Established in 1998

For over 25 years, it has been a pleasure to help dedicated first responders and their families achieve home ownership. We provide services to ALADS, SEBA, AOCDS, PORAC, RSA, IBEW LOCAL 11 and several other unions and associations. We want to assure all our clients that you will receive high-quality service that fulfills your needs, from start to finish. Union Choice makes it easy with our efficient automated approval and paperless loan process. Our members are guided every step of the way, from securing a loan to finally walking through the door of your home. Our focus is on closing your loans quickly and efficiently. We are proud to offer excellent interest rates, flexible loan products and exceptional customer service. The day you call is the day we can approve and lock in the interest rate of your home loan.

Conventional Mortgage

Conventional mortgages keep the same interest rate over the life of your loan, which means your monthly mortgage payment always stays the same. Conventional loans typically come in terms of 15 years, 20 years or 30 years.

VA Home Loan

VA helps servicemembers, veterans and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of our mission to serve you, we provide a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

FHA Mortgage

An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Allowing down payments as low as 3.5%, FHA loans are helpful for buyers with limited savings or lower credit scores.

30-Year Fixed

A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is a home loan that maintains the same interest rate and monthly principal-and-interest payment over the 30-year loan period. With a rate that lasts the length of the loan, you’ll want the best rate you can get. Since your rate is most directly impacted by your credit score and down payment, you’ll want to make sure your credit file is accurate — and make a down payment that’s as much as you can easily afford.

15-Year Fixed

You can save money and build home equity faster with a 15-year mortgage than with a 30-year mortgage. But the monthly mortgage payment will be higher on a 15-year mortgage because there is less time to pay off the loan.

Here are some of the questions we are asked most frequently.

What is a FICO score?

A: FICO score is a credit score derived from the credit model developed by Fair Isaac Corporation. The FICO score is the best-known credit score in the United States, and a version of the FICO score is calculated by all three of the major credit bureaus from reported information. A higher FICO score indicates better credit, and a FICO score below 600 is considered poor. The most important factor in determining a FICO score is past payment punctuality. The percentage of credit limit used is another critical parameter in the FICO score models, with a penalty for using too much of available credit. These two factors are given a total weight of around two-thirds in determining the typical individual’s FICO score. Other major FICO score variables include length of credit history and types of credit used. Bankruptcy, foreclosure, court judgments and tax liens receive a strong FICO score penalty, especially when recent.

What is APR?

A: The annual percentage rate (APR) is the total cost of financing over the life of the loan, expressed as an annual rate. The interest rate, or note rate, is the cost you will pay each year to borrow the money. The APR includes not just the cost of the interest, but other items like origination points, mortgage insurance and other costs of obtaining the loan. For this reason, the APR is usually higher than the note rate, but that is not always the case, especially with adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs).

What is an FHA loan?

A: An FHA loan is a government mortgage that is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). These loans have been insured by the FHA since the creation of the agency in 1934. Since then, various Housing and Community Development Acts have been passed that have slightly altered the laws regarding FHA loans. FHA loans have been particularly helpful for individuals who otherwise would not have been able to secure a loan from another source due to low income or high risk. The mortgage insurance premium (MIP) fee is a charge to the borrower to secure a loan from FHA. There is a one-time, up-front MIP payment as well as a monthly recurring charge.

What is the lowest score you can work with?

A: We have lenders who work with borrowers across all credit profiles. Although we can’t guarantee that you’ll get a loan offer given the credit range you provide, the mortgage program is designed to match your loan request with available lenders and products available in their program areas. Your credit score should be at least 620 for Fannie Mae and 580 for FHA, and there is no minimum for VA . However, we work with all clients to achieve better scores through our re-score program.

Your specific plan may not cover every service listed above. Contact our benefits manager to see which plan is right for you.

Pacific Financial Designs, Inc.

PFD is the official manager for all of the benefits offered through RPOAC. Please contact them with any questions you might have regarding the insurances or other benefit programs we offer.

Our benefits manager, Shane Cobb can be reached by phone or email at:

(800) 733-4487 or shane@thepfdgroup.com