Realtor vs. For Sale by Owner [INFOGRAPHIC]

Share:

Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about new tips, insights, and products from First Bank.

First Bank may use this email address to contact you about products, services, and promotions.

You may be interested in...

What are 30-Year Mortgage Rates? If you are thinking about buying a home, you may be asking the question, “What are 30-year mortgage rates?” There are many ways to figure out the current average 30-year mortgage rates, but the best way to find out about rates near you is to ask a local mortgage lender, like First Bank. Get Competitive 30-Year Mortgage Rates at First Bank First Bank offers a variety of home loans with competitive mortgage rates, including a 30-year, fixed-rate conventional loan. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are some of the most popular mortgages, as they provide homeowners with a fixed interest rate and lower monthly payments. Benefits and features of First Bank’s 30-Year Mortgage include: Your interest rate and monthly principal and interest (P&I) payments remain the same for the life of your loan Predictable monthly P&I payments allow you to budget more easily Protection from rising interest rates for the life of the loan May be a good choice if you plan to stay in your home for a long time Tips for Paying Off Your 30-Year Mortgage A 30-year mortgage does not have to be a 30-year commitment. Plenty of people pay off their mortgages early and you can too. Money Smart Guides provides some great tips for how to do it. Use tax refunds. If you get a sizable tax refund each spring, put it toward your mortgage. This could be the equivalent of making six months worth of mortgage payments at once. Pay extra early. The early payments of a mortgage go mostly to interest while the later stages involve more principal. Paying hundreds extra now can save you thousands later. Pretend to refinance. In other words, calculate how much it would require you to pay each month to pay off your 30-year mortgage in 15 years or 20 years and commit to it. Round up payments. Bump up your monthly payments to the nearest round number. You won’t notice the missing money now but you will when it shaves years off your mortgage. Note: some lenders penalize homeowners for prepaying their loan. Before you prepay your loan, it is best to research prepayment penalties in your state. Find a Good Place to Start What good are 30-year mortgage rates if you don’t find a 3 min read

What Are 15 Year Mortgage Rates? What are 15-year mortgage rates? It seems like a long time doesn’t it? But when you really think about it, 15 years is nothing. Think of all the things you’ve done, the places you’ve been and the people you’ve met in the last 15 years. Where does it all go? For a different perspective, consider that the average American will spend nine years of their life watching television, four years driving a car and 2.5 years cooking. Add it all up and in the time you spend doing those three things you could’ve paid off a 15-year mortgage. First Bank’s Mortgage Know-How center has a number of resources for anyone wanting more information about what 15-year mortgage rates are. About 15-Year Mortgage Rates You can call our mortgage help center at 1-844-855-2262 to seek answers to your questions or expert guidance Use our mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly payments for a 15-year mortgage, determine if you should rent or buy or calculate refinancing savings Complete a loan application online if you are seeking 15-year mortgage rates Our Mortgage Know-How center has articles, tips and guides for first-time buyers, experienced buyers, refinancers and builders You can go online to print necessary forms, check your loan status or contact us for information regarding your loan Get a free consultation with one of our loan officers With more than 100 locations across the Carolinas, there’s a First Bank loan expert near you who will be happy to get the loan process started. With First Bank, you’re sure to find the right mortgage option for your needs.* We offer conventional loans of both adjustable and fixed rates. We have jumbo loans, government loans such as rural housing, FHA loans, construction loans for builders and professional loans for doctors, CPAs, and lawyers. So if you’re seeking 15-year mortgage rates, let First Bank be your time machine and watch the years go by. Loans subject to credit approval. ——— Sources: Distractify: http://news.distractify.com/dark/trivial-facts/astounding-facts-about-how-we-actually-spend-our-time/ 2 min read

