• Common First-Time Home Buyer Mistakes
• Lender Checklist: What You Need for a Mortgage
• Specialty Mortgages: Risks and Rewards
• 5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score
• 5 Property Tax Questions You Need to Ask
• 6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home
• 8 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search
• 10 Questions to Ask Your Lender
• Budget Basics Worksheet
• How Big of a Mortgage Can I Afford?
• Loan Types to Consider
• Get Your Finances in Order: To-Do List
• Common Closing Costs for Buyers
• How High Tech Home is Your Home?
• Pros and Cons of Going Condo
• Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR®
• Take the Stress Out of Home Buying
• Thinking of Making an Offer on a Short Sale? What You Need to Know
• Tax Benefits of Homeownership
• Tips for Lowering Homeowner’s Insurance Costs
• What You Can Do to Improve Your Credit
• Your Property Wish List
• 5 Things to know About Homeowner's Insurance

• 5 Things to Know About Title Insurance
• 7 Reasons to Own Your Home
• 10 Questions to Ask Home Inspectors
• 10 Questions to Ask the Condo Board
• 17 Tips for Packing Like a Pro
• Closing Documents You Should Keep
• Tips for Buying in a Tight Market
• Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
• What a Home Inspection Should Cover
• What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through
• What’s a Home Warranty?
• Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®

• Simply Stated Closing Summary: A quick reference guide used during the closing process to help the homebuyer better understand the key terms of their settlement documents. (Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Japanese, & Tagalog)

• Prepare and Avoid: 70-Something Ways You Could Lose Your Home:  (Available in English, American, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian, Hindi, & Punjabi)  Title insurance is one of the most valuable forms of security that a home buyer/seller can have, yet its benefits are rarely explained.  This brochure provides the information.

• 41 Steps To Buying Your Home (Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, & Vietnamese) This color-coordinated checklist outlines the functions of the real estate professional, the lender, and the title company team.

• En Camino Al Sueno Americano -The Home Buying Process DVD This seven minute step-by-step description of the home buying process will assist in explaining the real estate process to first-time homebuyers, in Spanish.

Tips for Lowering Homeowner’s Insurance Costs

1. Review the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report on the property you’re interested in buying. CLUE reports detail the property’s claims history for the most recent five years, which insurers may use to deny coverage. Make the sale contingent on a home inspection to ensure that problems identified in the CLUE report have been repaired.

2. Seek insurance coverage as soon as your offer is approved. You must obtain insurance to buy. And you don’t want to be told at closing that the insurer has denied your coverage.  

3. Maintain good credit. Insurers often use credit-based insurance scores to determine premiums.  

4. Buy your home owners and auto policies from the same company and you’ll usually qualify for savings. But make sure the discount really yields the lowest price.

5. Raise your deductible. If you can afford to pay more toward a loss that occurs, your premiums will be lower. Avoid making claims under $1,000.

6. Ask about other discounts. For example, retirees who tend to be home more than full-time workers may qualify for a discount on theft insurance. You also may be able to obtain discounts for having smoke detectors, a burglar alarm, or dead-bolt locks.

7. Seek group discounts. If you belong to any groups, such as associations or alumni organizations, they may have deals on insurance coverage.

8. Review your policy limits and the value of your home and possessions annually. Some items depreciate and may not need as much coverage.

9. Investigate a government-backed insurance plan. In some high-risk areas, federal or state government may back plans to lower rates. Ask your agent.

10. Be sure you insure your house for the correct amount. Remember, you’re covering replacement cost, not market value.