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5 Reasons to Get Preapproved for a Mortgage

If you’re thinking about buying a home, getting preapproved for a mortgage might not sound like the most exciting part of the journey—but it’s one of the smartest moves you can make. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, a mortgage preapproval gives you clarity, confidence, and a competitive edge in today’s housing market. Visit our Home Loan Center to Apply Now!

Here are five compelling reasons why getting preapproved should be your first step:

5 Smart Reasons to Get Preapproved for a Mortgage

1. Know Exactly What You Can Afford

A preapproval helps you determine how much house you can comfortably afford based on your income, credit, and financial situation. Instead of guessing or relying on online calculators, you’ll get a realistic price range to focus your search and avoid falling in love with a home that’s out of reach.


2. Boost Your Bargaining Power

In a competitive market, preapproval gives you a serious advantage. Sellers and real estate agents are far more likely to consider an offer from a buyer who already has financing lined up. It shows you’re prepared, committed, and financially capable—which can make your offer stand out in a sea of hopeful buyers.


3. Speed Up the Homebuying Process

When you’re preapproved, much of the paperwork is already taken care of. That means once your offer is accepted, you can move faster through the mortgage process. In a hot market, every day counts—and preapproval can save you valuable time.


4. Avoid Surprises Later

A preapproval includes a full review of your credit report, income, and financial situation. That means you’ll uncover any potential red flags early—before they can slow down your loan approval or derail your homebuying plans. It’s a proactive way to prevent unexpected bumps in the road.


5. Shop with Confidence

Knowing your preapproved amount brings peace of mind. You can house-hunt with purpose, avoid unnecessary stress, and make decisions with confidence. Plus, it’s an empowering step that shows you’re ready to move forward when you find the right home.


Ready to Get Started?

At AGCU, we make the preapproval process simple, secure, and stress-free. Our mortgage team is here to walk you through every step. Click Here to start your preapproval today and take the first step toward finding your dream home:

Download our FREE Mortgage Checklist


Banking With A Purpose

Much more than a catchphrase, our tagline is our passion, our reason why we do what we do. This is the impact of your membership with AGCU. Learn More About Banking with a Purpose

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Saving for Real Estate Taxes and Insurance Without an Escrow Account

Many homeowners rely on escrow accounts to manage real estate tax and homeowners insurance payments. These accounts allow mortgage servicers to collect a portion of your taxes and insurance along with your monthly mortgage payment, ensuring those big bills are handled on time. However, not all members choose this option—either because they’ve paid off their mortgage, or they’ve received an escrow waiver. If you’re in this situation, here’s how to manage these payments on your own and make the most of your money in the process.

What Is an Escrow Account?

An escrow account is typically required by mortgage lenders to ensure real estate taxes and homeowners insurance are paid on time. Each month, part of your mortgage payment goes into this account, and your lender pays those bills on your behalf when they’re due. It’s a convenient way to break large, annual bills into smaller, more manageable amounts.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Escrow Accounts

Benefits:

  • Convenience: With an escrow account, your servicer handles the payments for you. This reduces the number of bills you have to track and ensures you don’t miss a due date.
  • Budgeting Help: Breaking large bills into smaller monthly amounts can make it easier to budget and avoid hefty lump sum payments at the end of the year.

Drawbacks:

  • No Interest: Most escrow accounts don’t pay interest on the funds sitting there waiting to be used. This means you miss out on potential earnings that your money could generate in a savings account.
  • Less Control: Since the lender controls the funds and when payments are made, you have less flexibility with how and when your money is used.

How to Save Without an Escrow Account

If you’ve opted out of escrow, you’ll be responsible for paying your real estate taxes and insurance on your own. Here’s a disciplined approach to make sure you have the money when you need it:

  1. Open a Dedicated Savings Account: Set up a separate, interest-bearing savings account specifically for real estate taxes and insurance. This way, your money is working for you while it sits, waiting to be used. Click here to see our current interest rates on Hight Yield Checking, CDs, and Money Market Accounts.
  2. Calculate Your Annual Payments: Estimate your total yearly payments for real estate taxes and homeowners insurance. You can typically get this information from your local tax authority or insurance provider.
  3. Set Up Automatic Transfers: Divide your total yearly payment by 12, and set up monthly automatic transfers into your dedicated account. This makes saving easier and ensures you’re consistently putting money away.
  4. Monitor Your Balance: Regularly check your savings account with AGCU Mobile and Online Banking to make sure you’re on track. If there are any changes to your tax or insurance rates, adjust your savings plan accordingly.
  5. Maximize Interest: Choose an account with a higher interest rate so your savings can grow. While it might not generate huge returns, every little bit helps when preparing for large expenses. Click here to see rates!
  6. Lower Your Insurance Payment: If you haven’t compared rates in a while, contact AGCU Insurance to see if you can lower your homeowner’s insurance costs.

Discipline Is Key

One of the main challenges of managing these payments without an escrow account is the discipline required to save consistently. If you’re not careful, it can be easy to fall behind on saving and face a large, unexpected bill at the end of the year. A separate savings account with automatic transfers can help avoid this issue.

