4 Ways Your Employer Can Help You Buy a New Home

Workplace Benefits

4 Ways Your Employer Can Help You Buy a New Home

2 min read
Jan 13, 2021

Believe it or not, your employer could be a resource in the home-buying process, when it comes to benefits and cost-saving opportunities. If a move is on the horizon for you, here’s how your employer could help.

1. Verify your employment

Verification of employment (VOE) is a critical step when you’re applying for a mortgage. Confirming your job and income are significant factors in determining your home loan eligibility. Check with your employer’s HR department to see what the process is to retrieve a VOE that you can share with your lender. It may be as easy as filing a request through your employer’s intranet.

2. Access to legal services

From the time your offer is accepted to the day you close, the home-buying process includes a flurry of legal must-dos and paperwork. You’ll need a lawyer to help you along the way and protect your interests. See if your company offers access to a legal plan as a voluntary benefit option. Enrolling can help reduce the stress of finding a qualified attorney and reduce the cost of what you might pay without the legal plan.  

3. Connect to a credit union

Contact your employer’s HR department to see if your company has a relationship with a credit union. Many businesses have employer-sponsored credit unions to help their employees better manage finances and improve their credit ratings. Borrowing your mortgage from an employer-sponsored credit union versus a bank may be the ideal solution for those with lower credit ratings and individuals looking to save on fees.

 4. Get homeowners insurance

Once you become a homeowner, you’ll want to protect your home and belongings with homeowners insurance and liability coverage. Homeowners insurance may be a benefit offering through your employer. Participation in these programs is usually voluntary, so ask your employer if you have access to a group homeowners insurance program. This option may give you a more competitive policy at a better premium.

While buying a home can be a very personal experience, consider opening a dialogue with your employer about how they support employees embarking on this journey. Open communication with your employer can help ensure a smooth home-buying process, and you may also uncover cost-saving opportunities.