What are the Benefits of Title Insurance?

Buying a new home, vehicle, or other piece of real property is always a major investment.  Due to the importance of these investments, making sure the asset is properly insured is an important responsibility.  For those that are located in the Laurel, MD area, one important type of insurance that must be obtained is title insurance.  There are several reasons why having title insurance is very important.

Provides Protection

When you purchase a home, vehicle, or other asset, your lender will require that a title search will be completed on the asset.  A title search will confirm whether or not there are any outstanding liens against the asset.  In the majority of situations, any outstanding liens will be properly identified and you will be aware if there are any potential responsibilities.  

While title searches are usually accurate, there are situations in which they can miss an outstanding item.  In these situations title insurance will provide you with coverage to pay for the liens that were missed on the title report.  In most cases, your lender will require you to have insurance coverage up to the amount of the outstanding loan.  

Additional Title Insurance

It may be wise to purchase additional title insurance as well.  If there is a significant lien on the asset, the lien holder could potentially use it to foreclose on your asset.  While the lender will be repaid through their policy, you could potentially lose all equity that you have in your home.  The additional title insurance will be ensure that your equity is protected. 

Due to the importance of title insurance, Laurel, MD area residents should reach out to Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial to discuss their insurance needs.  Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial will be able to explain the benefits of title insurance and make sure that your insurance needs are properly met.  

3 Reasons You Should Buy Life Insurance

One of the most important financial decisions you can make is buying life insurance. Though life insurance is important whether in Laurel, MD, or anywhere else, people often balk at actually buying one.

It seems logical that since nobody is immune to death, investing in life insurance is the right thing to do. Most importantly, there is no right time to get life insurance.

You don’t have to be old and near to your grave before you begin to think of something so important. It is even more expensive to buy life insurance when you are older. The more reason one should do it now.

Wouldn’t you like to know that an insurance company like Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial has got your future secured with a comprehensive life insurance?

Apart from taking care of your burial expenses, here are 3 important reasons it is prudent to buy life insurance now.

1. Live insurance takes care of Estate taxes and debts

Without life insurance, your family could become saddled with taxes on your estate. You don’t want to make life difficult for them. All outstanding debts on transactions, whether business or personal, could be paid off instantly.

Of course, you need to buy your life insurance from reputable firms to make that process stress-free for your family.

2. Take care of a financial emergency

Certain types of life insurance from firms like Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial, Laurel MD, are like a special investment vehicle.

Sometimes referred to as whole life insurance, you are allowed to tap from the cash build-up in emergencies for instance. Try and make sure this type of life insurance is explained to you fully before signing up though.

3. Provides financial security

Nobody can predict the future. But with a comprehensive life insurance, you can safely predict that your family would be taken care of when you pass away.

This is even more important if your family depends solely on your income for survival. The life insurance effectively replaces that lost income.

If you need further assistance about life insurance in Laurel, MD, feel free to contact Mid Atlantic Insurance anytime.

 

Why Is Title Insurance Important?

Let’s face it, buying a home takes a lot of hard work! With all the major decision-making and preparation going on it’s easy to overlook the small details that can end up creating huge headaches later on. While purchasing a home in Laurel, MD generally requires a title search to identify any potential problems such as liens or encumbrances, some faults aren’t immediately identified. That means you could end up paying for public records mistakes, sometimes for years!

Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial wants to help make your home-buying experience as stress-free as possible, so we’ve assembled this short guide about why title insurance is so important.

There are two types of title insurance, both are important.

If you are using a loan to help purchase your property, chances are the lender requires you to have a Loan Policy. A Loan Policy basically protects the lending institution from unforeseen problems with the title. It typically covers only the amount of money they are lending for the home.

In contrast, an Owners Policy is one that ensures you, the owner, from any future problems with the title for as long as you or your heirs own the property. This includes items that were not discovered during the initial title search. Such items include forgery, fraud, or false claims to the property by others. 

Title insurance takes time and skill.

There’s a reason most home buyers turn to a professional when it comes to getting their title insurance policy right. The process can take up to 100 different steps, sometimes more if problems do arise! Luckily most consumers won’t even have to go through this process, as their title pro will have it all taken care of before they present the policy.

If you’re interested in learning more about title insurance in Laurel, MD, don’t hesitate to contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial today! We will be happy to answer any questions you have and help get you started!

In Laurel, MD: When Is Comprehensive Insurance Required for a Vehicle?

