While summer is a season often associated with vacations and fun, it can often be a challenging time of year, especially for homeowners. Landscaping, maintaining comfort in the home, and more can often make home upkeep and renovations feel like a second full-time job. But for one American Heritage member, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) helped make her and her family's summer all the better.
1. Cooling Down for the Summer
Ashley McLaughlin and her family had enjoyed their pool in previous summers, but that same joy wasn't there early in 2026. The tile that surrounded the pool had started to fall off, and they weren't able to enjoy the pool as much as they once had. Additionally, the family had envisioned a patio around their pool, allowing them to enjoy the summer sun and family time poolside.
With summer right around the corner, Ashley and her husband thought a HELOC could be the perfect solution to achieve these renovations and breathe new life into their backyard.
2. Applying for a HELOC with American Heritage Credit Union
Ashley and her husband started the process of exploring home equity options with another credit union. However, they weren't pleased with the experience. They then decided to try American Heritage Credit Union and were incredibly satisfied with their choice.
"We knew American Heritage offered several home equity products and decided to try there," said McLaughlin. "The experience was so much better. Our loan officer was incredibly knowledgeable, and we knew we were in great hands with American Heritage."
The couple applied for their HELOC in the spring online. American Heritage offers convenient Digital Account Opening (DAO) services, where members can open share accounts, apply for credit cards and other loan products, and more. After about two weeks, Ashley was approved and clear to have the renovations begin!
3. Using Their HELOC to Renovate the Pool
Work was able to start on Ashley and her family's pool in May, just in time for the summer months. A HELOC operates differently from a home equity loan, where a borrower can use the funds as they're needed (instead of receiving them as one lump sum). This flexibility worked incredibly well for Ashley, as certain elements of the renovation came to the surface as the work began.
"When we started the renovation, we didn't know we'd need to replace the plaster around the pool," said Ashley. "Once the work started, we noticed the cracks and needed to add this component to the job. The HELOC allowed us to maintain peace of mind as we knew we had the additional flexibility."
Once the work for the pool was completed, Ashley and her family were able to enjoy this home renovation all summer long. It made the hot summer days all the cooler, alongside allowing them to entertain and make memories with family and friends.
"We've enjoyed the pool so much, and it's been great seeing my children invite friends over this summer," said Ashley. "It's great to just have this space to relax and cool down on hot summer days."
4. An Excellent Experience with American Heritage
Overall, Ashley and her family were incredibly pleased with their HELOC and the member experience they received with American Heritage.
"American Heritage made the entire experience of applying and completing home renovations so easy and stress-free," said Ashley. "I'd recommend American Heritage to family and friends over any other credit union or bank in the area. It was a ten out of ten experience!"
