New Horizons Credit Union Blog

The simplest way to add value to your home is through a little home improvement. A nice coat of paint, new flooring, updated roof, etc. can quickly add value to your home if you are trying to sell. A quick upgrade to your kitchen can add value to your home without breaking your wallet. Here are some budget friendly tips on how to renovate your kitchen on a budget. 1. Paint! We have said it once and we will say it many times, painting something is the easiest and cheapest way to make an old room look new. Paint is like makeup to a house. It covers up imperfections and makes the room look fresh and new. You can paint an accent wall, the whole kitchen, the baseboards, the ceiling, or your cabinets! Whatever you paint, it will immediately make your kitchen look brand new. If you don’t want to paint, you can invest in some wallpaper or contact paper to give your kitchen some character! 2. Accessorize You may be thinking, why would I accessorize my kitchen if all I do is ...

Living rooms… We spend so much time in them that neglecting to update it would be a mistake. It would also be a mistake because you would be missing out on so much added home value! We have researched the best ways to update your living room to add value to your home, and don’t worry, they’re also budget friendly! 1. Paint, you guessed it! Paint will always be your best friend when selling a home. Neutral colors are the best colors to use when painting a room because they open up the space and they let the home buyer imagine what they could do to that space to make it theirs! 2. Change the Hardware Yes, believe it or not, there is hardware in your living room. Change out or paint over the light switch and outlet plates. Update the lighting. If you have weird lighting, you can install recessed lighting to make the room look brand new. You don’t really need to do much to these, but every little detail counts. 3. Install Hardwood Floors Hardwood floors are at the t...

Do you want to sell your house, but you’re not having any luck? The value is not the same as when you first bought it and there are plenty of factors that play into that. If you want to sell, you need to fix your home up a bit to add some value! Lucky for you, we have gathered some helpful tips to help you bump up the value on a budget. Home improvement and keeping up with your home is not the most fun thing, but seeing the value of your home increase after updating it sure does make all that hard work pay off. 1. Have Your Home Inspected You may tell yourself that you have thoroughly inspected your house and you don’t need to pay someone to tell you what you already know. Unfortunately, you may only see surface level problems while an inspector can find the nitty gritty details that can become huge problems over time. Home inspectors can help you find problems such as: Termites Deteriorating roofs Outdated electrical systems Hidden leaks Humidity issues Sure, you don’t reall...

Hoping to get a refund from your tax return? Many people intend to use their refund as a “forced savings plan” (essentially withholding extra taxes on purpose so that they get a larger refund at the end of the year, instead of being tempted to spend it during the year).  However, 42% of taxpayers who file their tax returns early end up using their funds to cover things like rent, food and utilities – catching up on expenses, rather than putting money away for savings. So, now if you don’t receive the refund you expected, or if you find yourself owing taxes, it can cause a lot of stress. Below are a few tips for putting your tax return to work for your financial health. 1. Focus and Get a Clear Picture of Your Financial Situation If you didn’t have a specific plan for the funds but typically depend on them for breathing room or extra cash, take a step back to focus and work to get a clear picture of your financial situation. A great place to start is with a simple budget work...

  Purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life, and it can be exciting and stressful. So, before you start driving around and looking for your dream house – get prepared and prequalified. Knowing what you want and what you can afford, and understanding what is required in the mortgage process will help you make a decision that’s right for you. Here are some helpful rules of thumb to keep in mind:  1. Understand Your Credit Ability Your first step is to obtain your free credit report. Check it for errors. Your estimated FICO credit score should be least 675, or better yet, over 700. If you have a lower score, your interest rate may be higher and it may be difficult to get an approval. If your score is low, we suggest that you work on improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage. Otherwise, your mortgage payment may be much higher. 2. Know Your Monthly Budget The next step is to create ...

Fake debt collection, identity theft and impostor scams are topping the list of fraud reported, and these scams seem to be on the rise. There were nearly 350,000 reports of impostor scams in previous year, which resulted in $328 million unrightfully paid to individuals posing as loved ones, government officials and more, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC received complaints of fraud from 2.7 million people. Florida, Georgia and Nevada had the highest number of fraud reports.  1. If someone calls you demanding money, hang up the phone. Most victims of fraud were contacted by phone. It is estimated that the average amount of money lost to over the phone scams was $720. The average amount lost to fraud was $429 while the average loss among military consumers was slightly higher, at $619. The median amount lost to impostors was $500 and the highest median loss was related to travel, vacations and timeshares, at $1,710.If you receive a call from anyone claiming ...