Jennifer has lived and breathed mortgages for the past 30+ years, working at all levels in the industry from mortgage department supervisor, underwriter and processor to her current role as a mortgage loan officer.

“My goal is to help as many families as possible obtain their goal of owning a home,” Jennifer says. “I love helping them realize their dreams!”

Jennifer recently returned to working in the South Haven after having spent the last year in St. Joseph.

“I love living in the country and working in South Haven!” she adds.

Jennifer and her husband live on a 41-acree Christmas tree farm and have two adult kids. She is a 4-H volunteer and works with South Haven Chamber’s Ambassador Group.

Jennifer serves Consumers’ South Haven office.

To speak with Jennifer, request a free consultation here.

Save time and money by maintaining these five things around your house.

If you could save hundreds of dollars on home repairs with the investment of a few minutes of time, would you do it? Here are five commonly overlooked maintenance tasks that lower your costs for energy, repairs and replacements.

Change the HVAC filter

The more your run your AC, the more dust, particles, pet dander and pollen your HVAC filter traps. Check the filter at least once a month and change when necessary.

The payoff: Better airflow allows the system to run more efficiently and means you’ll cut energy costs and extend the life of the system.

Test your sump pump

This one is so easy! Visually check if anything is blocking the float that switches the pump on. Pour in a bucket or two of water to ensure that the pump is working.

The payoff: Regular sump pump checks can detect problems before they turn into costly flooding.

Clean refrigerator coils

The coils on your refrigerator are designed to release heat. If they’re covered in dirt, dust and pet hair, they can’t do their job and the compressor will have to work harder. A $6 coil-cleaning brush and vacuum cleaner are all you need for this job. If you don’t know how to do it, here’s a quick tutorial.

The payoff: Clean coils will lower electricity costs and extend the life of your fridge.

Clear your gutters

Often, we think of fall as the only time to clean gutters, but spring can throw a lot of debris on the roof, too. (“Helicopter” maple seeds, we’re talking about you!) Now’s the time to clear out gutters and drains to make sure water is moving away from your house.

The payoff: Your foundation stays drier and your sump pump won’t run as much that saves money.

Give your water heater a little TLC

Flushing your hot water heater removes sediment that builds up in the tank and interferes with heating. Here’s a step-by-step how-to and a video. According to the Rheem water heater company, you only have to drain three to five gallons to flush the tank.

The payoff: Faster heating of the water and longer life for your hot water heater.

Many homeowners can easily tackle these tasks, however, if you can’t do them safely, call a professional.

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance land, homes and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

Commonsense, local underwriting is the foundation for sound home lending that helps borrowers and the economy.

A member recently wondered: Are zero-down home loans offered by Consumers repeating a pattern of lax lending rules that contributed to the economic crash of 2008? In a word, no. Our 0% Down Mortgage solution differs greatly from the lending excesses that led to the financial crash 10 years ago. Here are five reasons Consumers’ home loans are financially sound.

1. Local people make the decisions

Unlike the bad mortgages other lenders offered in the past, Consumers relies on highly-trained loan underwriters—who are on staff and in tune with our local real estate market—to evaluate loan requests. In the years leading up to the crash, most analysis was done by computer models and automated processes with very little human analysis.

2. Income is documented

At Consumers we require strict income documentation evidenced over a period of time. This is in contrast to taking the borrower’s word for their income, known as a “stated income loan”, which was very common among many lenders.

3. Commonsense review of credit behavior

Members who receive a 0% Down home loan must have good credit. This is demonstrated by an acceptable FICO score, plus a commonsense review of their credit behavior.

Consumers does not rely on a computer model of credit to determine an acceptable risk. An individual underwriter reviews credit patterns and payment history for each applicant.

4. Review of rental history

First-time borrowers must have a documented, acceptable rental history. This obligation closely resembles a mortgage payment. We look closely at large increases in rent payments versus the proposed mortgage payment to make sure borrowers are not overextended.

5. Consumers accepts 100% risk

Finally, but most importantly, Consumers retains 100% of the risk on our 0% Down mortgages. These loans are funded with credit union deposits and remain on the balance sheet until the loan is paid off.

Virtually all loans made before the crash were “securitized”, or sold by the originating lender in exchange for a large payment by entities on Wall Street that then transferred the loan to investors in the U.S. and internationally. The originating lender had zero risk in the transaction and no relationship was established outside of the single loan closing.

In short, our 0% Down program is a far superior product than what existed in 2008, and our strict processes allow us to serve many more members in a responsible and sustainable fashion.

