23
Dec
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Working From Home Could Mean A New Home

Working From Home Could Mean A New HomeThere are a lot of people who are working from home for the first time. There are a lot of advantages that come with working from home, such as the opportunity to develop stronger relationships with family members, the chance to save money on gas, and more autonomy over the work schedule. In addition, this could also mean a new home.

With many people spending more time at home than they did in the past, they might be thinking about investing in new floorplans, renovating cabinets, and adding a dedicated home office. This could also provide the opportunity to move.

Why People Are Thinking About Upgrading Their Homes

For those who continue to commute to work, they might not spend that much time in their homes. As a result, they may not be that invested in the overall layout of the home. As long as the home meets their needs when they are present, this is enough.

On the other hand, when people work from home, their needs change. For example, many people have their kids home from school right now. Their kids might distract them when they are trying to work. By renovating the home and creating a dedicated space for a home office, this could allow someone to be more productive. Renovating the home is about meeting people’s needs as they change.

The Prospect Of Moving Entirely

On the other hand, some people might be thinking about moving to a new home entirely. The vast majority of people end up purchasing a new home because they have recently obtained a new job and need to live close to work. When someone works from home, they can live just about anywhere they choose. While many people still choose to live relatively close to their current location, working from home provides people with more flexibility than they had in the past. Therefore, many families are taking advantage of it.

Working From Home Will Become More Common

In the future, working from home is going to become more common. As technology continues to improve, people are going to have the opportunity to work from home for the foreseeable future. This represents a lifestyle shift that many people are going to embrace.

17
Dec
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Remove The Flood Insurance Risk From The Closing Process

Remove The Flood Insurance Risk From The Closing ProcessMany homeowners do not realize that the risk of a flood is a significant factor that plays a role in not only homeownership but also the closing process. Even though flooding is a major risk, many homeowners do not carry enough coverage. Without proper flood insurance, homeowners risk losing millions of dollars. Therefore, it is prudent for those who are looking for a home to factor flood insurance into their home search. This can streamline the closing process down the road.

Exploring Options For Flood Insurance

When homeowners think about flood insurance, they are often directed to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). While this is one option, there are also private options available that could provide better prices and more favorable terms. Private options exist in all 50 states in addition to the Washington DC area. They can be used to satisfy the requirements of banks, credit unions, and lenders at the time of closing.

Calculate The Risk Of Flooding

While a flood can happen at any time, some homes are in riskier locations than others. Therefore, homeowners need to take a look at the individual risk of flooding at a specific property in which they might be interested. In some cases, homes might be located in high-risk areas where flood insurance still might not be required. Homeowners need to make sure that they understand the risk of flooding of a potential property and protect it accordingly. Homeowners’ insurance usually does not cover flood events, so a separate policy is typically needed.

The Requirements Of The Lender

There are some situations where homeowners might have their closing process delayed purely because they did not realize that the lender required flood insurance. During the preapproval process, it makes sense for homeowners to ask the lender if they require flood insurance. That way, homeowners will be able to factor the cost of flood insurance into the search process and expedite their closing later.

Invest In Quality Home Insurance

For many homeowners, their home is the most valuable investment they will ever make. Therefore, it has to be protected appropriately. This includes flood insurance. Check out flood insurance options ahead of time to streamline the closing process later.

15
Dec
By First Rate Financial Group
Mortgage

Purchase The Right Amount Of Home Insurance

Purchase The Right Amount Of Home InsuranceFor most people, their home is the most valuable investment they will ever make. Therefore, it needs to be protected. This is where homeowners’ insurance is critical. At the same time, buying the right amount of homeowners’ insurance can be a bit of a challenge.

A home that is underinsured leaves the homeowner vulnerable to situations involving fires, floods, and theft. On the other hand, nobody wants to throw away money unnecessarily by over-insuring the home. How can everyone purchase the right amount of homeowners’ insurance?

Review The Coverage Every Year

First, people’s needs are going to change from year to year. Therefore, everyone should review their policy annually. For example, actual cash value only reimburses someone based on the current condition of the home. For example, if a home was built ten years ago, the actual cash value will only provide someone with the depreciated value of the home and not the original value. While this might be enough at the beginning, it may not be enough ten years from now. Everyone has to make sure they purchase enough insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding the home, excluding the cost of the land.

Overlooking Valuables And Liability

Another common mistake that people make when it comes to homeowners’ insurance is overlooking issues such as valuables and liability. Most people have enough insurance for the structure of the home. Most people do not have enough insurance to cover liability claims and valuables. Liability claims might arise if someone gets hurt on the property and the homeowner gets sued. Valuables are important if the home burns down or if someone steals something from the home. All homeowners must have enough homeowners’ insurance to protect themselves against potential liability claims (such as someone slipping and falling in the home) and the loss of valuables (such as electronics and jewelry). Everyone has to make sure they document these valuables appropriately.

Purchase The Right Amount Of Homeowners’ Insurance

Make sure you include everything to purchase the right amount of homeowners’ insurance. Review current construction costs as part of the process. Finally, review the fine print of the homeowners’ insurance policy every year to avoid being underinsured or over-insured.