For save on home insurance # Raise your deductible

Raise your deductible

The deductible is the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance kicks in. Typically, home insurance deductibles start at $250. The Insurance Information Institute (III) estimates that if you increase your deductible to $500, you can save up to 12 percent on your premiums. Increase it to $1,000 and save up to 24 percent. But make sure you can afford to pay the higher deductible out of pocket if something should happen.

For save on home insurance # Check around

Check around

Check with several different home insurance companies to get rate quotes. An independent insurance agent can provide rate quotes from multiple companies. Ask around: Do your friends and family like their home insurance company?

Before buying a home

Ask yourself these questions:
1) Do we prefer a rural or city setting?
2) What recreational facilities are important to us?3
) How far am I willing to be from work?
4) Is access to public transportation or school buses important?
5) What type of housing is our ideal - single family home, townhome, condominium, country home?
6) What type of rooms do we need? How many living areas, bedrooms and bathrooms?
7) What are our future needs? Is our family growing or will children be nearing adulthood? Do we foresee needing a home office or would we like to have space for a pool?
8) What is the difference between the average home price in my current town, and the average in my destination? What will the same dollar buy - more or less? What about cost of living other than housing? Factor in any difference in your salary or income that the move will bring.
9) What loan amount do we qualify for? What monthly payment is comfortable for us? Will we have any trouble qualifying?