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Financial Cheerleader
Royal Credit Union’s Barb Oas has decades of mortgage lending experience, helping set you and your family up for financial success
Barb Oas remembers the day she went into her local financial institution to apply for a pre-approval on a mortgage for her first home. “That’s when the loan officer just wrote everything out on paper,” she said, “and you met in person. I can remember he didn’t even make eye contact. He was asking us questions and writing it down. He was using all these terms – and I had no idea. I didn’t feel like it was a discussion.”
Once they got out of the office, she asked her husband, “What did that word ‘escrow’ mean?”
“Well, I don’t know,” he responded. “I was hoping you would know.”
“And I try not to forget that,” she recalled. “Even though I’ve been helping people with home loans for many years, I try to remember what it was like to get my first home.”
Barbara Oas
Royal Credit Union
419 N Hastings Pl.
Eau Claire
(715) 833-8282
barbara.oas@rcu.org(barbara.oas (at) rcu [d0t] org,)
Throughout her 25-plus years of experience as a mortgage lender, Oas has helped individuals and families across the Chippewa Valley navigate down payments, closing costs, applying for pre-approval for mortgages, applying for construction loans, and ensuring their credit ratings are in a secure place. “The difference, nowadays,” she said of the modern approach to financial coaching, “is that there’s a lot of information online. But there’s also a lot of misinformation out there.”
Thankfully, Royal Credit Union points potential buyers to a homebuyer education class that offers a factual, easy-to-understand perspective on what going through the loan process looks like. As an added bonus: First-time homebuyers can receive a $100 credit for taking the class. Here are a few more tips from the seasoned financial expert:
1. Check out annualcreditreport.com.
Staying on top of your finances has never been easier! Use this official website to get your free credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. You can see items on your report and verify their accuracy.
2. Take your time.
If you’re planning to take out a home loan, work with a trusted lender to help coordinate the timing and head off any issues early.
3. Don’t be scared to ask questions.
No question is a bad question, Oas said, as every financial situation is different and unique.
“It’s one of the bigger things you do in life,” she said. “It’s different for everybody, and everyone’s comfort level is going to be different, too.”
In the past year, Oas has coached local folks through the challenging housing market and helped them overcome financial crises – whether that’s losing a job, becoming self-employed, or having turbulent employment. She attests that it’s an incredibly emotional venture, as she often helps guide people through refinancing their houses after divorce, during challenging times, and through various big life moments.
Key to her success as a mortgage lender is the local support that Royal Credit Union has. Royal’s local team of processors, underwriters, and other financial experts all work together to ensure every individual’s homebuying experience is seamless. “We’re such a local presence,” Oas said, “and that is what I truly feel is such an important part of our business. Royal is here to help you every step of the way.”
“It’s one of the bigger things you do in life. It’s different for everybody, and everyone’s comfort level is going to be different, too.”
Barbara Oas
Royal Credit Union
419 N Hastings Pl.
Eau Claire
(715) 833-8282
barbara.oas@rcu.org(barbara.oas (at) rcu [d0t] org,)
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