Why Good Business Credit is Essential for the Success of your Business 1. Better Financing Options When your business has strong credit, it becomes easier to secure loans, lines of credit, and other forms of financing. Not only will you have access to more options, but lenders are also likely to offer you more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates and higher credit limits. Lower interest rates can save your business a substantial amount of money over time, while better terms provide flexibility in managing cash flow, covering operational expenses, or investing in growth. Good business credit reduces the risks for lenders, meaning they are more willing to trust your business’s financial stability. This trust is rewarded through more affordable financing options, which can play a significant role in sustaining and expanding your operations. 2. Higher Credit Limits for Greater Financial Flexibility One of the advantages of good business credit is the ability to secure higher credit limits. For business owners, this is crucial in managing cash flow, especially during times when expenses fluctuate or sales are seasonal. A higher credit limit ensures that your business has the flexibility to cover operational expenses, such as payroll, inventory, or other costs, without having to worry about hitting a credit ceiling too early. Additionally, with a higher credit limit, businesses can take on larger projects, invest in new equipment, or pursue larger contracts without running into immediate cash flow issues. 3. Favorable Vendor and Supplier Terms Suppliers and vendors often evaluate a business’s creditworthiness before extending payment terms. A company with good business credit is more likely to be offered favorable terms, such as net 30 or net 60, which means you have 30 or 60 days to pay your invoice. These terms improve your company’s working capital by giving you the flexibility to pay for products and services after generating revenue from them. Being able to negotiate better terms with suppliers can also allow you to take advantage of bulk purchasing or discounts, further strengthening your profit margins. On the other hand, businesses with poor credit may face stricter payment terms, which can lead to cash flow problems down the road. 4. Lower Insurance Premiums Many business insurance providers look at your company’s credit score when determining premiums. A strong credit score can help reduce the cost of insurance, lowering one of your regular business expenses. Insurance companies view businesses with good credit as being less risky, which leads to lower premiums. For small businesses, every dollar saved is important. Lower insurance premiums mean more capital to reinvest into the business, whether that’s for new equipment, employee training, or marketing initiatives. 5. Business Growth and Expansion Opportunities Strong business credit doesn’t just help you manage daily operations—it also positions your company for growth. With easier access to capital, you can seize opportunities to expand operations, purchase new equipment, hire additional staff, or even launch new product lines. Whether you’re opening a second location or scaling your team, business credit is often the foundation of these major moves. Businesses that can quickly access financing without hurdles are better equipped to take advantage of growth opportunities when they arise. On the other hand, businesses with poor credit may struggle to find the capital they need, missing out on potential revenue and growth. 6. Building Reputation and Trust Having good business credit doesn’t just help with finances—it also signals to potential partners, investors, and customers that your business is financially stable and reliable. A company with strong credit is seen as a trustworthy partner in the marketplace, which can foster stronger relationships with clients and other businesses. Investors are also more likely to invest in a business with good credit, as it reflects sound financial management and lower risk. Similarly, customers often view financially stable businesses as more reliable, leading to increased trust and loyalty. 7. Separation of Personal and Business Finances Establishing and maintaining good business credit allows business owners to separate their personal and business finances. This separation is crucial because it helps protect personal assets in the event of any business-related financial issues. Without business credit, owners often rely on their personal credit to secure loans or credit for their businesses, which can blur the lines between personal and business liabilities. By keeping personal and business finances separate, you also reduce the chances of personal credit being affected by business downturns, which helps maintain financial health on both fronts. Next Steps When you’re ready to expand and grow your business, come talk to us at First Bank. We are dedicated to helping local businesses thrive. Whether you’re looking to improve your business credit or secure financing for expansion, our team is here to provide personalized support every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business succeed. 4 min read

ACH Positive Pay If you are a business owner, you should spend your time worrying about growing a successful business, not worrying about fraudulent transactions. That’s where ACH Positive Pay comes in. What is ACH Positive Pay? We’re glad you asked. What is ACH Positive Pay? ACH Positive Pay helps guard your business against unauthorized electronic activity. ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, which is a network that processes electronic payments. There are multiple benefits to using ACH Positive pay, such as: Payments are credited to your account so you won’t need to take checks to the bank ACH processing typically comes with fewer errors than collecting and depositing paper checks You can automate attempts to collect bad checks, so you won’t have to deal with the same check twice ACH Positive Pay at First Bank First Bank provides ACH Positive Pay that allows business to collect payments from their customers, make payments to their vendors, and deposit payroll funds into their employees’ bank accounts. We can provide full ACH Positive Pay, which means any transaction that does not meet your requirements would require your approval. Or we will send you an email each time an ACH transaction posts to your account. ACH Positive Pay is very user-friendly. Instead of having to go online to approve a payment or transaction, the system will call your phone and all you have to do is enter an authorization code to approve the payment. You’ll no longer have to go to the post office to mail checks, which will save you time and money. If your company has experienced check fraud loss and wants to reduce exposure to fraudulent transactions, First Bank’s ACH Positive Pay could be a smart investment for your company. Visit Your Local First Bank Today To learn more about ACH Positive Pay or see a demo of how it works, visit a First Bank branch near you. ——— Sources: NACHA: https://www.nacha.org/news/what-ach-quick-facts-about-automated-clearing-house-ach-network 2 min read

Realtor vs. For Sale by Owner [INFOGRAPHIC]

Ready to talk to an expert?

Ready to talk to an expert?

You may be interested in...