As a resident of your planet for nearly eight Earth years, I’ve had the good fortune to observe some fun and interesting things. For instance, there was the total solar eclipse just last year; multiple sessions of both the summer and winter Olympic games have been held; festive and oftentimes quirky holidays were observed celebrating everything from love to ground-dwelling rodents who predict weather patterns; and my favorite pastime, new cinematic stories and adventures were released.
I’ve also seen multiple fads come and go over the years, some for the better, in my humble alien opinion (those fidget spinners made me a little bonkers). There is one fad, however, that started about the time I arrived on your planet—2018 was the year when hiding ducks on cruise ships got its start.
For those of you like me who have not had the opportunity to vacation on one of these luxury liners, apparently the hiding and seeking of small toy ducks is quite the frivolity enjoyed by many cruisers of all ages. When I first heard about it, I assumed it was all part of the “Duck Duck Jeep” movement, where individuals show their appreciation for Jeep vehicles and gift them toy ducks. I was quickly informed that these are, indeed, two very different things.
My source for this information is a colleague who loves to take cruises. When talking about his latest adventure, he mentioned that his “duck haul” was the largest he’s ever attained. That’s what prompted my questions on what he was talking about and why cruise passengers sought out ducks. After explaining what it was, he went into the “why” and that’s what got my eyestalks quivering.
“I don’t bring any ducks to hide and don’t generally plan on actively ‘hunting’ the ducks,” he said. “However, on my last few cruises, I’ve found a duck or two and each time they bring this inner joy and make me happy. Sometimes I re-hide them and sometimes I keep them—either way, these little unexpected surprises really make my cruise that much more enjoyable.”
Then, he made a point that drove me to write this post: “It’s kind of like the stories we hear at myCU when our experts find unexpected surprises that benefit the homebuyers—whether it’s a solution to resolve a stipulation or something that financially benefits them, the member is always happy with the ‘ducks’ we find for them!”
Come to find out, myCUmortgage has quite the skilled Duck Hunting Team! We’ve shared many of these stories on social media and here in this blog (click on LinkedIn and X to check out and follow these member stories and so much more). Our team is always on the hunt for big and little surprises that will help your members with homeownership, and they’re equally ready to help our partner credit unions identify ducks that can be found in plain sight, right in their very own ponds. Here are a few examples:
- HomeReady® Loans: Fannie Mae’s HomeReady® program offers high loan-to-value (LTV) ratio financing to help homebuyers who would otherwise qualify for a mortgage but may not have the resources for a larger down payment. HomeReady® mortgages offer low rates, minimal risk-based price adjustments compared to other programs and reduced mortgage insurance costs.
- Additional $2,500 HomeReady® Credit: As noted above, the low down payment and expanded financing flexibilities of HomeReady® offer an ideal mortgage solution for borrowers. To address some of the barriers to entry for very low-income purchase borrowers, Fannie Mae is offering $2,500 for use towards down payment and closing costs for first-time homebuyers.
- State- and Locality-Specific Programs: Just as Fannie Mae does on a national level, many state and local home agencies and organizations offer special homebuying loans and incentives. Be sure to check out what’s available in your area for members or contact myCUmortgage—we’re happy to help you find those state and local ducks with you!
Are you a skilled duck hunter at your credit union? What are some of the “ducks” you’ve found for members? Please share your stories!
And if you’re ever in need of a duck hunting partner, look no further than the experts at myCUmortgage. We’ve earned our feathers for nearly 24 years and are excited to bring more welcome surprises to your members as they fulfill their dreams of homeownership!
HomeReady® is a registered trademark of Fannie Mae.