Elizabeth, Author at Harvester Financial Credit Union

How to Lessen Home Damage from Hurricanes and High Winds

Insurer Nationwide released these tips for preparing your home for a hurricane last week, just ahead of Florence. But hurricane season is still with us, so it\’s worth keeping these things in mind: Secure outdoor items Move items like patio furniture, garden décor and trash cans to an indoor location. Anchor larger outdoor objects such…

More than Six Million Homes Missing From U.S. Housing Market, Zillow Claims

One of the defining characteristics of today’s housing market is the lack of available inventory, and much of this scarcity can be traced back to the lack of building following the bubble’s burst, according to online real estate company Zillow. Between 1985 and 2000, there were 3.9 permits issued for single-family homes per 1,000 residents.…

More than One in 10 Workers Have Been Demoted, OfficeTeam Finds

How common are demotions at work? According to new research from staffing firm OfficeTeam, nearly half of HR managers (46 percent) have seen someone at their company moved down a rung on the career ladder. Professionals were most commonly demoted for poor performance (39 percent) and not succeeding in a new job after being promoted…

The 25 Highest Paying Jobs in America, According to Glassdoor

Job and recruiting site Glassdoor has announced the results of its newest jobs report identifying the 25 Highest Paying Jobs in America for 2018. Considering that nearly seven in ten (67 percent) job seekers and workers say that salary is a key piece of information they hone in on when researching jobs, according to a recent Glassdoor…

Renters Insurance – Fact and Fiction

With more than 43 million renter-occupied units, the number of renters in the U.S. is near an all-time high, according to insurer Nationwide. However, according to an Insurance Information Institute poll, only 41 percent of renters carry renters insurance, a substantial difference from 95 percent of homeowners who carry homeowners insurance policies. “Many renters underestimate both…

Robocalls Are On the Rise

Americans were overwhelmed by an estimated 24.3 billion robocalls in the first seven months of this year, compared to an estimated 17.2 billion robocalls received in the first seven months of 2017, marking a 41.3% year-on-year increase for this ongoing national problem, according to YouMail. The 3.99 billion robocalls received nationwide in July represented a…

Mobility Services Becoming More Popular as Alternatives to Vehicle Ownership, According to Cox Automotive Study

The automotive industry’s predictions on the future of traditional vehicle ownership remain a topic of debate and at times a guessing game. Ultimately, awareness, availability and acceptance of on-demand transportation options, such as car-sharing, ride-hailing and subscription services, will likely be the deciding factor. The uptake of vehicle ownership alternatives is transforming the way consumers…

Where First-Time Home Buyers Can Save a Down Payment Fast

Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest hurdles to homeownership. However, a new analysis from RealEstate.com, a Zillow Group brand, identifies 10 metros where first-time buyers may find it easier to save for their future home purchase, and 10 metros where it may be more difficult. Three Years or Less to Have 20%…

Homeowners Can Pay Nearly $9,500 per Year in Hidden Costs, Zillow Finds

Homeowners can expect to spend about $9,390 every year on costs associated with owning and caring for a home, according to an analysis by online real estate company Zillow and local services company Thumbtack. When it comes to buying a home, shoppers frequently focus on the sticker price or the monthly mortgage payments, but homeowners are also responsible…

Mortgage Payments Require Largest Share of Income Since 2009, Zillow Finds

The combination of rising rates and strong home value appreciation led to one of the largest recorded quarterly increases in the mortgage burden for homebuyers since the Great Recession, according to a new analysis from online real estate company Zillow. In the first quarter of 2018, the share of median income needed for monthly mortgage payments…