expect a lot more support from a credit union in the event that you face difficulty in repaying your loan, than you would at say, a bank.
  • The regular member perks offered by credit unions can go a long way in making the terms of your car loan more favorable to you. It is a good idea to ask the officials at your credit union if any such perks are around the corner, before applying for your loan.

To avail cheap and quick car loan in Killeen TX, kindly visit us at Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union. We have amazing deals on auto loans for our customers. We are located at 3305 E Elms Road, Killeen, TX 76542. You can also call us at 254-690-2274.

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GCTFCU Blog | Terms You Must Know Before Taking Home Loan
Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union,
3305 E Elms Road
Killeen, TX 76542
Telephone: 254-690-2274
www.gctfcu.net

Terms You Must Know Before Taking Home Loan

When applying for a home loan, there is a lot of paperwork and documentation that you need to undertake. There are a number of jargons that you need to be familiar with for a hassle-free loan process. Here is a list of some of the common terms that you may come across while taking a home loan in Killeen, TX:

  • Offer Letter/Sanction Letter: It is a formal confirmation letter given by the financial institution from where you are taking the loan. This letter states that you have been duly considered to be one of the loan applicants. However, this letter does not confirm the approval of a home loan. The loan will only be sanctioned after verifying all the documents and eligibility criteria of the applicant.
  • Equated Monthly Installments (EMI): EMI is the amount you repay to your lender every month. It includes the principal repayment along with the interest amount. Three basic factors are considered while deciding your EMI. These include the principal amount, loan duration and rate of interest. An amortization schedule shows how your EMIs have been formulated over the period of entire loan term.
  • Pre-EMI: If you buy a property that is still under construction, you will be given only a part of the loan amount. You are required to make the interest payments on this partial amount. These payments are known as pre-EMI. This eventually means you will have to keep on paying more interest to the financial institution till the time your builder takes to complete the construction of the property.
  • Credit Appraisal: The process of credit appraisal involves looking at various factors before finalizing the loan. The financial institution will consider parameters such as income, age, savings, qualifications, work experience etc. They will also check the number of loans you are presently servicing. Your eligibility for the loan will only be finalized after scrutinizing all these factors.
  • Margin: It is important to note that any lending organization will not sanction you the entire amount required for your home. You can get up to 90% of the cost and the rest you will have to put in from your side. This balance amount is called down payment or margin.
  • Post-Dated Checks (PDCs): PDCs are scheduled for future dates and cannot be processed till the mentioned date arrives. Generally, the lending organization will ask you to give them post-dated checks for one to two years. These checks need to be addressed to the credit union or home loan company. The exact amount of EMI to be paid should be mentioned on these checks.
To know more about the home loan process, feel free to contact Greater Central Texas Federal Credit Union at (254) 690 – 2274.
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