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A new home for your growing family.  A three car garage. Downsizing. Whatever your reason for buying or refinancing your first or next home, the Union Plus^® Mortgage program with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is ready to help. The program delivers special home financing benefits that union members, their spouse (or domestic partner), parents, and children can take advantage of. 

And when you choose Wells Fargo, there's a better way to get a mortgage. You've got a team and a guide, a home mortgage consultant, who will take you all the way to closing.

We even give you a simplified way to manage the process. yourLoanTracker^SM lets you upload documents, get status updates and receive and sign important disclosures ... all online¹. From any computer, smartphone, or tablet, you'll see what's going on with your loan in real time. It's available for most loans, and you'll get access through your home mortgage consultant if yours is eligible. That's how we make the home loan process easier, your team and yourLoanTracker.

There are 4 main steps in the mortgage process, and the first is to Complete Your Application.

Start by connecting with a home mortgage consultant, who will help you understand and compare your loan options. Wells Fargo's exclusive PriorityBuyer^® preapproval letter gives you an estimate of how much you can borrow and a price range you're comfortable with. When you've found the right house, your home mortgage consultant will help you finish your application.

YourLoanTracker makes the next part a breeze. You'll have disclosures in minutes instead of waiting days to get them by mail. Right away you'll be able to see the terms and fees of your loan. Plus, you can send us supporting documents electronically: pay stubs, W2s, bank statements. Simply upload or take a picture, and it's all secure.

This brings us to Step 2, the Financial and Property Review. Your home loan processor and the rest of your team will look over your supporting documents to verify your application. If we need anything else from you, we'll let you know right away. We'll also order an independent appraisal to make sure the property value backs up the purchase price. Then, we send everything to the home loan underwriter.

Use yourLoanTracker to stay plugged into the process or see if there's anything you need to follow up on.

When everything's complete and you're approved, you'll get your final commitment letter from us, and be ready for step 3: Preparing to Close.

You're almost there ... just a few more things to take care of.

You'll need homeowners insurance, so be sure to check with your insurance company. We'll review your property title to make sure it's correct and schedule your closing date. At least three days before you close, check yourLoanTracker for your closing disclosure. You'll sign this later, so look it over carefully. It will tell you things like your final interest rate, monthly payment, and how much money you may need to bring to your closing. Your home mortgage consultant is available to answer any questions.

Now you're ready for step 4: Closing!

There will be three main players at your closing: you, your settlement agent, and a whole lot of documents. No worries, though; you've seen some of these in yourLoanTracker. And your settlement agent is there to walk you through them. When all the paperwork is done and you've paid any closing costs, you'll get your keys.

And after closing on a loan through the Union Plus Mortgage program, you’ll be eligible for special benefits that include receiving a My Mortgage Gift^SM award from Wells Fargo - $500 for buying a home or $300 for refinancing your home – for use at participating retailers and access to mortgage assistance through Union Plus in times of hardship such as layoff, disability or strike.³ Additionally, qualifying union member veterans can also complete an application with Union Plus to receive a $1,000 Mortgage Veteran’s Grant⁴ within 90 days of closing on a new primary home purchase through the program.  Terms and restrictions may apply. 

Learn more about the Union Plus Mortgage program, talk to a Union Plus Mortgage Specialist at 866-802-7307 or request a personal consultation. 

Say goodbye to a much-loved home and settle in quickly to a new place with these tips for transitioning.

How to Say Goodbye to Your Old Home

Take photos of it. Before everything is swept up into moving boxes, take photos of your home. Document each room, so you can revisit it later. If you have children, snap pictures of them, too, enjoying the house as usual: drawing at the kitchen table, playing in the garden, chilling in front of the TV. 

Snap it messy! Take pictures of your home on a typical day, when it’s not clean and tidy. This will provide a more meaningful record of your house and how you used it. You could arrange all these images in an album, with the address and the dates you lived there on the front. 

