 Eat your heart out Tennessee.
You may have the nickname “The Volunteer State” and you may even have the university mascot to prove it, but Utah is the country’s undisputed champion of volunteerism.
For the fifth consecutive year, Utah was ranked No. 1 in the country for volunteerism. The new federal report naming Utah as the highest ranked in volunteerism was collected in partnership with the U.S. Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and is the most comprehensive set of data on volunteering in the United States. It tracks volunteering trends in all 50 states and nearly 200 cities.
This year’s report shows the largest increase in volunteering since 2003, with 63.4 million Americans (age 16 and older) volunteering in 2009, an increase of almost 1.6 million since 2008.
Utah led the nation with 44.2 percent of adults volunteering (national average is 22.8 percent). In addition to this ranking, Utah ranked No. 1 in eight other categories, including:
• Volunteer hours per resident: 86.9 hours
• Volunteer retention rate: 80.1 percent
• Older adults who volunteer (age 65 and older): 40.6 percent
• Baby boomer volunteers (born 1946 to 1964): 48.9 percent
• College student volunteers: 42.3 percent
• Young adult volunteers (ages 16-24): 40.2 percent
• Teenage volunteers (ages 16-19): 44.5 percent
• Millennial volunteers (born in/after 1982) 39.4 percent.
Oldroyd’s Opinion
On any given day, REALTORS® can be found building homes with Habitat for Humanity or putting up drywall with the local REALTORS®-run charity, Heart 2 Home. In the real estate industry, REALTORS® are sought out for their knowledge and experience throughout the valley. It is part of the job to know a lot about local schools, churches, neighborhoods and other aspects of the community. Utah County REALTORS® gain knowledge of local areas because they are active and involved in the community.
Local REALTORS® have also been known to get involved in local government. They interact with local, state and national leaders to promote laws and policies that allow for the free transfer of property, limit government regulations so businesses can thrive and safeguard taxpayers’ money. With the homeowners’ interest in mind, REALTORS® get involved in local government affairs so they can protect your private property rights and promote the proper role of government.
REALTORS® want everyone to achieve the American dream of owning a home, and that takes more than just selling real estate. Our local REALTORS® stay informed on what’s going on in the community and in council meetings. REALTORS® work with you to help you find a home and they work for you to make our community a better place. To get more information on why REALTORS® are an active group in the community, and ways we can work together to promote a prosperous community, please visit www.WhyRealtorsCare.com.
REALTORS® in Utah County work to protect you — and that’s good news.
Carin’s Take
Many consumers have lost their jobs, most real estate values have declined, and the robust economy of just a few years ago is gone. So needless to say, the financial industry has experienced its fair share of challenges these past couple of years.
On a positive note, good things continue to happen in the credit union industry as we move forward and continue to help our members navigate these financial challenges.
Financial institutions generally offer the same products. However, the costs associated with the products can vary greatly. Do your homework when looking for a financial institution. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop for a primary financial institution, a mortgage refinance, or credit card provider:
1. No credit union has accepted government bailout funds, ever. Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit cooperatives and therefore are independently funded. Because of this, credit unions set aside funds to support each other through economic difficulties when needed.
2. Loan interest rates and savings dividend rates are generally higher at a credit union than at a bank.
3. Basic service fees are generally lower or nonexistent for checking accounts, basic account transactions, online bill pay and loan applications.
4. Mortgage origination fees at a credit unions are generally 1 to 2 percent lower than competing brokerages and larger banks.
5. Credit unions are chartered to serve small community or select employers; therefore, the member service experience is often more personalized than larger national financial institutions.
The Good News section is sponsored by the Utah County Association of REALTORS® (www.ucaor.com • 801-226-3777), an organization dedicated to helping REALTORS® deliver the highest quality professional service to their clients, and by Family First Federal Credit Union (www.familyfirstcu.com), a credit union dedicated to providing a comprehensive set of financial services to members.
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