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Does getting pre-approved for a mortgage guarantee you’ll get a loan?

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Maurie Backman | USA Today – The Motley Fool | mortgage guarantee

There are certain steps it pays to take when you embark on a home search. You should spend some time interviewing real estate agents, make a wish list of the home features you’re looking for, and get pre-approved for a mortgage. Some buyers, however, don’t take that final step, either because they don’t know about it or because they don’t understand how it works. Here are a few things you should know about mortgage pre-approval.

1. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage doesn’t guarantee you a home loan

You might assume that if a mortgage lender pre-approves you for a home loan, you’re automatically guaranteed that mortgage once you’re ready to sign it. But that’s not the case. Mortgage pre-approval is not the same as getting an actual mortgage, and if your financial circumstances change between the time you’re pre-approved and the time you want to apply for a home loan, you may be denied.

Still, getting pre-approved is a step in the right direction. And if nothing changes for the worse, financially speaking, then there’s a strong chance you will get a mortgage once you want one.

2. It can make for a more efficient home search

When you go through the pre-approval process, a lender gives you a specific amount that you can borrow based on your income and the funds you have available for a down payment. Having that number is important because it can help you avoid looking at homes that are outside of your price range.

3. It could help you beat out another buyer in a bidding war

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Sparta Hay Bale Decorating Shield Insurance Agency Blog

Decorating a Hay Bale in Sparta Michigan

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Sparta Hay Bale Decorating Contest!

TO DECORATE:

Email chamber@spartami.org to register to decorate a bale! A location will be randomly selected for you, the hay bale decorating must be completed by Sept. 12

DISPLAY:

The decorated bales will be on display from Sept. 13-Sept. 26

TO VOTE:

Voting will be done TWO ways: 1, we will have a “like” contest on a Facebook post (that will be posted with a photo of each bale, this will be posted September 14!) AND voting will take place IN PERSON during Michigan Apple Fest in the Sparta Chamber Offices! The combination of both votes will be the placing of 1st, 2nd, 3rd places!

PRIZES:

The top 3 places will be awarded $100 in SPARTA BUCKS!

RULES: The hay bale must stay upright as you find it. Add decor, paint, pics, etc. into the hay bale, the items must be removed by Sept. 26 or the items will be thrown away. Photos of your bale will be taken on Monday, September 13 for voting.

We are getting so excited, we wanted to pull up some photos from last year for some inspiration!!

Click here for the details!

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How does my home deductible work?

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Safeco Insurance & Liberty Mutual Small Commercia

A home insurance deductible is what you pay out of pocket to repair your home if you have a claim. For example, if you have a $500 deductible and $2,000 in repair costs, you’ll pay $500 and Safeco will pay the remaining $1,500. You have a choice of deductible amounts; choosing a higher deductible lowers your insurance rate but requires greater out-of-pocket expenses should you have an accident. Connect with your Safeco independent agent today to get the details and determine the deductible options for your home.

Disclaimer: Subject to policy terms, conditions, and limitations. Discounts and savings available where state laws and regulations allow and may vary by state. State insurance requirements apply. Insurance offered by Safeco Insurance Company of America and affiliates, Boston, MA

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How to Get Rid of Stuff at Home

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Our decluttering tips will help you figure out what you no longer need

By Kevin Doyle | August 05, 2021 | Consumer Reports | Get rid of Stuff | Home Insurance

Sealed in a plastic bag in the back of Kris Schwartz’s bedroom closet is the student nurse’s uniform that her mother wore 80 years ago, complete with pinafore and removable cuffs. Her mother’s nursing cape hangs in a downstairs closet, and a journal her mother-in-law kept is safely stashed in the desk drawer of a home office. These relics are just a metaphorical speck in the “tsunami of stuff” Schwartz says she and her husband have accumulated in their Maine home over the decades.

“I have loads of books, mementos, baby clothes, and letters from people I’ve forgotten about stuffed in my closets and my cellar,” Schwartz says. “The garage is so full it’s sometimes hard to get a car into. Most of it serves no purpose or function, but I can’t get rid of it.”

Marie Kondo’s approach to tidying up may have inspired her fans to fold their underwear like origami, but it took a pandemic for many Americans to start to deal with their surfeit of stuff. “A lot of people suddenly needed to find space for two home offices as well as schooling at home,” says Cindy Sullivan, president of the nonprofit Institute for Challenging Disorganization. “The pandemic definitely contributed to a lot of decluttering.” Many secondhand and resale stores, hauling companies, and professional organizers have reported an uptick in business.

Rule 1: Get Ready to Let Go

For Dawn Castagna, a health industry executive in New York, getting started is the hardest part. “Analysis paralysis definitely applies to me,” she admits. “My wife says, ‘We haven’t used it, so it’s going.’ But I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t know. Who would be the right person to give it to? Should we sell it?’ And when I’m not sure about the right way to get rid of something, I just stop.” If you’re facing similar struggles, these three questions can help jump-start the process:

1. Do you really need it? Anything you don’t use or have multiples of can probably go. “Nobody needs 18 spatulas,” Ferrari says.

2. Can you easily replace it? Amanda Scudder, MSW, a professional organizer in Richmond, Va., recommends the $20/20-minute rule: Anything that would cost $20 or less and take 20 minutes or less to acquire again can probably go without creating much regret.

3. If you’re not using it now, will you want it in five or 10 years? “If it’s already in storage, ask yourself why you need to keep it,” says Amy Tokos, president of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals.

You also want to start small. Instead of tackling the garage, start with clothes. “Once you see how much lighter and more energized you feel after decluttering your wardrobe,” Scudder says, “you can take that energy into tougher categories.”

Ferrari recommends not handling anything you’re considering getting rid of. “It’s better to have a friend or professional organizer hold it up for you,” he says. “Once you touch it, you’re more likely to keep it.”

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What commercial insurance is required in Michigan?

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Protecting your business takes the right commercial insurance. Your policy can be customized by your insurance agent to give you all the protection you need and none that doesn’t apply to your business. At Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan, we have the commercial insurance policy experience you are looking for. We will make sure you have the commercial insurance mandated by the state of Michigan. 

Mandated insurance

Commercial auto insurance

In the state of Michigan, all business-owned vehicles must be covered by commercial auto insurance. The required amount of commercial auto insurance you must carry is 20/40/10. That is $20,000 for injuries to one person in an accident with a total of $40,000 for the entire accident with $10,000 property damage. While this is the required amount, it may not be the correct amount for your business. 

Workers’ compensation insurance

If your business has one or more full-time employees, you must have workers’ compensation insurance. 

While these are the mandated commercial insurances, they are not the only ones that can benefit your business. 

Not Mandated but a good idea

Commercial liability insurance

Between 36% and 53% of small businesses are sued every year. That means that your chance of being involved in litigation is pretty high. Not only could there be a judgment against you, but you would also be responsible for the legal fees that go along with defending yourself. Commercial liability insurance can make the difference between surviving and having to close your doors. 

Commercial property insurance

If a covered peril hits your business, it could destroy everything you need to do business. Your inventory, your machinery, your raw materials, your office equipment, and your records. Without commercial property insurance would you be able to replace all these things and get back to work? If the answer is no, this is the insurance you need. 

Contact Shield Insurance Agency in Michigan when you are ready to customize your commercial insurance.

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Don’t Wait to Renew Your Passport

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Americans planning international travel face processing delays

by Larry Bleiberg, AARP, Updated July 19, 2021 | Renew Your Passport | Shield Insurance

En español | If you’re planning an international trip, check your passport’s expiration date now. It could take more than four months to get a new one.

The U.S. State Department projects a wait of up to 18 weeks for renewals, and some customers are reporting even longer delays. Those paying an extra $60 for expedited service can still expect to wait up to 12 weeks for their document. Those processing times begin the day the department receives your application, not the day you mail it.

And appointments for last-minute, in-person processing are extremely limited.

The problem is — what else? — COVID-19.

In March 2020, when pandemic restrictions were first imposed, the State Department sent most employees home, and severely scaled back processing applications. When workers began to return to the office, in June 2020, they faced a backlog of applications. Now, a year later, they still haven’t caught up with the demand, a State Department spokesman said. There are also mail delivery delays, according to the State Department website, which notes that the 18-month processing-time estimate includes up to six weeks for mailing.

As more people get vaccinated and begin to plan international trips, the backlog is likely to grow, resulting in even longer processing delays. “Put your forms in as fast as you can,” says Jeremy Scott Foster of TravelFreak.com, a travel advice website. “Unfortunately, there is no workaround. All queues are long.”

The passport delay has caused some travelers to cancel trips. For example, Samantha Meabon, a physician assistant from western Pennsylvania, needed a new passport because of a name change. The process took four months, forcing her to cancel a planned trip to St. Lucia and Martinique in the Caribbean in May. “Although we planned much further ahead of time than we normally would, we ended up having to continue to postpone international travel,” she says.

Another reason to renew early: Some countries won’t admit travelers with passports that expire in less than six months.

How to apply for or renew a passport

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How to Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

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U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

By Jim Travers | July 12, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. | US News.com | Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

Insurance bundling simply means buying your home insurance and auto or other coverage from the same company. Bundling insurance policies can have some advantages; most notably, potential savings on your overall insurance costs. It can also simplify your bill paying and record keeping. But bundling doesn’t guarantee savings, and it may not be the right choice for you. We’ll explain why below, along with how bundling works, the advantages and disadvantages, and the potential pitfalls.

What Is Insurance Bundling?

Purchasing more than one insurance policy from the same company is a common practice known as bundling. It can sometimes save customers money compared to buying homeowners and auto or other insurance policies through different companies. More formally known as a multipolicy discount or multiple line discount, insurance companies encourage bundling as a means of saving money on your overall bill. Most insurers advertise savings of between 10% and 25% when bundling two or more policies, compared to what they would charge for each policy individually.

Insurance companies like bundling as a way to generate additional revenue from the same customer. Research has also indicated that customers who bundle policies tend to stay with the same company longer.

If you’re buying your first home, bundling is especially worth considering. It’s also an excellent time to review all your insurance needs and get competitive quotes from several companies, especially if you haven’t reviewed your auto policy or other coverage in a year or more. As your situation changes over time, it’s important to make sure your insurance keeps up.

A good place to start is by seeing if you can get a better rate with your existing insurance company by adding a homeowners policy – just make sure you get competitive quotes from other providers first. You might end up switching to another company with lower overall rates, or you may be able to use a lower quote as a negotiating tool with your current insurance company.

While you’re getting quotes, think about all your insurance needs and consider any changes or updates you want to make to all your policies. The more types of insurance you bundle, the more money you may be able to save. It’s possible that not all insurers will offer all the coverage you need, so focus your search on companies that do.

Bundling insurance has other advantages, like allowing you to track and update your policies through one company website or app. It can also simplify paying your bills.

Finding a company that will give you the best discount will probably require some research, and rates will vary depending on the types of coverage you need, your location, your credit status, your claim history, and other factors. It’s worth doing your own research online, because everyone’s situation is different. Just because a friend or relative gets a good rate with one company doesn’t mean that you will.

Does Bundling Insurance Save Money?

There’s a good chance you will save money by bundling your home insurance with another policy such as your automobile, boat, RV, or life insurance. Your specific savings will vary, depending on where you live, how many policies you bundle, your credit rating, your claim history, and other factors.

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Farmers Market in Hudsonville, MI

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Visit Shield Insurance at the Farmers Market
on July 28, August 25, and September 25

Register to win a RoboVac 35C Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum Regularly priced at $300 !

The weather was beautiful for a morning out and about for the first Hudsonville Farmers Market. The food and people were fabulous and it was fun to meet a lot of new people. Come and see us!

Click here to visit the Farmers Market web site for all the details!

Shield Insurance Agency at the Hudsonville Farmers Market
Shield Insurance Agency at the Hudsonville Farmers Market
Shield Insurance Agency at the Hudsonville Farmers Market
Shield Insurance Agency at the Hudsonville Farmers Market
Shield Insurance Agency at the Hudsonville Farmers Market
Shield Insurance Agency at the Hudsonville Farmers Market
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How Big Data Drives Insurance Innovation and Better Experiences

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How big data drives insurance innovation and better experiences

As advanced technologies continue to fuel disruptive changes in many industries today, insurers are intent on leveraging the benefits of big data, also known as data analytics, to help improve everything from customer service to underwriting.

Here are three areas where the value of data analytics and technology is already fueling insurance innovation and better customer experiences.