Leave your mark. Why not leave a little something of yourself behind before you move out? No, that does not mean a sink full of unwashed coffee mugs! Try something subtler. You could go for the classic time capsule, hidden in the attic. Or write a letter to the new owners, welcoming them to the house and explaining what you loved about it. 

Hold a goodbye party. Celebrate your home and the life it has given you with a goodbye party. It doesn’t matter if you’ve already started to pack — your guests can happily negotiate a few boxes. String up some lights, play some music and enjoy the house with the family and friends you’ve shared it with over the years. Don’t forget to raise a glass to your new home.

How to Settle Into Your New Home

Clean up. When you arrive in a new home, nothing looks, feels or even smells the same way, which can be unsettling. So start by cleaning surfaces, floors and inside cupboards with some familiar, fresh-scented products to help make the place feel like yours.

Get fresh. Fling open the windows on the first day, too, to air out the rooms and freshen up the whole house. In the evening, light a few scented candles.

Grab a few goodies. Piles of moving boxes and empty rooms do not help a house feel like a home, so treat yourself and your new place to a few goodies that will make it feel special. Arrange some fresh flowers, bought at the store on the way to the house or picked from the garden, or buy quality hand soap or a few new towels. 

Don’t forget the pets! Dogs and cats may also take a while to settle into a new home, so try to ease the transition for them, too. When you arrive at your new home, shut the cat in a single room for safety, with water, the litter tray and its bed. You can let your cat out at the end of the day to explore, but confine it to a few rooms so it doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Cats should be kept inside the house for a week or so to prevent them from trying to return to your old home.

Do right by your dog. You should introduce your dog to the new house. Keep your dog on a leash and take it around the key rooms, one at a time, allowing it to sniff and explore, but under your supervision. Point out where its bed is and even keep upper floors out of bounds at first, so it doesn’t feel overwhelmed by its new territory.

Personalize the place. Paint a wall, hang photos or buy some new blinds. Even if the rest of the redecorating will take months, a few small tweaks can really help you start to stamp your personality on your new home.

Host a housewarming. Sharing your new home with family and friends can help you bond with it, so host a party — no gifts required. You might like to invite new neighbors, too, as a good chance to get to know them, or simply keep it small and intimate.

Ready to sell or buy a home? Check out the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program. You could get $500 for every $100,000 in home value if you use a real estate agent approved by SIRVA to sell or buy a home.*

Washington, D.C. – Union Plus recently awarded $170,000 in scholarships to 108 students representing 34 unions. This year’s group of scholarship recipients includes university, college and trade or technical school students from 31 states plus the District of Columbia.

The Union Plus Scholarship Program, now in its 28th year, awards scholarships based on outstanding academic achievement, personal character, financial need and commitment to organized labor's values. The program is offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation, supported in part by contributions from the provider of the Union Plus Credit Cards. Applicants do not need to be a credit cardholder to apply for the scholarship.

"When I see the dedication that these scholarship recipients display, I know the future of the labor movement is strong,” said AFL-CIO President and Union Plus Board Chairman Richard Trumka. “I'm so proud that the Union Plus Scholarship Program enables deserving students to pursue diverse educational opportunities and has helped 3,000 union members and their families achieve their dreams of a higher education.”

Since starting the program in 1991, Union Plus has awarded more than $4.5 million in educational funding to more than 3,000 union members, spouses and dependent children. Union Plus Scholarship awards are granted to students attending a two-year college, four-year college, graduate school or a recognized technical or trade school. The selection process is very competitive and this year over 7,100 applications were received from 65 unions, all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories, representing an almost 20% increase in applications over 2018. Visit unionplus.org/scholarship for applications and information about benefit eligibility.

“The entire team here at Union Plus is so proud to be able to offer this scholarship program to help union family members offset the high cost of college education” said Mitch Stevens, President of Union Plus. “This year’s group of 108 winners are all incredibly talented, motivated, and deserving students taking an important step to further their education and build the foundation for future success.”

