Beginners Guide to Home Buying

Save 20% when you bundle home & auto

A beginners quick guide to buying a home

Buying a home can be a big, intimidating step to undertake, especially if it’s your first time. After all, for most of us, our home is arguably one of the most valuable financial assets that we will have in our life. Nobody wants to make a mess of their first home – and their finances.
In this article, Magnum Insurance will help you demystify the home buying process. From before you even make an offer to after you complete the purchase, this short guide will tell you the basics of buying a home.

Three Stages of Buying a Home

Before: considerations

You don’t just drive around until you find a ‘house for sale’ sign. Instead, you sit down and lay out the foundations for your purchase. These ’foundations’ are the primary considerations that you have for choosing the house that you want to buy, such as:

  • Needs: Can’t live without a walk-in closet? How about a dedicated laundry room? A bar in the kitchen? Your needs refer to all the non-negotiables that you can’t go without in your new home.
  • Wants: Do you want a certain architecture type or a specific stand-out feature? This refers to the things you’d like to get, but don’t mind if they’re not available.
  • Financing: How much do you qualify for, and how much can you actually afford? Make sure not to go over budget.
  • Agent: Shopping for a suitable home and making an offer is not an easy task. It’s not impossible to do everything alone, but it’s going to be significantly more difficult. A qualified agent can help make the process go much smoother.
  • Insurance: It’s a must to plan the type of homeowners insurance that you want to get. To get the best rates, look for expert dealers such as Magnum Insurance.
During: Making a offer

Once you’ve assessed the considerations mentioned above, the first thing you should do is to contact your trusted agent and shop around for choices.
Make sure to check the background and history of the house. Agents are legally required by law to disclose everything to buyers, but it never hurts to be extra careful. It’s also a good idea to look at hazard maps to see if the home is prone to earthquakes, flooding, and the like.
Once you have two or three final choices, you should secure your finances first before making an offer. Don’t feel bound by loyalty to your current bank, as mortgage rates are surprisingly varied out in the wild.
Only after you’ve done these should you make an offer with the help of your agent. Don’t forget to do an official home inspection before closing the deal.

After: Furnishings and Security

You finally have a new home. Great!
That said, the process doesn’t end there – you have to think about the actual things that make a house your home. This includes furniture, appliances, security systems, and financial insurance.
Most of these things you can build up over time, but one thing you must never forgo is homeowners insurance. Being protected from day one can help you avoid financial disasters that can potentially cripple your finances when you’re most vulnerable.

Preparing for a House Purchase

Buying a house is no small task, so you should do your best to make the right decisions. With this short guide, we’ve told you what to expect. Hopefully, you’re now better equipped to handle this exciting journey!


Magnum Insurance makes homeowners insurance easy

Insurance should be easy, and with Magnum Insurance, it is. Get your online insurance done at your convenience now!
Make a Payment
Flexible payment options including cash. Call, visit a store, or make a payment online by logging into your account.
Get our mobile app
Manage your policy. File and track a claim. Do it all with a few taps on your smartphone.
Easy claims
No one likes to file or manage a claim. That’s why we make the process easy with online forms and dedicated agents.

Get a free Home Insurance quote today

Get the homeowners insurance coverage you need with Magnum Insurance. Talk to an agent today by giving us a call or visiting one of our offices located across Illinois and Indiana.

Is there a local Home Insurance agent near me?

Try our Location Finder to find the nearest agent near you.