People Helping People: Why the Credit Union Difference Still Matters October 14, 2026 Home Buying There’s a reason the Credit Union philosophy has endured for generations. At its heart, it’s pretty simple: put people first. That idea feels especially meaningful as Credit Unions around the world prepare to celebrate International…
How to Save Money on Your Mortgage When Rates Are High September 29, 2026 Home Buying The interest rate gets most of the attention, but it's only one piece of what a mortgage costs. The lender you choose, the fees you agree to, and how you manage the loan after closing…
One-Time Close Construction Loans: Build Your Dream Home Without the Extra Headaches September 22, 2026 Home Buying You've sketched the floor plan, saved inspiration photos, and found the perfect piece of land. Now comes the big question: How do you finance a home that doesn't exist yet? Traditional construction financing may involve…
House vs. Condo: Which Homeownership Path Fits Your Lifestyle? September 15, 2026 Home Buying Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make, but before you start comparing mortgage options or scrolling listing sites, there's another important question to answer: Do you want a house or…
The Inevitable Oops: Why You Need a Home Repair Fund September 8, 2026 Home Maintenance Owning a home is a great investment and incredibly rewarding in many ways. The other side of the coin is when an expensive repair to your home is needed, which means homeownership can occasionally be…
Conventional Mortgages: Why the Down Payment and Rate Shopping Are Worth the Effort July 21, 2026 Home Buying Many buyers will end up with a conventional mortgage for their home, especially if it’s not their first home. It’s the standard home loan: not backed by a government program like FHA or VA, and…
Pre‑Qualification vs. Pre‑Approval: Why the Difference Matters More Than You Think May 18, 2026 Home Buying If you’ve spent any time scrolling through home listings, you’ve probably seen two similar-looking terms pop up: pre‑qualification and pre‑approval. They sound interchangeable. They’re not. In today’s market, where sellers want certainty and buyers want…
What “First-Time Homebuyer” Really Means, And Why It Applies to More People Than You Think May 5, 2026 Home Buying If you’ve ever assumed a first-time homebuyer is someone purchasing a home for the very first time, you’re not alone, but the actual definition is far more flexible. In fact, it may open doors for…
Community Champion Loan: More Than a Thank You for Those Who Serve April 22, 2026 Home Buying If you’re an educator, healthcare professional, first responder or military member, you give your best every day to help others. At Mortgage Center, we think you deserve a mortgage that helps you, too. That’s why…
Things to Know About a Loan Estimate (Beyond the Usual Talking Points) April 6, 2026 Home Buying The Loan Estimate (LE) is more than a stack of numbers, it’s a standardized, legally required snapshot that lets you compare mortgage offers side by side with true clarity. It exists so you don’t have…
Buying a Home This Year? Here’s What 2026 Buyers Should Know March 9, 2026 Home Buying Spring has always been “homebuying season,” but 2026 isn’t following old rules. Yes, flowers will bloom, For Sale signs will reappear and open houses will smell mysteriously like cookies, but this year’s market has its own personality. If you’re planning to…
Why Homeownership Still Matters for Long Term Wealth February 17, 2026 Home Buying For generations, buying a home has been one of the most reliable ways for families to build wealth. That remains true today, even in a market that feels more complex, competitive and fast-moving than ever.…
ARM Loans Have Evolved Since 2008: What Homebuyers Should Know November 25, 2025 Home Buying If you’ve been house hunting lately, you’ve probably seen Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs) making a comeback. For those who lived through the housing crisis of 2008, you might be wondering: Is an ARM still risky? Here’s…
When Is It a Good Time to Refinance Your Mortgage? November 22, 2025 Refinancing Refinancing your mortgage is a practical way to help make your home loan better achieve your financial goals. Depending on your situation, it could help you lower your payment, pay off your home sooner, or…
Understanding the 15-Day Grace Period for Credit Dings: What It Means for Your Mortgage Journey November 10, 2025 Home Buying When you're applying for a mortgage, your credit score matters — but so does how it's calculated. One of the lesser-known, yet incredibly helpful, features of the credit scoring system is the 15-day grace period for credit inquiries. If you're shopping for a mortgage, this…
FHA vs. Conventional: Which Mortgage Is Right for First-Time Homebuyers? October 21, 2025 Home Buying Buying your first home is a big deal. When it comes to financing, the alphabet soup of mortgage options can feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. Two of the most common mortgage…
What Not to Do (and What to Do) After Getting Pre-Approved For a Mortgage October 13, 2025 Home Buying Getting pre-approved is a huge step in your mortgage journey. Once your income, credit, debts and assets have been reviewed and verified, you can rest easy knowing your home loan goals are within reach. One…
End of year tax documents are now available! January 6, 2025 Member Information Your 2025 year-end tax forms are available to view online! Here’s the scoop: Electronic Copies: These are now available through eStatus. If you're not already signed up to receive your end of year tax forms electronically, click here to see how to…
Understanding Private Mortgage Insurance November 19, 2024 Home Buying There’s an important number when it comes to home loans: 20%. This is typically the down payment you’ll need to cover to get what’s called a “conventional” mortgage to buy a home. The bank loans…