In addition to the scholarship program, Union Plus offers the Free College Program in partnership with AFSCME, which makes it possible for union members and their families to earn an associate degree completely online at no cost. Union Plus also provides a wide range of money-saving programs including discounts on wireless services from AT&T, the only nationwide unionized wireless carrier, significant savings at six national car rental companies, special offers for travel and recreation, and more. Union Plus also offers a Credit Card Program¹ and Mortgage Program, both of which feature Hardship Assistance Grants² for eligible participants. Visit unionplus.org to learn more.

Visit unionplus.org/scholarship to apply for the 2020 Union Plus Scholarship. 

When selling your home, it’s important to think about your prospective buyers and how you should market differently to each group. Even if you think your home would be better suited for a baby boomer or retiree, you might be surprised to find out your home could be attractive to a single Millennial. Here’s how your Millennial marketing plan might need to be updated.

Highlight Certain Features

Millennials are looking for features that are a little different than baby boomers. For instance, they are looking for:

• Open floor plans
• Ranch style homes
• Media rooms
• Hardwood or tile floors

Where as baby boomers might be looking things like:

• Two-car garages
• Storage
• Large kitchens

If you have these types of features in your home, you should be sure to play them up in your marketing for each group.

Location, Location, Location

Your neighborhood is also really important because Millennials care about convenience. They are looking for a location that offers them easy access to everything and many times location will be the determining factor in a buying decision.

Market Differently

Millenials are heavy online users. When building your marketing plan, think about using social media, websites and mobile technology to reach this audience. Baby boomers are increasingly online, but may be able to be reached in more traditional ways. For instance, word-of-mouth, relationships and newspaper advertising might be a way to target this group.

Be intentional about creating a marketing plan that targets these two very different groups and you will have the best shot at getting these groups interested in your home.

If you’re ready to sell or purchase a home, check out the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program. You could get $500 for every $100,000 in home value if you use a real estate agent approved by SIRVA.*

Learn what happens in each instance, and how to coordinate your transition.

If you’re buying a home while selling your current house, there’s a good chance your closing dates won’t exactly align. How can you deal with selling your home before buying a new one, or vice versa? 

Here Are Some Ideas:

If You Buy a Home Before Selling Your Current One:

The good news is you’ll immediately have a place to move into, but you may not have enough money saved for the down payment for the new ones.  Some options:

• Tap into savings. Utilize money from savings or non-retirement investments, immediately replacing it once your home sells. 
• Rent your existing home. Use the rent to go toward your old mortgage. With this option, you will still need money for the down payment of your new home. 
• Add a sale and settlement contingency to your contract. This states you can’t close on the new house until the current house sells. If you come away with money from your home sale, you could put it toward your down payment. 

If You Sell Your Home Before Buying a New One:

You’ll know how much you have for a down payment, and it may be easier to qualify for a new mortgage since you’re not carrying debt from your old home. But selling first means you may not have anywhere to live after closing. Some options:

• Stay with family or friends or rent an apartment. 
• Rent-back agreement. You’d negotiate and pay rent to the new owners in order to stay in your home. However, there may be liability issues involved so you may want to discuss this option with an attorney. 

Ready to buy or refinance a home? Contact the loan officers at the Union Plus Mortgage Company, a union-owned company for all your home financing needs.

Buying a new home is not a far-fetched idea when you get the financing and support you need. You
could be well on your way with:

Special benefits for Union members — The Union Plus^® Mortgage program, with financing provided by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, features access to benefits designed for union families. Keep in mind that extended family (parents and children of union members) may be eligible for certain mortgage benefits.

