Call Us 925-256-1300 ☰ ˟
Logo
Call Us 925-256-1300 to get your personalized insurance quote
  • Our Agency
    • AboutImage of right arrow
      • Our Staff
      • Our Locations
    • Personal ProductsImage of right arrow
      • Home & Auto Insurance
      • Auto InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Liability Coverage
        • Comprehensive Coverage
        • Collision Coverage
        • Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage
        • Diminishing Deductible
        • Accident Forgiveness
        • Minor Violation Forgiveness
        • Roadside Assistance
        • Specialty Auto Insurance
        • 24-Hour Customer Service
        • Towing
        • Rental Reimbursement
        • Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
        • Mexican Auto Insurance
        • Medical Payments Coverage
      • Home InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Property Insurance
        • Homeowners Liability
        • Renters Insurance
        • Condo Insurance
        • Mobile Home Insurance
        • Scheduled Property Insurance
        • Landlords Insurance
        • In-Home Business Insurance
      • Other Personal InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Identity Theft
        • Personal Umbrella Insurance
        • Data Backup
      • Farm InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Crop Insurance
        • Farm Owners Insurance
        • Farm Livestock Insurance
        • Equine Insurance
        • Farm Equipment Insurance
        • Farm Dwelling Insurance
        • Farm Structures Insurance
        • Farm Auto Insurance
        • Farm Umbrella Insurance
        • Farm Liability Insurance
      • Life InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Individual Life Insurance
        • Group Life Insurance
        • Mortgage Protection Insurance
        • Second-To-Die Policy
        • Key Person (Key Men) Insurance
      • Health InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Individual & Family Health Insurance
        • Group Health Insurance
        • Dental Coverage
        • Vision Coverage
        • Temporary Health Insurance
        • Supplemental Insurance
        • Travel Health Insurance
        • Prescription Insurance
        • HSAs
      • Recreational Vehicle InsuranceImage of right arrow
        • Boat Insurance
        • Motorcycle Insurance
        • Motorhome Insurance
        • ATV Insurance
        • Snowmobile Insurance
      • Financial ServicesImage of right arrow
        • Traditional & Roth IRAs
      • Additional Insurance ServicesImage of right arrow
        • Special Event Insurance
        • Other Services
        • Wedding Insurance and Special Event Insurance
    • Commercial ProductsImage of right arrow
      • Coverage for Specific IndustriesImage of right arrow
        • Accounting Firm Insurance
        • Alarm Contractors Insurance
        • Insurance for Arborists
        • Bar Insurance
        • Box Truck Insurance
        • Builders Risk Insurance
        • Car Dealership Insurance
        • Cargo Insurance and Freight Insurance
        • Catering Insurance
        • Cleaning Business Insurance
        • Construction Insurance
        • Consulting Firm Insurance
        • Contractors Insurance
        • Specialty Trade Contractors Insurance
        • Craft Brewery Insurance
        • Dental Practice Insurance
        • Dump Truck Insurance
        • Educational Facility Insurance
        • Financial Institution Insurance
        • Food Truck Insurance
        • Fleet Insurance
        • Handyman Insurance
        • Garage Insurance
        • Healthcare Facility Insurance
        • Healthcare Practice Insurance
        • Law Firm Insurance
        • Life Science Insurance
        • Limousine Services Insurance
        • Liquor Liability Insurance
        • Livestock Insurance
        • Maintenance Contractors Insurance
        • Manufacturing Insurance
        • Marijuana Insurance
        • Maritime Employers Insurance
        • Media & Advertising Insurance
        • Medical Malpractice Insurance
        • Minibus Insurance
        • Non Profit Insurance
        • Nursing Home Insurance
        • Nursing Insurance
        • Orthotics & Prosthetics Insurance
        • Personal Trainer Insurance
        • Pharmacist Insurance
        • Pool & Spa Insurance
        • Printers & Publishers Insurance
        • Railroad Contractors Insurance
        • Real Estate Businesses Insurance
        • Retail Insurance
        • School Bus Contractors Insurance
        • Scrap Metal Insurance
        • Security Guards Insurance
        • Self-Storage Insurance
        • Septic Contractors Insurance
        • Snow Plow Insurance
        • Specialized Truck Equipment Insurance
        • Technology Services Insurance
        • Tractor Insurance
        • Tow Trucks Insurance
        • Water Well Drillers Insurance
        • Veterinary Insurance
      • Coverage for Your BusinessImage of right arrow
        • Bonds
        • Business Catastrophe Insurance
        • Business Owners Policy (BOP)
        • Commercial Auto Insurance
        • Commercial General Liability
        • Commercial Property Insurance
        • Commercial Real Estate Insurance
        • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
        • Crime Insurance
        • Equipment Insurance
        • Errors and Omissions Insurance
        • Extortion Insurance
        • Fidelity Bonds
        • Leave Management
        • Loss Control Insurance
        • Inland Marine Insurance
        • Marine Insurance
        • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
        • Office Insurance
        • Product Liability Insurance
        • Professional Liability
        • Ransom Insurance
        • Shipping Insurance
        • Small Business Insurance
        • Small Business Liability Insurance
        • Storage Insurance
        • Surety Bonds
        • Technology Insurance
        • Trailer Insurance
        • Transportation Insurance
        • Trucking Insurance and Semi Truck Insurance
        • Workers Compensation
        • Van Insurance
      • Coverage for Your EmployeesImage of right arrow
        • Small Business Retirement Plans
        • Employer-Sponsored Retirement
        • Group Benefits