Mortgage Rate Lock vs Floating: Deciding When To Set Your Interest Rate September 24, 2024 Home Buying Picture this: You've found the house, the one with the perfect backyard for your future golden retriever and a kitchen that would make Gordon Ramsay weep tears of joy. Time to get pre-approved for a mortgage! Fairly…
Why Lower Interest Rates Don’t Always Equal Lower Housing Prices August 27, 2024 Home Buying Let’s start with the good news: Interest rates are already starting to come down a bit, and we’re seeing signals that rates will be coming down even further this year. We’ve previously discussed what factors can…
Tapping Your Home’s Equity With a Cash-Out Refinance: A Strategic Financial Tool for Homeowners August 7, 2024 Home Equity With mortgage interest rates still hovering well above the 3% range we were seeing just a few years ago, homeowners might not have refinancing their mortgage at the top of their mind. For those who…
HomeReady Mortgages: A Great Alternative to FHA Loans April 11, 2024 Loan Products How the HomeReady Loan Program Can Help High home prices have continued to persist, and we can’t blame anyone for starting to feel like the dream of home ownership is starting to slip away. However,…
4 Reasons Credit Unions Are Better Than Banks April 9, 2024 Home Buying There’s a lot to love about credit unions! As a CUSO, or Credit Union Service Organization, we’re owned by credit unions and we’ll admit our opinion is a tiny bit biased. We really think the…
What’s the Deal with Fixed Rate Mortgages? April 9, 2024 Home Buying Fixed rate mortgages stand as a cornerstone in the world of home financing Offering stability and predictability to homeowners in an often volatile economic landscape, this financial product allows borrowers to lock in an interest…
Learn More About the PMI Saver Program April 3, 2024 Home Buying We’ve mentioned before how important it is to figure out where the money to close your mortgage is coming from. Between the closing costs, taxes and insurance, and especially the down payment, coming up with…
What Do I Need To Apply For A Mortgage? March 20, 2024 Home Buying Recently, we’ve given prospective homeowners some advice on how to get pre-qualified to start shopping for their next home. That was basically a scrimmage – now it’s time to get ready for the real game.…
What You’ll Need To Get Pre-Approved For a Mortgage March 5, 2024 Home Buying Homeownership has been branded as part of the “American Dream” for decades. Yet, this dream quickly feels like a nightmare for lots of first-time home buyers (or maybe it’s been a decade or three) that…
Tips For Keeping Up With Regular Home Maintenance December 29, 2023 Home Maintenance Most homeowners understand the importance of performing regular maintenance to their house, but sometimes the reasons for doing it can feel a bit abstract. I know it can start to feel like an endless series…
How to Prepare for Unexpected Home Repairs December 28, 2023 Home Equity Virtually everyone who has lived in an apartment, and then purchased a home, has had this experience: You’re hanging out in your new house, everything is going great, and then something expensive breaks. Maybe your…
Dealing With Holiday Debt December 14, 2023 Home Equity The holidays have never exactly been easy on the wallet, but the past few years have been especially rough. If you're worried that you might have overspent a bit last year, at least you can…
When MIGHT mortgage rates start to go down? October 5, 2023 Home Buying Ah, the million-dollar question – “When will mortgage rates go down?” If only I had a crystal ball to answer that. (And hey, if you’ve got one, send it my way.) While I can’t predict the future,…
Mortgage Center’s President & CEO, Ken Martin Announces Upcoming Retirement January 20, 2023 Member Information Southfield, Michigan – December 15, 2022 - Mortgage Center’s President/CEO Ken Martin has announced plans to retire after 9 years leading the Credit Union Service Organization. Martin said he plans to step down in early…
Joshua Thompson steps in as new CEO of Mortgage Center, Ken Martin retires January 20, 2023 Member Information Southfield, Michigan – January 20, 2023 - Mortgage Center announces current Chief Operating Officer, Joshua Thompson, as the new President and CEO of the Michigan-based Credit Union Service Organization. Thompson will succeed current President and CEO,…
First-Time Home Buyer’s Guide to Down Payments November 11, 2022 Home Buying Buying your first home is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that takes a lot of research and preparation. One crucial point to consider is your down payment — the sum of money you pay for your home.…
What is an ARM Loan? June 15, 2022 Home Buying You may have noticed a resurgence in the popularity of Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans recently. They’re a great option for members to save on their monthly payments, especially in a rising rate environment. Whether it’s…
5 Things to Know About Financing a Fixer-Upper April 28, 2022 Home Buying If you're looking to buy a home, you have several options. Popular choices are move-in-ready homes and fixer-upper homes. With a move-in-ready home, you can move in right away without making major renovations. On the…
Beginners Guide to Kitchen Renovation Projects April 26, 2022 Home Buying One of the most common home renovation projects is a kitchen remodel. The kitchen is the heart of the home — where you prepare delicious meals and gather with loved ones. If you've been living…
How To Finance the Construction of Your Dream Home April 19, 2022 Home Buying Building your dream home is an exciting time. You have the opportunity to customize a home from the ground up, choosing everything from the floor plan to the bathroom tile to the location and truly…
What to Expect During A Home Inspection November 17, 2021 Home Buying Studies show Americans buy approximately 5 million houses nationwide each year, a trend that's remained consistent since 2000. As part of their purchase contracts, 84% of homebuyers request a home inspection. Among these home inspections, 86% of them…