If you don’t have an escrow account, we highly recommend opening an interest-bearing savings account today. Not only will this help you prepare for your annual real estate tax and insurance bills, but it also allows you to earn interest in the meantime. Talk to one of our Member Services Representatives today about setting up an account that works for you.


Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult a lawyer or accountant for professional advice on managing real estate taxes and insurance.

What is a HELOC?

Home Equity Loan vs. HELOC: What’s the Difference?

Home Equity Loan vs. HELOC: What’s the Difference?
One of the biggest perks of homeownership is the ability to build equity over time. You can use that equity to secure low-cost funds in the form of a second mortgage—either a one-time loan or a home equity line of credit (HELOC).

Home equity loans and HELOCs use the equity in your home—that is, the difference between your home’s value and your mortgage balance—as collateral. As the loans are secured against the equity value of your home, home equity loans offer extremely competitive interest rates—usually close to those of first mortgages. Compared with unsecured borrowing sources, such as credit cards, you’ll be paying less in financing fees for the same loan amount.

Home Equity Loans

A home equity loan, or second mortgage,  comes as a lump sum of cash. It’s an option if you need the money for a one-time expense, such as a wedding or a kitchen renovation. These loans usually offer fixed rates, so you know precisely what your monthly payments will be when you take one out. Learn about Second Mortgages here.

We offer a fixed rate option on our second mortgages with a maximum term of fifteen (15) years.
Several advantages of working with us on your loan:

  • Low closing cost
  • No pre-payment penalty
  • Retained servicing (excludes 30 year fixed)
  • Variety of payment options
  • Cash-out refinances on specific mortgage plans

A HELOC Is…

A HELOC is a line of credit that revolves – similar to a credit card – and can be used for large expenses, unexpected expenses, home remodeling, debt consolidation(1) or the like. Like a credit card, each time you repay some or all of the money used from the HELOC, your credit line is correspondingly replenished.

A HELOC is a secured loan in that you are borrowing against the equity that has been built in your house. Typically, lenders will let you borrow from 80 to 95 percent of your home’s equity.

When you obtain a HELOC, you are given a draw period, or length of time during which your line of credit will stay open. Draw times typically average 10 years. After the draw period is over, you enter into the repayment period, which for qualified members, we offer a great rate with a maximum term of fifteen (15) years.

AGCU offers HELOC’s in the following Missouri counties: Greene, Dade, Polk, Dallas, Webster, Christian, Stone, Lawrence, and Taney.

A HELOC Works by…

Borrowers can apply for HELOCs through AGCU’s Home Loan Center. The lender will assess the borrower’s home LTV (loan-to-value) ratio, as well as their income, credit score and other debt. Like a home loan, HELOCs – once approved – include closing costs.  A Mortgage and HELOC document checklist is available here.

HELOCs typically have a variable rate which, in large part, will be based on the current prime rate. This means that when rates rise – as they have been lately – the rate on a HELOC will rise accordingly. Even so, the rate on a HELOC is usually lower than credit card rates.

Once the HELOC has been approved, the borrower begins the draw period. During this time, any money borrowed from the line of credit is repaid each month by interest-only payments, which may mean a lower monthly payment. When the draw period is over, the borrower moves to the repayment period, during which time the monthly payment begins to include principal plus interest for any money borrowed, meaning the monthly payment may increase.

The Phases of HELOCs

Most home equity credit lines have two phases. First, a draw period, often 10 years, during which you can access your available credit as you choose. Typically, HELOC contracts only require small, interest-only payments during the draw period, though you may have the option to pay extra and have it go toward the principal.

After the draw period ends, you can sometimes ask for an extension. Otherwise, the loan enters the repayment phase. From here on out, you can no longer access additional funds, and you make regular principal-plus-interest payments until the balance disappears. Most lenders have a 20-year repayment period after a 10-year draw period. During the repayment period, you must repay all the money you’ve borrowed, plus interest at a contracted rate. Some lenders may offer borrowers different types of repayment options for the repayment period.

AGCU Home Loan Center

Every borrower is different, and we offer a variety of products to meet your requirements. We make the mortgage process simple and straightforward by offering the latest in financial tools that enable you to make sound financial choices. Whatever your real estate lending needs are, AGCU is here to help you navigate the process. Call our team of mortgage professionals at 866-508-2428(AGCU) or email us for more information.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Home equity can be a great source of value for homeowners to access cash for renovations, large purchases, or alternative debt repayment.
  • Home equity loans and lines of credit are secured against the value of your home equity, so lenders may be willing to offer rates that are lower than they do for most other types of personal loans.
  • A home equity loan comes as a lump sum of cash, often with a fixed interest rate.
  • A home equity line of credit is a revolving source of funds, much like a credit card, that you can access as you choose.
  • Learn more about Home Equity Loans or Lines of Credit 

Banking With A Purpose

Much more than a catchphrase, our tagline is our passion, our reason why we do what we do. This is the impact of your membership with AGCU.
Learn More About Banking with a Purpose

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