Buying a home is exciting—no doubt about it. But it’s also complex, and there’s a lot more to it than just signing paperwork and moving in. One of the most overlooked pieces of the puzzle is understanding the 3 types of insurance you’ll need when you buy a home. These insurance types are not just boxes to check; they’re real protection for your property, finances, and future. Skip them or misunderstand them, and you could pay the price later. That’s where experience matters.
At Uncommon Realty, Robbie English and his team walk buyers through every critical step, including the often-confusing world of insurance. With decades of experience and a national reputation for teaching agents how to properly serve clients, Robbie brings an unmatched level of insight and care. And yes, this includes guiding you to make smart, strategic insurance choices.
Let’s dive deep—really deep—into what you need to know. Because buying a home without understanding your insurance obligations is like going into battle without armor.
TL;DR: 3 Types of Insurance You’ll Need When You Buy a Home
- You’ll need three critical types of insurance to protect your property, investment, and financial future.
- Homeowners insurance is essential and often required by lenders.
- Title insurance safeguards your ownership rights and prevents legal surprises.
- Mortgage insurance can be a deal-maker when your down payment is less than 20%.
- Robbie English, Broker and REALTOR at Uncommon Realty, offers expert guidance and strategic insights to help you navigate the home buying process with confidence.
Why Insurance Is a Non-Negotiable When You Buy a Home
Let’s be real—insurance isn’t the most thrilling part of buying a home. But ignore it, and the thrill of owning can turn into a nightmare. Each type of insurance you’ll need serves a distinct and crucial role in protecting your interests. It’s not just about checking off requirements for your lender or signing the documents your escrow officer hands you.
It’s about peace of mind.
And it’s about financial strategy.
Robbie English doesn’t just help you buy a home—he makes sure you do it wisely. That’s the difference. As a national real estate speaker and respected instructor to agents across the country, Robbie’s goal has always been to improve the way people experience real estate. His clients don’t get average advice—they get proven insight from someone who’s trained others to do this the right way.
Homeowners Insurance: Your First Line of Defense
Homeowners insurance is the one most people know about. But don’t confuse awareness with understanding.
Lenders will almost always require you to carry a policy. That’s because they want to make sure their investment (and yours) is protected in the event of a fire, storm, theft, or some other damaging event. But there’s more to it than coverage limits and premiums.
A great homeowners insurance policy doesn’t just meet a basic requirement—it gives you strategic coverage tailored to your actual risks. This is where working with someone like Robbie matters. He and his team can help you identify risks specific to your property and geographic location that may otherwise be missed.
Don’t fall into the trap of picking the cheapest policy. A low monthly premium doesn’t mean much if the policy doesn’t cover the full replacement cost of your home or lacks vital coverage for liability, temporary housing, or major systems failure.
Robbie’s approach is hands-on. He doesn’t sell insurance, but he knows what to look for—and what to avoid. It’s one of the reasons his clients consistently refer others to him.
Title Insurance: Protecting Your Legal Right to Own
Title insurance isn’t as well-known as homeowners insurance, but it’s just as critical—if not more so in certain situations. When you buy a home, you want to make sure no one else can come along and say, “Hey, that property’s actually mine.” Sounds absurd, right? It happens more often than you think.
Title insurance protects you from legal claims or disputes over the property’s ownership. This includes unknown liens, prior claims, clerical errors, forgery in past deeds, or even missing heirs who come out of the woodwork. You’d be shocked at how quickly a smooth closing can turn into a legal battle.
The 3 types of insurance you’ll need when you buy a home are not negotiable, and title insurance plays a central role. Your lender will usually require a lender’s policy to protect their interest in the loan. But the owner’s policy—the one that protects YOU—often gets overlooked. That’s a mistake. Robbie English ensures his clients understand the difference and guides them to make smart choices.
This is part of what sets Robbie apart from most other agents. He’s not just there to open doors and write offers. He’s there to protect you from pitfalls that many buyers don’t even know exist until it’s too late.