        • Group Disability Insurance
        • Group Health Insurance
        • Individual Life Insurance
    • Get A Quote
    • Companies We Work With
    • Contact UsImage of right arrow
      • Gerry Carbajal Insurance Agency
  • Products
    • Home & Auto Insurance
    • Auto InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Liability Coverage
      • Comprehensive Coverage
      • Collision Coverage
      • Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist Coverage
      • Diminishing Deductible
      • Accident Forgiveness
      • Minor Violation Forgiveness
      • Roadside Assistance
      • Specialty Auto Insurance
      • 24-Hour Customer Service
      • Towing
      • Rental Reimbursement
      • Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
      • Mexican Auto Insurance
      • Medical Payments Coverage
    • Home InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Property Insurance
      • Homeowners Liability
      • Renters Insurance
      • Condo Insurance
      • Mobile Home Insurance
      • Scheduled Property Insurance
      • Landlords Insurance
      • In-Home Business Insurance
    • Other Personal InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Identity Theft
      • Personal Umbrella Insurance
      • Data Backup
    • Farm InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Crop Insurance
      • Farm Owners Insurance
      • Farm Livestock Insurance
      • Equine Insurance
      • Farm Equipment Insurance
      • Farm Dwelling Insurance
      • Farm Structures Insurance
      • Farm Auto Insurance
      • Farm Umbrella Insurance
      • Farm Liability Insurance
    • Life InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Individual Life Insurance
      • Group Life Insurance
      • Mortgage Protection Insurance
      • Second-To-Die Policy
      • Key Person (Key Men) Insurance
    • Health InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Individual & Family Health Insurance
      • Group Health Insurance
      • Dental Coverage
      • Vision Coverage
      • Temporary Health Insurance
      • Supplemental Insurance
      • Travel Health Insurance
      • Prescription Insurance
      • HSAs
    • Personal Umbrella Insurance
    • Recreational Vehicle InsuranceImage of right arrow
      • Boat Insurance
      • Motorcycle Insurance
      • Motorhome Insurance
      • ATV Insurance
      • Snowmobile Insurance
    • Financial ServicesImage of right arrow
      • Traditional & Roth IRAs
    • Additional Insurance ServicesImage of right arrow
      • Special Event Insurance
      • Other Services
      • Wedding Insurance and Special Event Insurance
    • Coverage for Specific IndustriesImage of right arrow
      • Accounting Firm Insurance
      • Alarm Contractors Insurance
      • Insurance for Arborists
      • Bar Insurance
      • Box Truck Insurance
      • Builders Risk Insurance
      • Car Dealership Insurance
      • Cargo Insurance and Freight Insurance
      • Catering Insurance
      • Cleaning Business Insurance
      • Construction Insurance
      • Consulting Firm Insurance
      • Contractors Insurance
      • Specialty Trade Contractors Insurance
      • Craft Brewery Insurance
      • Dental Practice Insurance
      • Dump Truck Insurance
      • Educational Facility Insurance
      • Financial Institution Insurance
      • Food Truck Insurance
      • Fleet Insurance
      • Handyman Insurance
      • Garage Insurance
      • Healthcare Facility Insurance
      • Healthcare Practice Insurance
      • Law Firm Insurance
      • Life Science Insurance
      • Limousine Services Insurance
      • Liquor Liability Insurance
      • Livestock Insurance
      • Maintenance Contractors Insurance
      • Manufacturing Insurance
      • Marijuana Insurance
      • Maritime Employers Insurance
      • Media & Advertising Insurance
      • Medical Malpractice Insurance
      • Minibus Insurance
      • Non Profit Insurance
      • Nursing Home Insurance
      • Nursing Insurance
      • Orthotics & Prosthetics Insurance
      • Personal Trainer Insurance
      • Pharmacist Insurance
      • Pool & Spa Insurance
      • Printers & Publishers Insurance
      • Railroad Contractors Insurance
      • Real Estate Businesses Insurance
      • Retail Insurance
      • School Bus Contractors Insurance
      • Scrap Metal Insurance
      • Security Guards Insurance
      • Self-Storage Insurance
      • Septic Contractors Insurance
      • Snow Plow Insurance
      • Specialized Truck Equipment Insurance
      • Technology Services Insurance
      • Tractor Insurance
      • Tow Trucks Insurance
      • Water Well Drillers Insurance
      • Veterinary Insurance
    • Coverage for Your BusinessImage of right arrow
      • Bonds
      • Business Catastrophe Insurance
      • Business Owners Policy (BOP)
      • Commercial Auto Insurance
      • Commercial General Liability
      • Commercial Property Insurance
      • Commercial Real Estate Insurance
      • Commercial Umbrella Insurance
      • Crime Insurance
      • Equipment Insurance
      • Errors and Omissions Insurance
      • Extortion Insurance
      • Fidelity Bonds
      • Leave Management
      • Loss Control Insurance
      • Inland Marine Insurance
      • Marine Insurance
      • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
      • Office Insurance
      • Product Liability Insurance
      • Professional Liability
      • Ransom Insurance
      • Shipping Insurance
      • Small Business Insurance
      • Small Business Liability Insurance
      • Storage Insurance
      • Surety Bonds
      • Technology Insurance
      • Trailer Insurance
      • Transportation Insurance
      • Trucking Insurance and Semi Truck Insurance
      • Workers Compensation
      • Van Insurance
    • Coverage for Your EmployeesImage of right arrow
      • Employee Benefits
      • Small Business Retirement Plans
      • Employer-Sponsored Retirement
      • Group Benefits
      • Group Disability Insurance
      • Group Health Insurance
      • Individual Life Insurance
  • Resources
    • Refer a friend
    • Important Links
    • Insurance Glossary
  • Contact
Home > Blog > Preparing To Buy Your First Home
MONDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2021

