Massachusetts Homestead Act

Massachusetts Homestead Act

The Massachusetts Homestead Act

Massachusetts Homestead Act is designed to allow homeowners in Massachusetts to protect their primary residence against subsequent attachment, levy or sale to satisfy debts up to $500,000.

The Homestead Law does not protect against: taxes or mortgages used to purchase the residence.

Homeowners must file for the Homestead Act with The Registry of Deeds office in the county in which the residence is located.

Massachusetts charges a one time Filing Fee of $35 for a Declaration of Homestead.

Registry of Deeds Links:

Registry of Deeds Offices:

District/County:

Located in:
Barnstable Barnstable
Northern Berkshire Adams
Middle Berkshire Pittsfield
Southern Berkshire Great Barrington
Northern Bristol Taunton
Southern Bristol New Bedford
Fall River Bristol Fall River
Dukes Edgartown
Northern Essex Lawrence
Southern Essex Salem
Franklin Greenfield

The Homestead Act
Questions & Answers

La Ley de Protección de Hogar Seguro
Preguntas y Respuestas

City/Town to Registry Guide

District/County:

Located in:
Hampden Springfield
Hampshire Northampton
Northern Middlesex Lowell
Southern Middlesex Cambridge
Nantucket Nantucket
Norfolk Dedham
Plymouth Plymouth
Suffolk Boston
Northern Worcester Fitchburg
Worcester Worcester

Massachusetts Deed
Indexing Standards (PDF, 276 kb)

Massachusetts Document
Formatting Standards,
Effective January 1, 2008 (PDF, 12 kb)

Think: Higher Deductible

money

When it comes to home insurance, our MA Independent Insurance Agency often recommends higher deductibles to save money. With no losses, these savings are, literally, money in the bank.

In addition to savings, higher deductibles force one to self-insure the smaller claims. By avoiding submitting claims, consumers preserve their “loss free” credits. By avoiding claims companies are less likely to non-renew, allowing consumers to stay in the voluntary, competitively priced home insurance market.

Home Insurance Credits

Massachusetts Home Insurance Discounts

Everybody loves a discount.

When shopping for home insurance in Massachusetts, consider these basic home insurance discounts:

Protective Device Credits – starting with deadbolt locks, extinguishers, and smoke detectors are available. Larger credits are available for Local and Central Station burglar and fire protection systems.

Non-smoker credits – if you and household members are non-smokers some companies offer discounts to non-smokers.

Loss Free Year Credits – if you have not had any losses in multiple years some companies offer “Loss Free Credits.” Check with your Independent Insurance Broker to see if you qualify for any companies’ programs.

Home Renovation/New Home Credits – if you have renovated your home within the past 10 years some companies offer Renovation Credits. If you are buying a new home, some companies offer large New Home credits.

Account Discounts – some insurance companies offer 10% “Account Discounts” if you insure your home and auto with the same company . in addition, some companies may waive service charges.

Massachusetts Fire Prevention

MA Home Insurance Fire Prevention Tips

It’s not only burst pipe and ice dam season: it’s also fire season.

In order to prevent the problem, you should know the causes of the problem.

Let’s take a look at the top causes of home fires:

1. Candles

Safety tips:

  • Never leave a candle burning near flammable items.
  • Never leave a candle burning in a child’s room or an unoccupied room.
  • Make sure candles fit securing into candle holders so they won’t tip over.
  • Blow out any candles before leaving a room or going to sleep.

2. Smoking

Safety tips:

  • If you smoke, consider smoking outside.
  • Use wide, sturdy ashtrays to catch butts and ashes.
  • Look for cigarette butts under furniture and between seat cushions to make sure no lit butts have fallen someplace where they can’t be seen.
  • Don’t smoke in bed, when you’re tired or around medical oxygen.

3. Electrical & Lighting

Safety tips:

  • Don’t overload outlets or electrical cords.
  • Make sure you have the right cord for the job – inside cords for inside, heavy duty/outside cords for outdoor use.
  • Don’t leave Christmas lights, Christmas trees, or halogen lights on overnight or when not at home.
  • Consider having an electrician perform an annual checkup of your home’s wiring.

4. Dryers and washing machines

Safety tips:

  • Clean the lint screen frequently and don’t run the dryer without it.
  • For gas and propane dryers, make sure there aren’t any leaks in the lines.
  • Vent the dryer to the outside of the house and ensure nothing blocks the vent pipe.
  • Clean the vent pipe and the area where the screen is housed.
  • Keep the area around the dryer free of combustible materials.

5. Lightning

Safety tips:

  • Stay away from doors and windows during an electrical storm.
  • Do not use corded phones, computers, TVs or other electrical equipment during storms.
  • Unplug major electronics – TVs, stereo equipment, computers and microwaves to minimize damage if there is a lightning strike close by.
  • Avoid plumbing such as sinks, baths and faucets during a thunderstorm.

6. Children playing with fire

Safety tips:

  • Keep matches, lighters and other ignition sources out of the reach of children.
  • Teach children fire safety at an early age.
  • Make sure children have adequate supervision.

7. Christmas trees

Safety tips:

  • Keep live trees well watered and dispose of them before they become dry.
  • Turn off tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
  • Check lights for any shorts or other electrical issues before putting them on the tree.

8. Cooking

Safety tips:

  • Be alert when cooking and don’t leave food unattended.
  • Don’t throw water on a grease fire, put a lid on the pan to smother the fire.
  • If an oven fire flares up, turn off the oven and leave the door shut until the fire extinguishes itself.
  • Keep clothing, pot holders, paper towels and other flammable items away from fires.
  • Having working smoke detectors in the house and keep a fire extinguisher nearby just in case.

Protect Yourself with Home Insurance

MA Home Insurance Protection

You think it never will happen to you. Surely you never will have a fire, theft, storm, or accident in your home. But, if the unthinkable does happen, you’ll want to have homeowners insurance to protect you.   Homeowners insurance is there during your times of greatest need to protect what is probably your biggest asset. So, is it necessary? By all means. Not only for you, but it’s usually required by your mortgage lender. Before we consider that, let’s look at what a typical homeowners insurance policy provides.

What’s In a Homeowners Insurance Policy?

Homeowners insurance provides coverage to your home, coverage for your personal belongings, liability protection, and additional living expenses.

The House Structure Is Covered

Your homeowners insurance pays to repair or rebuild your home and other structures from damage that is covered in the policy, most often including theft, fire, storm, or other natural disasters.

  • When deciding a coverage amount, it’s a good idea to make sure you have enough to completely rebuild your house. Get a quote from a local builder or real estate agent for an approximate amount.
  • Damages can be covered at cash value or replacement value. Cash value pays what the property is worth today with depreciation, while replacement value pays enough to replace what you lost.

Personal Belongings May Need to be Replaced

Furniture, clothes and other contents of your home that are stolen or otherwise destroyed by an insured event are covered by your homeowners insurance policy.

  • You can choose to have off-premises coverage so your items are covered anywhere in the world should they get lost or damaged.
  • Making a video or photographs of your home’s contents can be extremely helpful. If you ever need to submit a claim, it’s an easy way to remember and prove what you lost.

Liability Coverage Is Essential

The liability aspect of homeowners insurance covers your legal responsibility for injuries to others or their property. For example, let’s assume your neighbor falls down your front steps and breaks her arm.

Your liability insurance will cover her medical expenses up to the policy limit.

  • If she decides to sue you for damages, you also will be protected, up to the limits in your policy.
  • Liability insurance is not limited to your premises. So, if your dog bites your neighbor while out on a walk, your homeowners insurance policy will likely cover you.

Additional Living Expenses Will be Paid

If you’re unable to live in your home due to a fire or other insured incident, your homeowners insurance policy may offer additional living expenses, including hotel and meals, up to a certain limit detailed in your policy.

What’s Not Covered

There are limits to a homeowners insurance policy. Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by flood, earthquakes, or normal wear and tear of your home. Be sure you review your policy so you know what’s covered.

Homeowners Insurance Is Not Just for You

Mortgage lenders require homeowners insurance to protect them. Should something happen to your home, they need a way to cover their large monetary loss. Lenders often require you to buy at least a minimal amount, usually the amount of the mortgage. But, as you consider your home and belongings, more than minimum protection may be a good idea.

Don’t Leave It to Chance

You love your home. Make sure you, your belongings, and house are protected should a disaster happen. Having homeowners insurance in place can help protect you should a theft, fire, or other natural disaster strike.

Contact HomeownerQuote.com

As your independent Massachusetts insurance agent, we have a wealth of knowledge that can help determine your exact needs for homeowners insurance. Contact us today for a free quote, and you can sleep tonight knowing your home is covered. Call or click us today.

The Inside Scoop on MA Home Insurance

Inside Scoop MA Home Insurance

Massachusetts home insurance can be complicated, especially if you add a vacation home to the equation. Take one look at your policy, and you may wonder what it all means. And yet, homeowners insurance is essential to protect the property you’ve worked so hard to acquire.

 

HomeownerQuote.com will be happy to explain everything you need to know about MA homeowners insurance, starting with these five tips:

 

  1. You’re generally insured for up to 80 percent of your home’s value. You may choose to purchase an additional rider for the remaining percentage, and raise your deductible to offset the premium.

 

  1. Many factors determine your homeowners insurance and vacation home insurance premiums. It starts with what the home is worth, and is followed closely by what the home is made of, its age and proximity to a fire station, and its general location, to name a few.

 

  1. Title insurance and homeowners insurance are two different things, and you need both.
    • Title insurance involves ensuring the title on your home is valid, and without defects or
    • Homeowners insurance is for property, possessions, and liabilities of guests on your
    • Tip: You may supplement your homeowners’ insurance with riders if need be for extra possessions, including items that are extremely valuable, such as jewelry; watercraft or other recreational vehicles you store in your home; as well as additional properties, such as rental or vacation homes.

 

  1. Your neighbor’s homeowners insurance policy should cover expenses involving items on their property doing damage to items on your For example, if your neighbor neglects to take down a tree that is known to be diseased, and it falls on your fence, you can file a claim with your neighbor’s home insurance provider.

 

  1. Put some thought into how much insurance you need. HomeownerQuote.com can help you determine homeowners insurance and vacation home insurance values, and find the most appropriate coverage of insurance for you, at the most competitive rates.