A blog for your new home journey
Category: Financing & insuring
Affording a home is all in the numbers! Get mortgage information, plus discover everything you need to think about to get your new home insured the right way.
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Meet Our Affiliated Lender and Insurance Companies
Read moreBuying a home can be one of the most important purchases in your lifetime, which is why it’s crucial to have the right resources by your side every step of the way—from finding the home to insuring it. At Richmond American, we work closely with our affiliated lender and insurance companies to offer a streamlined experience for our buyers from start to finish. This “one-stop shop” option includes HomeAmerican Mortgage Corporation, American Home Insurance Agency and American Home Title and Escrow Company.
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Black Friday Dos and Don’ts
Read moreLove saving money on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Check out our shopping dos and don’ts! If you’re in the market for a new home, these tips could save you more money on your future mortgage than any retail doorbuster, discount or early-bird special ever could.
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Ready to Shop Policies? Use Our Home Insurance Checklist
Read moreYou’ve found your dream home—now it’s time to insure it! Selecting the right home insurance policy is important not only because it may be a condition of your home loan, but also because it can offer you and your family greater peace of mind. If the unexpected happens, homeowners insurance can provide coverage for losses and damages to your house, its contents (including pets and personal belongings) and even personal liability for people inside your home or on your property.
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VA Loan FAQ for Military Homebuyers (& Military Spouses!)
Read moreDid you know that active-duty and veteran military buyers may be eligible for home loans with little (or no) money down, low (or no) closing costs, and competitive interest rates—all while paying no monthly mortgage insurance? Read our VA loan FAQ to learn more!
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Avoid Unwanted Calls with an Opt Out Request
Read moreNowadays, telemarketers are a fact of life. Anytime you apply for credit with a company, your information may be passed along and you’ll be bombarded with calls, emails and texts from a dozen other places promising special offers. So, what can you do about it? Make an opt out request!
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The Facts on Closing Costs on New Construction Homes
Read moreClosing costs: a generic term tossed around by mortgage originators, real estate agents and even your neighbor. But what are these fees all about? Read on to learn the basics of closing costs on new construction and resale homes and how they will affect your home purchase.
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Know the Difference: Home Warranty vs. Home Insurance
Read moreA home warranty is a great perk when you buy a new-construction home (and sometimes even a resale!) but do you know how it differs from home insurance coverage? Knowing who to call about a home issue can put you on the fast track to getting it addressed ASAP!
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What’s So Special About Special Financing?
Read moreSpecial financing. You’re familiar with the term, but its definition varies by industry. For example, some car dealers use “special financing” to describe financing options for people with bad credit who otherwise wouldn’t qualify for an auto loan. And some retailers have deferred-interest special financing options, which allow shoppers to make interest payments on their purchases at a future date. But here’s what you need to know about special financing when shopping for a new home. Read more.
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The Benefits of Pre-qualifying for a Mortgage
Read moreBefore you get too caught up in the excitement of researching neighborhoods, pinning down your wish list and clicking your way through your local MLS site, you might want to consider taking this simple, time-saving, disappointment-preventing step: pre-qualifying for a mortgage. In this article, we outline all the benefits of this important step.
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Mortgage Infographic: Get Your Credit Ready Before You Apply
Read moreLooking to buy a new home soon? We’ve created a handy mortgage infographic to help you understand some of the factors that affect your credit score and the ways you can improve your score—an important consideration for any lender reviewing your mortgage application. Your credit score may influence what types of loans you can qualify for and what rate lenders will offer you, so it’s best to make it a priority as soon as possible in your home search.
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How to Shop for Homeowners Insurance
Read morePurchasing home insurance makes good sense, and not just because it’s often a condition for home loan approval. It’s also a good idea for peace of mind. You definitely don’t want to find yourself wishing you’d purchased the right insurance after something unexpected happens. So, if you’re in the market for a new home, check out the following tips about how to shop for homeowners insurance that can help cover what your home may need.
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New Home vs. Resale Home: Homeowners Insurance Edition
Read moreWhen you’re ready to buy a home, one of the most important decisions to make is whether you want to buy a new home vs. resale. While buying a resale home may seem appealing, it is important to consider the possibility that you may end up paying a higher homeowners insurance premium based on the home’s history, construction and more. Read on to discover some of the potential hidden costs associated with older, foreclosed or distressed homes.
