Looking for home insurance for a condo in the San Jose area. Any recommandation? I am a first time home buyer so I don't know much about home insurance. So any tips and suggestions would be great! Thanks in advance!

Leo

BTW, thank you guys for helping me in this thread

 

congratulations on the new house!!

depending on your car insurance carrier, many insurance companies offer discounts if you insure your vehicle, and home, life, etc...with them. you should check if your car insurance provider offers this. state farm insurance and mercury insurance both offer discounts for multiple policies.

i am currently with state farm, for my home owners insurance, they are a bit more expensive but were recommended to me by my parents. speaking out of experience, it helps a great deal when you tack on your premiums to your mortgage. you don't have to worry about coming up with the money when the bill comes twice a year.

 

we have state farm too, same as our car insurance so we got the extra discount. my parents have state farm home insurance too.

though i can;t say if they are good or not because we really didn't shop around for this, we just did it because of car ins and my parents recommened them.

btw, congrats!

 

let me also say, that having the car and home owners insurance with one company makes a difference in the car insurance of just over $300 a year.

 

thanks again guys! I have 21st century... Hmmm... should I switch? But my term doesn't end until October.

wrexxy, $300 a year! What was it before you got the house?

btw, the escrow is not closed yet, heck, I haven't even removed the contingencies yet. Inspections should happen in a day or two. I am glad that my buying power is a lot higher than I originally expected. But still can't afford a house, only a condo. But I guess I have to start somewhere right?

 

you know, it's funny how things turn out. I sold my car about a month and a half ago. I was going to get a new car because I felt my car was under power in autox and rallyx. About two weeks after I sold my car, I realized I have no debt except for my two student loans, which are even lower (two combined) than what I owed on my car. I was only joking around with my friends about getting a place. And here I am, already in contract! It's pretty crazy and exciting!

Just wanted to share....

 

I'm real happy with my company - Farmers.

as for wrexxys comments:

If you get a policy discount from having your can and house on one policy, that's called an umbrella policy. The actual discount is not static across companies, it varies.

When he says tacking on your premiums to your mortgage, this is called an "impound account". Basically it increases your mortgage payment a bit from month to month, but the money you pay in to that goes to paying your property taxes and home owners insurance. This is DEFINITELY the way to go, otherwise you'll get two property tax bills per year. My house is being taxed at $235k and is, I think $1800 or $2000 a year, which means you'd get two bills, each for half that total. If you hav an impound account, you get the statements and a good feeling seeing what you WOULD owe without and impound account.

 

I hear ya, man. I bought my house two years ago and it was a REAL fast and scary process. One day I wasn't looking to buy, next thing I know we're moving in to our new place

It's SO much fun. Having a house is so great too..good luck with yours, man.

 

Get a Rottweiler. Your back yard might go down in value but
nothing in the house is going anywhere.

 

the problem is, it's an upstairs unit condo, no back yard.

 

Congrats on a new home.... bay area land is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Dude... that must be wrong. I have Allstate and still pay over $500 every 6 months- no tickets/accidents. I have my homeowners through them too. I've checked around and never found a lower rate. If you're getting that price, it must be every 6 months or something.......

 

I had Allstate before. They were charging me almost double comparing to 21st. They really pissed me off with the whole billing thing (not on the rate). Oh well...

 

thanks, I hope that stays true when I sell/rent the place out.