Preparing To Buy Your First Home

Buying a house isn't as easy as choosing one that you like and going through the legal and financial process. If you want to be well prepared for the world of homeownership, then you want to take several steps months before you want to buy. 

Know Your Budget 

Lenders are generally willing to give you a mortgage that's in excess of what you can realistically pay. A good rule of thumb is that your mortgage, home insurance and related housing expenses should not be more than 25 percent of your take home income. While you can often bump it up to about 30 percent without noticing, any closer to 50 percent of your total income can set you up for a financial disaster.  

Save for a Down Payment young homeowners

To avoid paying extra insurance, it's best to buy with at least 20 percent down. Start your savings account at a not-local-to-you bank and then set up an online payment from your primary bank to the savings account. You can automate the transfer to happen every pay period and it will be hard to withdraw from mindlessly when you want a pair of concert tickets.  

Improve Your Credit 

Unless you're paying cash or going through a mortgage lender who uses transitional underwriting, having the highest possible credit score is important in order to get the best interest rate. Don't get ripped off by a scammer who will promise to boost your credit in 30 days; such claims are generally not true. You can do a few things that can help boost your credit score, such as getting mistakes removed and making payments on all of your bills. Long term approaches include paying off debt so that your debt to credit ratio is lower and paying off collections (which stay on your report for seven years) so that their time starts going down.  

Budget for Extra Expenses 

Moving comes with more expenses than just the trucks and boxes. You may view this as a chance to deep clean, so renting a dumpster might be in order. You'll likely be so busy with packing and house-related paperwork that you don't have time to cook or clean, so extra money needs to be devoted to take out meals and hiring a housekeeper.  

Find a Home Insurance Policy 

Not all home insurance policies cover all areas or all of your particular needs. You'll need to decide what kind of coverage you need, such as whether or not you are in a high risk area for flooding or earthquakes, and then make a list of the criteria you need so that you can shop for a suitable policy easily.  

Posted 6:40 PM

Tags: home insurance
Share |


No Comments


Post a Comment
Required
Required (Not Displayed)
Required


All comments are moderated and stripped of HTML.

NOTICE: This blog and website are made available by the publisher for educational and informational purposes only. It is not be used as a substitute for competent insurance, legal, or tax advice from a licensed professional in your state. By using this blog site you understand that there is no broker client relationship between you and the blog and website publisher.
Blog Archive
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021

  • auto insurance(8)
  • business insurance(7)
  • home insurance(5)
  • bop insurance(2)
  • homeowners insurance(2)
  • umbrella insurance(1)
  • home and auto insurance(1)

View Mobile Version
Contact us
925-256-1300 1910 Olympic Blvd, #350 | Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Quick Links
Home Our Products Customer Service Payment Options Report a Claim About Us Our Carriers Partners Blog Contact Us
Location
1910 Olympic Blvd, #350
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
P: 925-256-1300
F: 925-287-8959



Twitter Icon LinkedIn Icon Yelp Icon


© Copyright. All rights reserved.
Powered by Insurance Website Builder