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Taylor Agency Staff

Buying Your First Home

May 7, 2018 by Taylor Agency Staff

Is your apartment too small? Are you ready to have a yard? Is it finally time to buy a home? Once you have made the exciting decision to buy a home, what do you do next? In reality, buying a home for the first time can be a daunting task. There are houses to be hunted and contracts to be signed. The to-do list might seem endless. Rest assured! Tons of people do it every day. In order to point you in the right direction, here are a few tips to help guide you as you begin looking for your first home:

 

Before you start shopping for a home…

  • Get pre-approved! This will help determine your budget for buying a home. Your lender will help you stay within a reasonable spending limit according to your debt to income ratio. Spend too little and you might miss out. Spend too much and you could end up losing your house. Keep in mind that pre-approval does not guarantee that you will be approved when the time comes to apply for a loan.
  • Beef up your savings! Hopefully, you already have a chunk of change in your savings account. Knowing your budget after getting pre-approved can help you determine what to do next. Keep in mind the following:
    • Down Payment – You need one! Most down payments are about 6% of the mortgage loan. There are assistance programs to help you with a down payment if you do not have enough. Your lender will be able to help you find your best options.
    • Closing Costs – Depending on if it is a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, you could end up paying all of the closings costs. This is not unusual. Do not be afraid to ask them to pay for the closing costs or even splitting the costs with you. Your real estate agent will be able to help you negotiate.
    • Other Expenses – Before you deplete your savings on a down payment and closing costs, keep in mind that you are about to become a homeowner. It is more expensive than renting since you are responsible for maintenance and repairs. You might need to have a budget for moving as well. Keep some cushion in your savings for things like this.
  • Determine your needs vs your wants in a home. What is necessary for you? Is it a good neighborhood near good schools? Is a new roof a must have? Do you want a big yard? Be flexible. Cosmetic items like appliances, paint, and light fixtures can always be changed later. DIY projects can end up giving you equity once you are ready to sell.

 

Starting the process…

  • Find a good realtor and a great lender. Don’t be afraid to shop around. You are finding your home for the next several years if not forever. Ask around. Shop around.
  • Look for a home that is congruent with your goals within the next five years. If you want to start a family, get a few extra bedrooms. If you want to build a garden, look for a bigger yard. Be careful not to get too far ahead though! Remember to stay within your budget.
  • Inspections and insurance
    • Never buy a house without an inspection! Things like bad electrical wiring or old plumbing can produce significant repair costs that you are not prepared to pay. An inspection can reveal expensive problems. Even though you will be paying for the inspection, it will be worth it in the long run.
    • Jessy Adams, one of our Personal Lines agents, recommends checking the flood zone in addition to the age of the roof and HVAC system. These are all factors that are considered by underwriters when qualifying for coverage and finding the best price for you.
    • When you find the house, call your insurance agent. Kim Taylor of Taylor Agency says, “Get your insurance agent involved early on in the home buying process. He or she may be able to make suggestions that could be helpful during the due diligence period.” You will also want plenty of time to make sure that you are getting appropriate coverage. Call Taylor Agency today to find the right coverage for you!

 

After you have made your purchase…

  • Change your address on all of your accounts to your new address– banks, credit cards, loans, Netflix, etc.
  • Transfer your utilities to the new place. Running water would be sorely missed after a long day of lifting heavy furniture.
  • Relax and enjoy your new home!

 

 

Crone, Emily Starbuck. “25 Tips for First Time Home Buyers.” NerdWallet, 29 Jan. 2018, www.nerdwallet.com/blog/mortgages/25-tips-for-first-time-home-buyers/.

Filed Under: Personal Insurance, Homeowners

Daniel Island Luxury Home Tour 2018

May 2, 2018 by Taylor Agency Staff

Taylor Agency is an annual sponsor of Charleston Home + Design Magazine’s Daniel Island Luxury Home Tour. As the official tour ticket headquarters, our Daniel Island office personal lines agent, Michael Dew, helped guests pick up their tickets before the weekend show. With eight custom homes featured this year, the tour’s proceeds will benefit the East Cooper Habitat for Humanity.

“I had a great time hosting the Daniel Island Home Tour this past weekend. It was great opportunity to catch up with current clients, be involved with the community, and network with potential clients. If you would like me to review your insurance portfolio, please feel free to contact me! I would love the opportunity to review your accounts and make sure you and your family’s assets are protected.” – Michael Dew (04-2018)
 

Taylor Agency recognizes the unique needs of our high net worth clients, including multiple property portfolios, historic homes, waterfront properties, and beach homes. As your insurance advisor, we have access to the best markets in our region (like AIG, Chubb, and PURE). Each year, your annual reviews will be relationship-driven, comprehensive, and professionally tailored to leverage insurance as cost effective tool to strengthen your personal risk management portfolio.

In addition to insuring historic preservations, art collections, commissioned jewelry designs, and yachts, we provide many other coverage options for high value assets.

Schedule an insurance review with Michael today!

Filed Under: Sponsorship, Homes: High-Value & Historical

Serving More Than You Expect

April 24, 2018 by Taylor Agency Staff

We’d like to shout out to Heather Minter of ServiceMaster of Charleston! Our office took a few minutes to enjoy the warm weather with a few ice cream treats.

“ServiceMaster serves more than you expect.” As shown (Left to Right): Paige Edwards, Sam Vallone, Collins Gundling, Mark Reed, Heather Minter, and Ethan Rutland (2018).

Filed Under: On the Lighter Side

Advocating Exercise and Teamwork

April 19, 2018 by Taylor Agency Staff

As an advocate for encouraging teamwork and promoting exercise amongst our youth, Taylor Agency’s We Make A Difference sponsored two Youth Soccer Leagues this year (City of Charleston & Mount Pleasant). As shown, youths, Macy Jones and Ali Wheeler, pose with their coaches/dads (and our clients) Jonathan Jones and Billy Wheeler (2018). Click the article’s title to see the photos.

Filed Under: Community Involvement, Sponsorship, We Make A Difference

Closed for Good Friday 2018

March 23, 2018 by Taylor Agency Staff

Taylor Agency will close at 4:oopm on Thursday, March 29th and remain closed on Friday, March 30th in observance of Good Friday. We will return to normal business at 8:30am on Monday, April 2nd.

Filed Under: Agency Related, Holiday Schedule

Entrepreneurial Risk, The BOP Policy

February 20, 2018 by Taylor Agency Staff

When thinking about the risks entrepreneurs and small business owners embrace when venturing into commercial business, Taylor Agency’s professional expertise becomes an invaluable resource. Remarkably, our industry offers a specialized policy catered to provide the majority of your coverage needs. We call it a Businessowners Policy (BOP). Now is the time to learn the basics of small business coverage. Call us (843-762-1805), and let us craft the best options to fit your evolving business needs.

Filed Under: Commercial Insurance, Businessowners Policy (BOP)

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