The Differences Between Home Equity Loans, HELOCs and Cash-Out Refinances October 25, 2021 Home Equity When it comes to borrowing money, using the equity you’ve built in your home can be a smart decision. You can gain equity when your home increases in value or by paying down your mortgage…
How To Save Money on Your Mortgage June 1, 2021 Home Buying When you’re buying a new home, every dollar counts. From the cost of the home to new furniture to closing costs, you have a lot of spending to do in a short amount of time.…
When Should I Refinance My Home? May 10, 2021 Refinancing Refinancing is a great way to save money on your mortgage, pay it off sooner, and much more. Before you get started, you should decide whether it’s right for you. Discover why you should refinance, when…
What You Should Know Before Buying A Vacation Home May 3, 2021 Home Buying Thinking about buying a vacation home? Vacation homes are a great way to give yourself an easy escape when you need a change of scenery. However, they are still homes. It’s important to consider all…
14 tips that will make your moving day a breeze October 28, 2020 Home Buying Moving is no small task. Picking up all your belongings and bringing them somewhere else requires thoughtful planning, preparation, and execution. If you’re worried about your next move, check out these tips so you can…
5 unique ways to research a neighborhood before you move in October 28, 2020 Home Buying You’ve finally found a home you really like. It’s the perfect size with the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms. It’s right in your budget, but there’s one problem with it: You’re unfamiliar with the neighborhood.…
Buying vs. Renting: Pros and Cons September 30, 2020 Home Buying Should you buy or rent a home? It really comes down to what makes the most sense for your situation, budget and plans for the future. Here are some of the pros and cons to…
6 Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out In A Hot Market August 10, 2020 Home Buying Today’s housing market is tough. Inventory is low and demand is high. To stay competitive, you need to make your offer stand out right from the beginning. Here are a few tips and tricks from…
Sending Sensitive Information and Email Security August 3, 2020 Member Information Email has been an essential form of communication for years. Practically everyone has an email address and with the mobile technology that exists today, accessing your email has never been easier. Unfortunately, it’s also easier…
Should You Refinance Your Home? June 30, 2020 Home Equity Everyone seems to be refinancing while interest rates continue to be at historic lows, but does it make sense for your situation? Below we have outlined some benefits and factors to consider when refinancing your…
What you need to know when buying your first home June 19, 2020 Home Buying Purchasing your first home is an exciting time. Whether you’re doing it as an investment into your future or to gain some financial independence, we’ve lined up some helpful tips to make the process even…
Getting Your Finances Ready for A Mortgage May 29, 2020 Home Buying The time has come for you to start looking for your dream home, but where should you start? We’ve put together a list of factors to consider and what you’ll need to find the perfect…
How Much Does a Home Remodel Really Cost? May 20, 2020 Home Maintenance Remodeling your home can be exciting, expensive, but oh so fulfilling. Maybe you’ve been dreaming of an updated kitchen in the house you want to buy, or new tile and fixtures for the bathroom in…
Budgeting For a Home: Everything You Need to Succeed May 14, 2020 Home Buying Get Your Free Home Budgeting Guide So you’re finally ready to purchase a home? That’s exciting news! You probably have your wish list – what style of home you like, what locations you prefer, etc.…
Home Equity Loans: What You Need to Know March 16, 2020 Home Equity Home equity loans are a great way to gain some extra cash for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other big purchases you’re looking to make. Like any loan, it’s important to understand how a home…
How Much Do You Need to Save For Your New Home? March 16, 2020 Home Buying Purchasing a new home requires money for your down payment, cash reserves, and all costs associated with processing your loan. Find out what you’ll need to pay, what kind of funds are acceptable, and when…
Help for Homeowners in Trouble March 13, 2020 Member Information We're here to help If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your mortgage payment, our Member Solutions Specialists may be able to help. As your mortgage lender, we will do everything in our power to help you…
Sign up to receive E-Statements Today March 11, 2020 Member Information Start receiving E-Statements with just a few simple steps: Watch the video below, or follow the written instructions provided, to enroll your account into receiving E-Statements. It takes just minutes to do: Log into your Mortgage Center online account. If…
Forms March 11, 2020 Member Information Servicing Forms: Automatic Payments (ACH Payments): Re-occurring automatic payments can be set up to withdraw from your designated account. You can find the enrollment form below or call 800-353-4449 and we would be happy to assist you.…
How To Make Sure You’re Ready To Purchase a New House March 9, 2020 Home Buying Buying a home is an exciting decision. From looking at open houses, to fantasizing about all the new ways you can lay out your new space, it can be a fun process. However, you need…
Understanding Your Home Appraisal March 9, 2020 Refinancing Appraisals are an important part of the mortgage process. They determine the value of your home in the current market and can affect the amount a lender issues you on your loan. Knowing what an…
