This Spring you might have the urge to go home shopping. In the past few months I’ve spoken to several people that are in the process of buying or shopping for a home. Curious as to how others have started their journey, and what their experience has been in home shopping and buying I’ve asked for and received some inciteful feedback.
Homeownership is most likely the biggest purchase you’ll make in your lifetime. What I’ve learned is buying a house shouldn’t be an impulse purchase. If this is your first purchase or if you haven’t bought a home in several decades, you might want to educate yourself on today’s buying process. Contacting a reputable realtor and getting a checklist of everything you’ll need to do before you go looking may keep you from being overwhelmed once you’ve found that “perfect home” you’d like to buy.
Consider having a bank check your credit score. Lenders have been known to make mistakes on reporting things to the credit bureaus that will need to be cleared up to remove any erroneous information that may have impacted your credit score. Working with a bank first will give you an idea of the price range you can afford. They also can get you preapproved to save you time after you find a home you want to purchase.
If you haven’t already you might need to save for a down payment. Most lenders require a minimum of 10% down. With a $100,000 home purchase you might need $10,000 down. Another thing to discuss with your lender is sometimes with more money down a lender will have a better interest rate available.
Once you’ve got the lending in place and you find the right home, then comes finding the right insurance policy. Working with an independent agent like myself that offers multiple carriers allows me to find the right coverage at the best price. I can do the leg work for you and shop the rates. If you are a current home owner or are in the process of buying a home, I invite you to meet with me to discuss your insurance options. It’s my goal to offer you the best possible insurance buying experience.