home improvements Archives - Utah First Credit Union

Illustration of a house in a tropical environment

Apr 28, 2026 / Home Equity

4 HELOC-Powered Resort Makeover Ideas for Your Backyard

Vacations are always over too soon. After a week, you’ve got a great tan and fun photos, then it’s back to real life. But what if you could slip into vacation mode anytime with the perfect retreat in your own backyard? When your outdoor space is designed like a getaway, you don’t have to go anywhere to feel like you got away! The only…

Woman with illustration comparing HELOCs with home refinancing

Apr 15, 2026 / Home Equity

Refinance vs. HELOC: Which Is Better for Home Improvements?

Thinking about upgrading your kitchen, adding a home office, or finally tackling that backyard makeover? Home improvements are exciting, but figuring out how to pay for them can feel a little less fun. The good news is that if you’ve built equity in your home, you already have options!…

Mar 30, 2026 / Home Equity

Six HELOC-Worthy Outdoor Upgrades for Spring

Spring has sprung early this year! The temps are gorgeous, the days are getting longer, and somewhere between that bare patch of lawn and the grill, there’s a vision of the outdoor space you’ve been putting off for years. Thankfully, if you’ve got a Utah…

Feb 03, 2023 / Home Equity

3 Ways You Can Use a HELOC This Spring

Groundhog Day has come and gone. Punxsutawney Phil emerged from Gobbler’s Knob, saw his shadow, and went back to hiding in his hole—portending six more weeks of winter. Depending on how you feel about winter, this could be good or bad news. But if you…

Apr 22, 2022 / Home Equity

To Love or to List?

You may be familiar with the popular HGTV show about the great property debate: to love or list your home. The premise is simple—give homeowners a choice to make improvements on their existing property or put it on the market and find a new one.…

Apr 07, 2021 / Home Equity

Spring Cleaning Tips to Improve Your Home’s Value

Spring is here, and among other things that means spring cleaning and home-selling season are officially underway. If you haven’t been paying attention to the Utah housing market, it’s apparently the hottest in the country. With historically low inventory and high demand, each new home…

Surprising Ways to Use a Home Equity Loan - Family Vacation

Feb 16, 2017 / Home Equity

Your Home Can Help Finance Your Life

A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) lets you use the equity in your home to get the cash you need. Most of the time, people use a HELOC for home improvements–a new roof or a kitchen remodel–but did you know that you could use…