First Federal Bank Blog

When you're thinking about buying a home, your credit score is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle. Think of it like your financial report card that lenders look at when trying to figure out if you qualify, and which home loan will work best for you. As the Mortgage Report says:

The economy is top of mind for most Americans today. But if you are nearing or already in retirement, you may have extra concerns about running out of money. Have you saved enough? Are you spending more than you expected to? TheWeek.com has compiled some tips to help you keep your retirement secure:

When you think of aches and pains, the knees are a key body part that probably comes to mind. They are complicated and essential joints in our bodies, and a lot can go wrong with them, which has a negative impact on quality of life. Physical Therapist Dr. Carrie Jose offers these six tips to keeping your knees – and the rest of you – healthy: via ...

Over the past couple of years, a lot of people have had a hard time buying a home. And while affordability is still tight, there are signs it's getting a little better and might keep improving throughout the rest of the year. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

You probably hear a lot of talk about credit scores. But how much do you understand what one is, how it is calculated, and why it matters? MSN.com breaks it all down, and offers some helpful tips on boosting your score:

Attendance at America’s National Parks has been skyrocketing. In many cases, you need to make reservations months or even years in advance to see some of the most popular sites. If your family has been wanting to get out and enjoy these national treasures, the time to start planning is now. Sports Illustrated ranks the top parks and offers tips...

Mortgage rates have been one of the hottest topics in the housing market lately because of their impact on affordability. And if you’re someone who’s looking to make a move, you’ve probably been waiting eagerly for rates to come down for that very reason. Well, if the past few weeks are any indication, you may be getting your wish.

Buydowns: A Strategy for Lowering Interest Rates

1. Upfront Payment: Another party pays an upfront payment at closing.2. Interest Rate Reduction: In exchange for the upfront payment, First Federal Bank will lower the interest rate on the mortgage for a specified period. We do 3-2-1 buydowns, 2-1 buydowns, and 1-0 buydowns.A common buydown might be...

A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) is a popular way to turn home ownership into cash when you need it. You can turn the equity in your home into a line of credit that functions like a credit card. According to Business Insider, whether a HELOC is the right move for your finances depends on a few factors:

Believe it or not, it’s time for kids to head back to school. The To Do List can be long: get back into a routine, plan schedules, purchase supplies. But that’s not all you need to think about. The Main Street Daily News offers some important tips for keeping kids healthy as the new school year begins: