Latest Homeowners Headlines
All the headlines from our Homeowners Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Mass. AG Files Federal Brief Urging Court Action on Flood Insurance
Nov 18 2013 // In support of a Mississippi lawsuit that alleges the new FEMA flood insurance rates are arbitrary and unlawful, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has filed an amicus brief in federal court arguing that FEMA...
Builder Claims Drilling Rights Under 2,500 Florida Homes: Report
Nov 18 2013 // When Mallory and Zach Sinclair were looking for their first home, they swooned over a new townhouse in the Brandon, Florida subdivision of Whispering Oaks. With well-manicured lawns, it looked fresh and untouched, with...
2013 State Specialist P/C Insurers Revealed
Nov 18 2013 // State Specialists are often an independent agent’s most reliable and consistent market. These companies are focused on a specific geographic area, understand it and consistently strive to serve it. The Demotech...
N.J. Wants Sandy Money Shifted to Housing Repairs
Nov 18 2013 // As many as 1,100 families on waiting lists for help rebuilding their homes after Superstorm Sandy could benefit from a plan New Jersey has to move additional storm recovery funds to repair programs. The state’s...
Regulator Looks to Restrict Force-Placed Insurance Fees
Nov 18 2013 // A U.S. housing regulator said on Nov. 5 that it would ban some fees and commissions that borrowers are compelled to pay when their own home insurance coverage lapses. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said it was aiming...
Safeco in California to Pay Out $3M For Using Credit Scores
Nov 15 2013 // Safeco Insurance Co. has agreed to pay a $900,000 fine and reform its approval process for homeowners and auto insurance coverage, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced Friday. Safeco was fined for the...
Central Texans’ Interest in Flood Insurance Rises Along with Claims
Nov 13 2013 // Insurance agents in Austin, Texas, report the interest in homeowners obtaining flood insurance coverage has risen dramatically after two recent rains that have flooded portions of Austin and neighboring communities....
Allstate’s Esurance Hopes Bundling Auto, Home Coverages Will Separate It From Geico
Nov 12 2013 // Esurance, the online car insurance seller owned by Allstate Corp., is betting that bundling auto and home policies will help it compete with Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s Geico unit and Progressive Corp. Esurance started...
Austin Homeowner’s Interest in Flood Insurance Rises
Nov 8 2013 // Insurance agents in Austin, Texas report the interest in homeowners obtaining flood insurance coverage has risen dramatically after two recent rains that have flooded portions of Austin and neighboring communities. Roughly...
N.J. Seeks to Shift Funds to Aid Homeowners Waitlisted for Sandy Grants
Nov 7 2013 // New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s administration said it is seeking to allocate additional federal funds to two major Superstorm Sandy housing recovery programs and also to set aside funds for a program to...
Penn. Insurance Department Offers Simple Tips to Prevent Home Fires
Nov 6 2013 // Deaths from fires and burns are the third-leading cause of fatal home injuries, and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine offered five simple ways to prevent home fires. “Often victims in house fires...
Conn. Gov.: Low-Interest Loans Available for Elevating Homes, Flood-Proofing Businesses
Nov 6 2013 // Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy recently announced the creation of the Connecticut Shoreline Resiliency Fund, a low-interest loan program for state residents who are subject to coastal flooding and would like to...
U.S. Regulator Unveils New Insurance Fee Guidelines
Nov 5 2013 // A U.S. housing regulator said on Tuesday that it would ban some fees and commissions that borrowers are compelled to pay when their own home insurance coverage lapses. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said it was aiming...
Aon Benfield: U.S. Homeowners Market Offers Opportunities
Nov 4 2013 // U.S. homeowners insurance is showing significant growth opportunities, says a new report from Aon Benfield, a reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc. The report, titled “Homeowners ROE Outlook: 2013...
Texas Senator: How Can We Lower Homeowner Insurance Costs?
Nov 4 2013 // A Texas lawmaker has asked the state insurance department to find ways to lower homeowners insurance rates. Texas has consistently been ranked, along with Florida and Louisiana, one of the three states with the highest...
Billions in Flood Insurance Liability at Stake from Central Texas Storms
Nov 1 2013 // Central Texas is mopping up after strong storms dumped more than a foot of rain in some areas and many homeowners likely will be hoping they have flood insurance in place to cover the damage. The National Weather Service...
Nevada HOA To Pay $65K After Banning Family’s Ambulance
Nov 1 2013 // A Las Vegas homeowners association agreed to pay $65,000 to a family after refusing to allow them to park an ambulance they used for their disabled son in the driveway, federal officials said Wednesday. The HOA admits no...
Florida to Report on Effect of Reinsurance Savings on Homeowners’ Rates
Oct 30 2013 // Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater wants to know why home insurers are not passing along to insureds apparent savings they are realizing on reinsurance. The state’s insurance regulator says he will let...
Florida Agent Charged with Forging Forms for Mitigation Credits
Oct 30 2013 // Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced the arrest of Leon Mobley, 45, a licensed insurance agent in Wellington, for allegedly submitting false and forged wind mitigation verification inspection forms on...
1-Year Anniversary of Sandy Offers Lessons Learned for Coastal Residents
Oct 29 2013 // One year ago, Superstorm Sandy struck a dozen states in the Northeast and became the third costliest storm in U.S. history, after hurricanes Katrina and Andrew, according to the Insurance Information Institute...