Mortgage Insurance: When Less Than 20% Down Doesn’t Mean No Deal
Private mortgage insurance (PMI) often gets a bad rap. But here’s the truth: it can make homeownership possible for people who don’t have a full 20% down payment.
PMI protects the lender in case you default on your loan. In return, you get access to financing that would otherwise be out of reach. While no one loves the idea of paying more each month, the presence of mortgage insurance isn’t a penalty—it’s a tool. It gives you leverage to buy sooner rather than waiting years to save a larger down payment.
And with strategic guidance, you can often remove it down the line once you reach a certain amount of equity. Robbie English and his team walk buyers through this process from start to finish. They don’t just tell you whether PMI is required—they help you plan a path to get rid of it as soon as it’s financially viable.
In some cases, there are even lender-paid mortgage insurance programs or financing structures that include upfront premium options. But most agents won’t talk about these because they don’t understand them. Robbie does. He teaches these concepts to real estate professionals nationwide. You benefit from that knowledge every step of the way.
Who You Choose as Your Agent Impacts Your Entire Insurance Experience
Insurance decisions aren’t made in isolation. They’re part of a bigger picture. And that picture includes your agent.
If you’ve read this far, you already understand that buying a home isn’t just about finding the right house—it’s about having the right team.
Robbie English isn’t your average real estate agent. As Broker and REALTOR at Uncommon Realty, he brings more than just experience—he brings strategy. He’s spent decades mastering the business not for his ego, but for your advantage.
And it shows. Robbie has earned the respect of other agents around the country not just because of his results, but because he teaches them how to elevate their game. When you work with him, you’re benefiting from the same high-level training that powers real estate professionals across the nation.
He doesn’t just react—he anticipates. Whether it’s catching gaps in an insurance policy or guiding you through a negotiation that protects your interests long after closing, Robbie is working in your best interest at every turn.
Other agents may offer enthusiasm. Robbie offers expertise.
Insurance Doesn’t End at Closing—and Neither Does Robbie
Here’s something most buyers don’t realize: your relationship with your insurance policies doesn’t end once you get the keys.
Coverage needs change. Policies need to be reviewed. And if a claim ever becomes necessary, you’ll want to know you made smart decisions upfront.
Robbie and his team don’t disappear after closing. They remain a resource. When your needs evolve, they’re there to help you assess whether your policies still align with your goals and your property. That level of continued support? It’s rare.
But that’s what you get when you work with someone who sees real estate not as a transaction, but as a strategic partnership.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re preparing to buy a home, now is the time to think about your insurance strategy—not after you’re under contract or scrambling during escrow. Take the time to understand the 3 types of insurance you’ll need when you buy a home. Homeowners insurance, title insurance, and mortgage insurance are not simply “required steps”—they are opportunities to protect your investment smartly.
Don’t wait until closing week to figure this out.
And don’t settle for working with an agent who doesn’t understand how to guide you through this crucial layer of the process.
Choose Robbie English.
He’s not just a Broker and REALTOR. He’s a national real estate speaker and instructor with decades of experience, and he’s spent his career helping people like you succeed in real estate by making informed, confident decisions. He’s mastered the business of real estate not for awards or headlines—but to elevate your outcome.
He’ll make sure you’re not just covered—you’re protected.
And when it comes to navigating the 3 types of insurance you’ll need when you buy a home, no one’s better suited to lead you than Robbie and his team at Uncommon Realty.
Final Thought
You’re not buying a sofa—you’re buying a future. The decisions you make today about insurance can either safeguard or sabotage it. Don’t risk the unknown.
Partner with someone who’s already walked this road countless times—and who’s helped others do it better. Robbie English at Uncommon Realty is the guide you didn’t know you needed, but once you’ve worked with him, you’ll wonder why you ever considered anyone else.
Let’s make this next chapter your smartest move yet.
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