• After closing on a loan through the Union Plus Mortgage program, you’ll be eligible to receive a My Mortgage Gift^SM award from Wells Fargo - $500 for buying a home or $300 for refinancing your home, for use at participating retailers.¹
• Access to mortgage assistance through Union Plus in times of hardship such as layoff, disability or strike.² 

As little as 3% down — on a fixed-rate loan, and receive $750 off closing costs when you complete an approved homebuyer education course. Even if you’re not buying your first home, this loan option is available to you. A Wells Fargo Home Mortgage consultant will tell you more about the yourFirst Mortgage® option, including loan amount, loan type, and property type eligibility requirements.

Please keep in mind that mortgage insurance will be required, which increases the cost of the loan and will increase your monthly payments. A Wells Fargo Home Mortgage consultant will explain the options available, so you can choose what works for you.

Someone by your side — you’ll have personalized support every step of the way, with guidance and information to meet your unique needs.

A simpler way to apply — with an online mortgage application that offers step-by-step guidance, connects with your financial accounts so you can import information, and allows you to upload documents quickly and conveniently.

If you have any questions about the homebuying process, loan options, or would like a free prequalification, contact a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage consultant today at 1-866-802-7312. We’re here to support you every step of the way. And if you are considering refinancing, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage has options for you too. 

Many people enjoy the Easter decorations, baskets and gatherings that fill their homes with friends and family. If you have pets, it’s very important to keep them in mind as you prepare for the festivities! Plastic Easter eggs and grass, chocolate, lilies and several other holiday treats can be dangerous for pets if ingested. 

Sharing Food and Treats with Pets

An Easter basket filled with treats is very tempting for some pets. Most pets are filled with curiosity and feel the need to investigate anything new in their environment. Your dog may eat the entire contents of a basket and have the hard pieces of a plastic egg break off and get lodged in their throat. Your cat may chew on plastic grass contained with the Easter basket and cause internal damage when accidentally ingesting.

Please make sure to keep Easter baskets out of the reach of your pets to prevent poisoning or a choking hazard. Children should make sure to keep the baskets in their rooms with the doors closed or parents should keep them up high out of reach.

Easter Lillies

Easter lilies are extremely toxic for cats. Ingestion of even a small portion of the plant can cause lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, seizures and even death. It’s really best to avoid this plant altogether if you have a cat, since cats are natural climbers and will be able to access the Lily even if you put it up high.

Ways to Help Your Pet’s Allergies

If you do experience an emergency with your pet outside of your vet’s regular office hours, please contact the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 or your local emergency veterinary hospital or center.

If you are a current Pets Best policy holder, you can also utilize the 24/7 Vet Pet Helpline powered by WhiskerDocs. This service is included in all policies.

Learn more about the Union Plus Pet Insurance plan,
powered by Pets Best

It’s always nice to actually make money when selling your home, but some of us aren’t always in that position. Here are some cheap and easy tips for how you can spruce up your home and get top dollar at the closing table.

Do Some Yard Work, First Impressions Count

• Keep the lawn mowed, preferably on the diagonal
• The color yellow sells – plant yellow flowers such as marigolds along the walkway or by the front door
• Wash the exterior windows
• Paint or replace the front door and buy new hardware
• Power spray the house to get rid of dirt and cobwebs
• Buy a new welcome mat for the front steps
• Paint or replace the mailbox

Declutter

• Remove all personal photographs from the tables and walls. Patch holes in the walls or hang non-personalized artwork over the existing nails
• Pack up your bookcase (you’re going to move anyway)
• Clean out the closets and store non-essential items

Clean, Clean, Clean…Your Kitchen

• If new granite is out of your budget, consider either re-grouting the kitchen counter tiles, which is surprisingly cost effective, or covering them with granite tiles instead of granite slab
• For wood cabinets, stripping the finish and re-staining or painting will save you more money than re-surfacing the cabinets
• Buy new knobs and/or pulls for the cabinet doors
• Replace a worn kitchen faucet
• Buy a new kitchen sink basket strainers
• Consider installing kitchen pendant lights over the sink

With these quick and budget-friendly tips, you’ll be on your way to maximizing the value of your home and one step closer to the closing table.

