With all the steps involved in buying a home these days, there’s plenty of room for confusion. But remember, you’re not buying just any home. You’re buying a new MCL home and you’re doing it with the support of your MCL team.  Sales people, trusted lenders, and customer care representatives from MCL are all working to make sure your MCL home-buying experience is a smooth one.  In many cases, avoiding the major pitfalls of home-buying is simply a matter of understanding the basic home-buying process and knowing what to expect.  Here are the steps for buying your new MCL home.

Determine Your Price Range

Your price range for a new home depends on a number of factors such as income, credit rating, monthly expenses, the down payment you are able to make, and the interest rate on your home loan.  It’s sometimes possible to calculate a rough price range on your own, but be sure to consult a licensed lender (such as those on our “Financing Your Home” page) for a hard number before looking too seriously.

MCL Companies works hard to provide beautiful, well-finished homes for buyers with a variety of price ranges so that once you do determine your price range, you can find an MCL home that suits you.

Look For A Loan

One of the most important ways to save money in the home-buying process is to spend time researching your loan.  Consult a number of lenders, comparing costs and interest rates.  Sometimes these numbers are negotiable—it never hurts to ask.  Many buyers prefer to get pre-approval for their loan, as it streamlines the home-buying process afterward.

Look For A Home

You need to decide on what factors are most of important to you in a new home.  Square footage?  Price?  Proximity to schools or work?  Whatever your priorities are, identify and rank them.  If you stick to your ranking of importance, it makes comparing different homes much easier.

Another useful strategy for house hunting is to create a checklist of features and conditions for each home.  Put your list of important features on your checklist first, then add other relevant items.  Many of your items will deal with the home itself: exterior condition, closet space, energy efficiency, etc.  But don’t forget to take notes on neighborhood features such as convenience to supermarket, schools, work, places of worship, public transportation, etc.

Look For Insurance

In order to be eligible for a home loan, home insurance is a must.  Just like with your mortgage, spend the time to shop around to find the best deal for you.  Because safety features come standard in all MCL homes, many of our buyers receive home insurance discounts for:  smoke detectors, fire retardant roofing material, dead-bolt locks, and other security systems.  MCL home buyers over the age of 55 or those with long-standing insurance agent relationships may receive additional discounts.

It never hurts to talk to your insurance agent about special coverage you might need.  Insurance for items like electronics, jewelry, art, antiques, and other valuables may require an addition to your policy or a separate policy altogether. 

Close On Your New MCL Home

Once all insurance and mortgage matters are taken care of, you’re ready to take the last step and take possession of your new MCL Home. Working closely with your lender, your insurance agent, and the MCL team to follow the steps above will get you to the final stage of home-buying smoothly and expediently.