Need a mortgage?

Our mortgage loan officers love working with all home buyers ­– including those who want a 0% Down mortgage to keep upfront expenses low. Give us a call at 800-991-2221 or send an email. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance land, homes and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

All loans subject to approval. Rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change and may vary based on credit worthiness, qualifications, and collateral conditions.

While many lenders avoid loans for empty land and acreage, Consumers helps members make their property dreams come true.  

Does this sound like you: You’ve long dreamt of living in a house out in the country. A place where you can connect with nature. Maybe have a horse barn and paddock.

Sometimes the best way to make your dream come true is to buy empty land and build exactly what you want. Before you jump in, here are some things you need to know about financing empty land.

Land loans are different from mortgages

Lending institutions do not treat lot loans like home mortgages. When lenders finance a home there’s much less risk. A property with a house is much easier to sell than an empty lot if a borrower doesn’t pay back the loan. To cover the higher risk of unimproved land some lenders require a down payment of up to 50 percent.

The Consumers advantage: local lending decisions

Down payments for Consumers land loans with low fixed rates can be as little as 20 percent. And, there’s no penalty for pre-payment.

Unlike a national or online bank, Consumers is part of your community. With knowledge of local land prices and a willingness to understand borrowers’ plans, we help many members with loans for unimproved property. All lending decisions are made locally by loan officers who live and work here.

Leverage a home you already own

The cash for a down payment doesn’t have to come out of your savings. If you already own a home, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) could be used.

A few things to keep in mind

By definition unimproved or raw land does not have added improvements. If you are planning to build, you’ll need to budget for a septic system or sewer hookup and utility connections. Plus, you’ll owe annual property taxes even if the land isn’t improved.

When considering a purchase of any land, do your homework. Investigate:

• Zoning – can the land be used the way you want to?
• Are there any property easements?
• Is there adequate cellphone service?
• What is the condition of the soil?
• Is there flooding potential?
• Is the land suitable for a well and septic system?
• What farm and other commercial operations are nearby?

Get personalized answers

If you have questions about lot loans, including current rates, give us a call at 800.991.2221 or send an email. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance land, homes and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

All loans subject to approval. Programs, rates, terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

The folks at MSU Extension know all about lawncare, and here are some of their best tips for a lush, healthy lawn.

Not so fast with fertilizer

Fertilizing first thing in the spring may green up the grass, but it’s not so good for developing a healthy root system. Early application of fertilizer triggers foliar growth that uses up the energy reserves stored in the roots. These reserves are what fuel root development and disease resistance. Wait to fertilize until the grass has started growing and needs to be mowed.

Reseeding tips

Kevin Frank from Michigan State University Extension offers these tips for reseeding damaged parts of your lawn:

• If you’ve applied grub insecticide, wait a week or two before putting down seed.
• Use a starter fertilizer with a nitrogen to phosphorus ratio of 1:1 or 1:1.5 to help get the seedlings going.
• Keep the seeded area moist until the turf is established. Depending on weather, you may have to water several times a day.
• Avoid use of herbicides for the season – tender seedlings don’t tolerate it well.
• Wait at least 60 days before the first mowing.

Crabgrass control

As with all things in nature, timing is everything. You want to get the pre-emergent in the soil before it warms up. Eighty percent of summer annual grasses such as crabgrass germinate when the soil consistently reaches 60-70 degrees F. If you’re not sure of your soil temperature, check out the this tracker used by golf courses and see the readings in your ZIP code. The best time to apply crabgrass pre-emergence products is when the soil is consistently 50-55 degrees in the top 2 inches of soil. Typically, this is about when the forsythia bloom.

Show pollinators a little love

A weed-free lawn eliminates plants that flower and that cuts down on food available to bees and other pollinators. Show pollinators a little love by planting flowering trees and shrubs, expanding flowerbeds or simply allowing flowers such as clover in the turf.

Got grubs?

A dead patch of lawn could indicate grubs. Get a shovel and dig up a few samples of surrounding turf about the size of a dinner plate. You only need to go about two inches deep. If you find white grubs (white, c-shaped and about ¾ of inch long) they are most likely the larvae of European chafers.

A healthy lawn with a strong root system and adequate rain or irrigation won’t be bothered by a few grubs. If you find you do need to use an insecticide, water thoroughly after application to get best results. Get the complete guide to grub control including which insecticides to use and when from the MSU Extension service here.