In Laurel, MD, the agents of Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial offer all types of auto insurance to ensure you receive the type of coverage you need. Whether you are looking only for the most basic of policies, or require a comprehensive policy that protects you against a variety of risks, they can help you get exactly what you’re looking for.

The Benefits of Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage protects you from financial loss if your car is damaged in any way except for a collision. Theft, flood, fire, and vandalism are some of the most common causes of damage. It also covers hitting an animal or if the car is stolen. Comprehensive insurance is designed to cover the small things that you normally don’t think of when it comes to auto insurance. Most people are worried about collisions or other types of accidents when in reality, it can be the smaller events that do the most damage.

When Is It Required?

If you own your vehicle, you can purchase whatever type of insurance you want. If you are leasing or have a loan on your vehicle, the lending institution will require you to carry full coverage to protect them from any type of loss if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. Full coverage is a combination policy that includes both comprehensive and collision, covering almost every type of damage that could detract from the car’s value. 

The agents of Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial offer residents of Laurel, MD comprehensive auto insurance coverage to protect them from financial loss and hardship. If you have questions about your existing policy or want to learn more about the different types of available insurance, call their office today so you can get answers.

Different Kinds of Life Insurance

Life insurance is a valuable investment for you and your family. It helps protect them when you are no longer around. However, there are different kinds of life insurance options out there, which is why we at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial want to make sure you are educated on the potential opportunities available to you, whether you live in Laurel, MD or the surrounding area. 

Term Life Insurance

This is a straight forward form of life insurance. It only pays out what is known as "death benefits" as it requires the policy holder to pass on in order to pay. This does make term life insurance more affordable though, so if you’re on a budget or are not interested in the potential of withdrawing your investment early, this is usually the way to go. Term life insurance can also be purchased for set periods of time, such as 10, 20 or 30 years. 

Permanent Life Insurance

Permanent life insurance does vary from term life in that you can opt into not only death benefit protection, but there is an associated cash value to the life insurance policy. There is no time limit for when the insurance policy expires or is no longer good. As long as the premium is always paid the life insurance will stay active. There are several smaller categories of permanent life insurance available. 

Taking out a life insurance policy is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make. It provides your family with the protection they deserve while ensuring your peace of mind. There are different kinds of life insurance options out there, so if you ever have a question in Laurel, MD, make sure to contact our team at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. We are here to help. 

Breaking Down the Rate: What Factors Are Used to Determine Auto Insurance Premiums?

Auto insurance premiums include a lot of risk assessment and analysis as well as cost evaluations. Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD uses all of these cost evaluations, risk assessments, and driver information to get you an insurance policy to fit your specific needs.  If you currently quoting your insurance policy, you may find yourself asking, "exactly what factors go into determining a rate premium?" 

Your Credit Score

Maintaining a good credit score is important in many aspects of your life, and car insurance is no different.  Claims reporting has shown that drivers who maintain a higher credit score file insurance claim less frequently than those who may have fair to bad credit.

Your Past Driving Record

One of the largest factors that help to determine your premium rate is your past driving record.  If you have a past history of speeding tickets or at-fault accidents you will usually be charged a higher rate as you will be considered at higher risk for a claim.  Most insurance companies use three years of driving history when determining rates.  If you have severe risk factors, such as DU’s or reckless driving, you could pay significantly higher rates.

How Much Annual Mileage You Put on Your Car

The more miles you put on your car each year, the more likely you are to end up in a motor vehicle accident.  Less time on the road means you are less likely to file a claim and your insurance company will reflect this risk in your monthly premium.

Your Age

Statistical data has shown that differing age groups are more likely than others to get into car accidents.  More mature and experienced drivers are often more likely to be better defensive drivers and react faster.  Therefore teenagers and young adults will garner the highest premium rates.  

The Kind of Car You Drive

There are three main factors insurance companies look at when it comes to the kind of car you drive.

  • The Cost of Repair and Replacement – Your insurance company will look at what the parts will cost in the event of an accident as well as replacement value if and accident results in a total loss.
  • Safety Features – Your insurance company will look at the features that can protect the driver, the car, and the passengers in the vehicle.
  • The Amount of Damage it Can Cause – Cars that have a higher chance of inflicting significant damage in an accident will typically see higher rates in their liability insurance.

Your Selected Coverage

A significant portion of your premium will be determined by the features and coverages that you choose with your policy.  Lower deductible rates, replacement value, and towing and rental reimbursement are all features that can increase your monthly premium.

If you are looking to find ways to reduce your current insurance premium, or are shopping for a new policy, contact the experienced agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial in Laurel, MD today for an estimate.

 

 

Managing life changes: Navigating unexpected events

Life comes with unexpected changes from relocation to job changes to major illnesses, and these changes can impact your life in a wide variety of ways. In order to get through these difficult moments, you have to be prepared and have a plan in place to work through the challenges so they don’t become overwhelming. Managing life changes before they occur can help make them much easier to work through. 

There are many ways a sudden, major life change can impact your life. A job loss, illness, or death can have both an emotional and financial impact. Because of that, it can be hard to get through these life events successfully. You have to deal with the emotional challenges of the life change as well as the financial. The good news is that there are plans you can put in place to protect yourself and your family when major life events occur.

Insurance should be a component in your plan to manage major life changes. Insurance can help protect against financial strain if you or a family member becomes seriously ill or injured or in the event of a death in the family. By helping alleviate some of the financial burden that comes from a major life change, you and your family are free to deal with the emotional challenges. This can help make major life changes easier to manage.

There are many types of insurance that can help you manage major life changes that may arise in your life. For more information about insurance to protect you and your family during major life changes, contact Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial today.

Do single people need life insurance?

A lot of people make the assumption that if they’re single, they don’t need to be bothered with life insurance. The truth is that anyone who has loved ones who would suffer as a result of their death needs to have a life insurance policy in place to protect them.  If the following situations apply to your life, then you need to have life insurance.

  1. You don’t have enough assets today for your final expenses. If your estate can’t cover your funeral, then it will have to be paid for by someone else. Small policies are often sold to singles specifically for this reason. Fortunately, they are relatively cheap.
  2. You have relatives who depend on you. Kids and/or elderly parents that rely on you for financial support will be effected by your death. Life insurance funds can be used to replace child support payments as well as provide funds to attend college. They can also provide lifelong care and/or someone to take over the tasks you normally do for your parents. 
  3. You own a business. If your death would be the end of your business, then you need to be insured. While many banks will insist on a policy if you have a business loan, it’s also a good idea to keep a policy that will compensate your employees and provide them with some severance as they look for new jobs.

If any of these circumstances apply to you, then call the agents at Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. They have years of experience helping people find the life insurance policy that is right for them at a price that fits into their budget

The Easy Way to Update Your Insurance

For years, insurance companies have been trying to make the entire process of buying and even renewing your insurance policies as easy as possible.  Like with most things though, insurance companies rely on you regardless of whether you live in Laurel, MD or anywhere else.  You are the one who is responsible for providing the insurance company with all of the pertinent and critical information.  For that reason, we have put together a list of some of the information that you will need if you are buying a new insurance policy or just renewing and/or updating an existing policy.

Vehicle Insurance

When it comes to your vehicle, most of the time, people will have a good idea of what type of information they will need.  Such as your license plate number.  However, that isn’t the only sort of information you will need.  Some of the other pieces of information include but are not limited to:

  • If you are renewing or updating your insurance you will need to know your current policy number.
  • The VIN (Vehicle Information Number) of your car.
  • If there is a lien on the vehicle, you will need to know the name and address of whoever holds the lien.   Most of the time this will be a dealership or bank.
  • If you happen to be purchasing a new or used vehicle, you will need the insurance company to show the dealer and local DMV proof of insurance.  You will need the fax numbers or email address of the dealer and DMV.
  • If you are clearing up DMV issues such as a suspension of licenses or even an SR-22, you will need a case number.

If it is time for you to renew, review or update your vehicle insurance, call or visit a Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial agency as soon as possible.  

Your Local Food Bank Could Use Your Time and Talents

The Washington, DC area is full of hustle and bustle, and that can make it easy to forget that there are still people there who need assistance. Giving back to the community can be a great way to be reminded of that, and one of the ways to give back is through volunteering your time and talents to the local food bank. Even in areas of the country where some people have so much, there are definitely people who have very little.

By providing them with some food that they otherwise couldn’t afford, they can get a good meal and have the strength to get through their day. Whether it’s a homeless person who doesn’t have any money for food or a family who’s just a little short on funds and trying to make it through until the next payday, getting help from the food bank can make a big difference. While these organizations often have enough food to give out, they may not have enough people to hand out the food and help all the people who come through the doors.

When you offer your time and talents to your Washington, DC food bank, you give help and hope to many people who need it and who make up a part of your local community. Another way you can help your community is by supporting the local businesses there, like getting your insurance from Mid Atlantic Insurance Financial. When you support local businesses, they are better able to survive and thrive. That can lead to them also helping the local area, which is a winning situation for everyone involved.