If you want to buy a home, you should know your credit score is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to qualifying for a mortgage. Lenders review your credit to see if you typically make payments on time, pay back debts, and more. Your credit score can also help determine your mortgage rate. An article from US Bank explains:
What To Know About Credit Scores Before Buying a Home
Topics: Mortgages / Home Equity
Tips for Keeping Your Tax Documents Organized
Preparing your taxes is easier when you have everything you need at your fingertips or accessible on your computer. Searching for receipts, records, or required documents will quickly erode your resolve and temperament when you’re trying to work through your taxes. Here are a few tips to help you organize your tax documents so you can make the...
Topics: Small Business, Financial Education
First Federal Bank Partners with Marion County School Board to Teach Financial Literacy to Students with Disabilities
First Federal Bank, in collaboration with Karen Mackey from the Marion County School Board and Advent Health Ocala, provided a unique one-day learning experience for a group of student interns with disabilities, aged between 18-22. The focus of this Advent Health Ocala supported one-year unpaid internship is to equip these students with real-world...
Topics: First Federal News
Is Expired Food Safe to Eat?
If you’ve ever gone into the refrigerator or your pantry to find a food item and found that it’s past the expiration date on the container, you’ve played the game of deciding whether to take your chances or err on the side of caution. Best-by, use-by, or sell-by dates don’t necessarily mean a food item is dangerous once they’re passed. By...
Topics: Lifestyle
Do's and Don'ts of Managing Your Business' Social Media Accounts
For better or for worse, your company’s social media posts can draw a lot of attention. However, a few smart practices can keep your brand looking good in the public eye. Here’s a look at what you should — and shouldn’t — do to maintain a healthy social media presence for your business:Do include a call-to-actionWhether you’re prompting readers...
Topics: Small Business
Tips for Paying Off Your Student Loan
Student loans can be a heavy financial burden. However, there are a few simple tips to help you chip away at your debt faster. Here’s a look at a few strategies to help you set yourself on a quicker path toward financial freedom:Go above the minimum paymentMaking a bigger monthly payment may require sacrificing some of your disposable income, but...
Topics: Financial Education
Weasel Words to Avoid in Marketing Materials
If you’re advertising your business, you need to make every word count. That’s why it’s important to understand what weasel words are, how they can dilute your messaging, and ways you can avoid them in favor of more direct and impactful language.What is a weasel word?HubSpot Sales Blog editor Leslie Ye explains weasel words are used in an effort...
Topics: Small Business
Strategic Tips for Buying Your First Home
Buyingyour first home is a big, exciting step and a major milestone that has the power to improve your life. As a first-time homebuyer, it's adreamyou can make come true, but there are some hurdles you'll need to overcome in today’s housing market – specifically the limited supply ofhomes for saleand ongoingaffordabilitychallenges.
Topics: Mortgages / Home Equity
Pros and Cons of Renting a Vacation Home
If you’re planning for an extended vacation, a top alternative to staying at a hotel is renting a vacation home. For some, the idea of living in another person’s home and having to do chores, like cooking and cleaning, can seem like the opposite of a vacation — but renting a home can come with a lot of perks that enhance the entire experience....
Topics: Lifestyle
First Federal Bank Introduces New Down Payment Assistance & Mortgage Product to Provide Homebuyers with Affordable Financing
The Down Payment Assistance is a second mortgage subsidy to assist borrowers who may be struggling with down payment obligations. The subsidy offers up to $7,500 to cover 100% of down payment and closing costs. Furthermore, eligible active duty and retired military personnel, reserves, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and educators...