If you’re considering a home purchase or sale, work with a SIRVA-preferred real estate agent and earn cash back after closing*.  Contact us today at 800-284-9756.

Find out whether your homeowners insurance policy covers mold removal.

Q. What provisions in a typical homeowners insurance policy covers mold removal? Is an extra premium required?

A. Generally, mold, fungus and dry or wet rot are covered only if they result from damage to something caused by a covered peril. However, if mold starts to grow in your home because of improper or inadequate home maintenance, the policy does not provide coverage.

Your homeowners policy tackles mold issues in many instances. Let’s say you are on vacation when a drain backs up, soaking your carpeting. By the time you discover the damage a week later, mold has started to grow. If your policy has Back Up of Sewer, Drain and Sump Pump Coverage, MetLife Auto & Home pays the costs to repair or replace the carpeting—and clean any mold—up to the insurance limit. In some states, Back Up coverage is optional; in others it’s automatically provided. Check your policy’s declarations to confirm whether you have this valuable coverage and the limit on how much it pays. Various limits, from $2,000 to $250,000, are offered in nearly all states.

The presence of mold makes even the simplest situation complicated; coverages and limits vary from state to state. Contact your MetLife Auto & Home representative for specific answers relating to your policy.

Union members can get multi-policy discounts on home and auto insurance* with SnapQuote® offered by MetLife Auto & Home®. Call 1-855-666-5797 or click to see how SnapQuote can help.

Whether your mom has a secret mattress stash of money she’s been saving for your first home, or if you made a special request to your wedding guests to forego the toasters and instead give money toward your new love nest, gift funds can be a big help when it comes to buying a home. Although utilizing gift funds for a down payment on a new home is very common, many don’t realize that the source of the gift is an important factor when going through mortgage financing. There are some things to be mindful of in the process to ensure as a buyer you receive the funds in such a way to satisfy lender guidelines.

The scrutiny by lenders around gift funds is to ensure you are not “borrowing” funds which could, in turn, add to your indebtedness. 
Although cash gifts are most often seen given to first-time home buyers, other buyers ‘moving up’ will occasionally use them as well. The extra cash may be desired to help reach a 20% down threshold which could translate to better interest rates as well as no private mortgage insurance (PMI) which has become quite costly in recent years.

When a borrower qualifies through Fannie Mae guidelines for a conventional loan and has FNMA Desktop Underwriter (DU) approval, often the entire down payment can come from gift funds from family. In the past FNMA has required a borrower to have at least 5% of their own funds into the transaction. FHA loans also allow for all of the minimum down payment of 3.5% to be gift; however, there are some additional guidelines around exactly who can give the gift.
It’s important to know how to structure your gift funds to be sure that you are able to meet lender guidelines.

For instance, a gift letter will be a part of the required documentation requested by your lender. The letter should ultimately be short and simple. Typically, the lender will ask that a borrower include the following information: 

• Address of property to be purchased
• Amount of gift
• Relationship of the gifter and giftee (should be a relative)
• Declaration that this is a gift and does not need to be repaid

Outside of the basic gift letter there are a few other things to keep in mind: 

• Make copies of the front and back of each check. Your lender will need it. 
• Deposit your gift check in an actual brick & mortar bank versus via a smartphone. This process may seem archaic to some, but it helps with the paper trail. 
• Keep a copy of the deposit slip. You may be asked to provide it for the underwriter.
• The gifted check should go into the same account you are using for your closing. The last thing you need is to have to run around and provide new bank statements right before closing.
• If the gifter is shifting funds around in order to give the gift, ask them to make sure there is a clear paper trail. It may need to be verified.

When you know in advance that you will be using gift funds to help with your down payment, be prepared to document it for your mortgage company. 

If you’re ready to purchase a new home and would like to start earning cash back with a SIRVA referred agent, contact us today at 800-284-9756.