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance their homes and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

Use the 50-50 rule to decide if it’s time to repair or replace large appliances in your home.

Depending on how often you use large appliances like washers and oven ranges, they may last a few years or a decade or more. No one likes to get stuck with a broken machine. Here are guidelines on when to repair or replace. Plus, read about signs that your appliances may be nearing the end of their useful life.

Before you call it quits

If your appliance is less than a year old, it’s probably covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. If you paid for the appliance with your Mastercard® debit or credit card from Consumers, the manufacturer’s warranty may be extended by up to 12 months.

When to call it quits

Many folks go by the 50-50 rule. If the appliance has reached 50 percent of its expected life and it costs more than 50 percent of the cost of new, buy a new one.

Look for these signs that appliances will soon need repair or replacement:

Oven

Oven failures can start with underperformance. For example, a family favorite just doesn’t come out like it used to. Or, preheating takes longer than before.

A cracked glass door means heat escapes and food takes longer to bake.

Also, if you have an electric bill that’s higher than usual without explanation, it could be because of an oven malfunction.

Water heater

Leaks are an obvious sign that a water heater needs to be replaced. There are more subtle signs to look for too:

• Not enough hot water – you run out of water faster than before
• Noises ­– pops and bangs are a sign of mineral buildup that interferes with heating the water
• Changes in water quality ­– if hot water turns cloudy or smelly it’s sign of mineral buildup moving from the tank to your tap

Washing machine

A leak might just be a loose connection or worn hose. However, if it’s a cracked tub, most likely you’ll be buying a new washing machine. Ditto for a machine that makes excessive noise or sways and “walks.”

Clothes dryer

Does it take longer than before for clothes to get dry? Check the lint trap and vent pipe for buildup. If these are clear, your dryer is failing.

If you notice a burning smell or the outside of the dryer feels excessively hot, something is amiss. Could be lint buildup or something more serious. Stop using the machine immediately.

If there has been a fire – even if you put it out quickly, it’s time for a new dryer. Internal parts and casings could have melted.

The up side

If it is time to buy a new appliance, you’ll be getting a machine that’s more energy efficient. Plus, you’ll get the peace of mind that comes the latest safety features.

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance their homes and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!

Does buying or selling a house without the hassle of moving furniture and appliances seem impossible? For some buyers and sellers, a fully furnished home is part of the deal.

Imagine that you’re standing in a house that you want to buy. Not only do you love the home, you love everything in it. Wouldn’t it be exciting to step into the house after closing and call it all yours? You could.

And if you’re selling your house, would you like to leave without the hassle of moving everything? Just head out the door with your personal items.

Turnkey deals like this are possible.

As a buyer there are many compelling reasons to buy a fully furnished home:

• You love the décor ­– often the case with high value homes with custom furnishings designed for the space.
• You’re too busy or don’t like to shop.
• It’s a vacation home and you want the convenience of moving in quickly.
• It’s an investment property or for college students.

Sellers have good reasons to strike a turnkey deal, too. A home seller may include furnishings in a sale because they are downsizing. They may be making a long-distance move and it’s too costly to move it all. Or, the owners may be deceased and it’s easier for the family to sell the whole kit and caboodle.

If you’re the buyer …

If you’re paying cash, you can structure the offer to cover the home and furnishings. However, if you’re financing the purchase, you’ll have two separate transactions – one for the home and one for the furnishings.

A mortgage can’t be used to finance the contents. (A home appraisal only covers the land and structure(s).) You can pay cash or obtain a HELOC (home equity line of credit) for the furnishings.

Inventory all the items you would like and include it in a sales agreement for the goods. (This is separate from the sales agreement for the home.)

If the seller accepts, do a walk-through just before closing to make sure the goods listed are in the home.

And, it’s okay to specify items you don’t want, like that overstuffed pink velvet sofa or giant exercise machine.

If you’re the seller …

Don’t over-value your furnishings because of sentimental value.

Make a list of everything you want to sell. Be sure to exclude any items you wish to keep.

This list will come in handy later. If the buyers agree to purchase your furnishings, on moving day you know exactly what gets left behind. If they don’t, you’ve got an inventory to use when you talk to a consignment shop or an estate company.

Be flexible. If a buyer wants the house without the furnishings, give yourself enough time to sell or donate them.

Consumers helps more than 1,000 members finance their homes and home improvement projects each year. When you need a mortgage or home equity line of credit, call us at 800-991-2221. We’re here to help you get the home of your dreams!