  • AI-based underwriting
    Artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating the technology revolution currently underway in insurance. In fact, according to one forecast, the transformative effect of AI and machine learning on the insurance process just can’t be overstated. As AI continues to evolve, the report concludes, it’s likely to shift insurance from the perspective of “detect and repair” to “predict and prevent.” In our connected world of big data and digital devices, for example, insurers already are leveraging usage-based information to better understand customer risks and coverage needs. This predictive data is inspiring new products, more tailored underwriting, and real-time service delivery. Consider a manufacturing facility where information from wearable-equipped employees and fleet telematics is connected to an actuarial database. Using AI algorithms, an insurer could calculate the business’s risk based on employees’ and vehicles’ activities, as well as the probability and severity of potential events. The benefits of a data-driven approach help both customers and insurers by:
    • Encouraging safety;
    • Delivering more accurate risk assessments and underwriting;
    • Helping to reduce claims costs; and
    • Changing the customer-insurer relationship from reactive to proactive.

The bottom line? When first-hand data informs the insurance situation, the benefits can include better risk identification and underwriting evaluation and more tailored solutions

Proactive policy management via big data automation

Technology is also creating easier access to more reliable data and speedier evaluation of risk.

Liberty Mutual Insurance and its technology partners are harnessing this power of big data to more accurately identify account opportunities and develop proactive coverage solutions for customers. Through its latest relationship with Intellect SEEC, for example, thousands of third-party data sources – like court filings, industry data, and government records, – are analyzed and packaged into actionable information so underwriters can more quickly identify, underwrite, and service potential accounts. The result is a win-win for brokers and customers, providing:

An enhanced ability to understand each potential customer’s insurance service and product needs,

An ongoing window into an account to identify new needs, which can help to customize coverage options and solutions to meet changing risks.

With these deeper insights, Liberty Mutual can more quickly understand current and potential customer needs and create product solutions that help customers better manage their exposures. 

  • Smart contracts powered by blockchain
    As blockchain technology continues to matu

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Hello 2020-21 NBA Season!

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Things you need to know about the 2020-21 NBA season

Here are some common questions and answers about the format, rules, scheduling, structure, and health protocols of the 2020-21 NBA season.

The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced on Nov. 9 that they’ve struck a deal on rules for the 2020-21 NBA season, which will start on Dec. 22. On November 10, the NBA’s Board of Governors approved the amended Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2020-21 by a unanimous vote, allowing the 2020-21 season to begin. The NBA announced the 2020-21 season structure and format, including a playoff Play-In Tournament on Nov. 17.

In anticipation of the new NBA season, here are some common questions and answers about the 2020-21 NBA season.

Q: When does the 2020-21 NBA season begin and end?

Dec. 22 is the start date. The end of the 2020-21 season is tentatively scheduled for May 16.

Q: When did training camps open? When was the preseason?

Individual player workouts ran from Dec. 1-5 with Media “Week” taking place during the same time frame. Group player workouts went from Dec. 6-10 and the preseason ran from Dec. 11-19. In the preseason, each team played a minimum of two and a maximum of four games as part of the NBA’s 49-game preseason schedule. The game schedule for the 2020 preseason is available here.

Q: How many games will each team play in the 2020-21 NBA season

Each team will play 72 regular-season games, which is 10 games fewer than in a typical, 82-game NBA season.

Q: What does the 2020-21 schedule look like?

The schedule will be released in two segments, with the First Half of the schedule coming around the start of training camp and the Second Half of the schedule coming out during the latter part of the First Half. For now, the plan is for each team to play three games against each intraconference opponent (42 total), and two against each interconference opponent (30 games).

Q: How will the Play-In Tournament be structured?

The Play-In Tournament, which will take place after the regular season and before the first round of the playoffs, will include the teams with the seventh-highest through the tenth-highest winning percentages in each conference. For further information on the Play-In Tournament, click here.

Q: What are the Key Dates for the 2020-21 NBA season?

• Dec. 1-5: Individual player workouts and Media “Week”
• Dec. 6-10: Group player workouts begin• Dec. 11-19: Preseason games
• Dec. 22 – March 4: First Half of regular season
• March 5-9: All-Star break
• March 10-May 16: Second Half of regular season
• March 25: NBA Trade Deadline
• May 13-15: Class of 2020 Hall of Fame Enshrinement
• May 18-21: Play-In Tournament
• May 22-July 22: 2021 NBA Playoffs

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