Latest Homeowners Headlines

All the headlines from our Homeowners Topic Page, ordered by recency.

State Farm Hikes Homeowner Policy Rates, Deductibles in Texas

Dec 2 2011 // A new insurance commissioner has allowed State Farm to charge higher rates and deductibles in Texas. State Farm Insurance on Dec. 1 was authorized to switch many of its 1.2 million homeowner policies to a higher...

Florida’s Citizens Suggest Steps to Reduce Its Exposure

Dec 1 2011 // Florida’s largest property insurer wants to roll back coverage on high-value homes and lower its coverage limits on homeowners’ liability, as part of a broader plan to reduce its exposure in the state. Florida...

Florida’s HomeWise Insurance Ordered Into Liquidation

Nov 30 2011 // A Florida judge has ordered a homeowners’ insurer to shut its doors and hand its business affairs over to the state after state regulators found it no longer has enough money to pay its bills. Florida’s...

Joplin Homeowners Need More Time to Rebuild, Missouri Regulators Say

Nov 29 2011 // While insurance companies have paid out more than $1.1 billion for losses stemming from the May 22 tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., regulators say that timelines contained in some property polices are hampering...

5 Mississippi Home Buyouts Could Happen in New Year

Nov 28 2011 // Five property owners whose homes were inundated by the spring flood could have their homes bought out by the city of Vicksburg next year. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has authorized Mayor Paul Winfield to apply for a...

Allstate Drops North Carolina Homeowners Who Insure Autos Elsewhere

Nov 22 2011 // Some North Carolina residents who insure their residences through Allstate are finding themselves dropped by the company for refusing to bundle their home and auto coverage. Allstate Insurance Co. has informed 45,000...

American Platinum Writes First Homeowners’ Policies in Florida

Nov 22 2011 // Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Corp. has just issued its first Florida homeowners’ policies. American Platinum...

American Platinum Writes First Homeowners Policy in Florida

Nov 22 2011 // Florida has a new player in the insurance market for high-value homes and inland marine policies. Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. recently announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, American Platinum Property and...

Mass. AG Wants to Put Brakes on ‘Excessive’ Homeowners Insurance Rate

Nov 18 2011 // Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is urging the State Rating Board to hold a hearing to scrutinize the data insurers use to set homeowners insurance rates in her state. The Attorney General’s office says...

Up to 300 More Homes to Be Repaired in Knauf Chinese Drywall Settlement

Nov 18 2011 // A new settlement has been reached with Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin (KPT) over defective drywall manufactured by the company in China. The Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC), the Homebuilder Steering Committee (HSC)...

Louisiana Citizens Drops Nearly 11K Policies in 5th Round of Depopulation

Nov 17 2011 // Nearly 11,000 homeowners polices once held by Louisiana’s property insurer of last resort have been absorbed into the private insurance market, state regulators say. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon...

Florida’s Citizens Seeks Lawmakers’ Help to Raise Rates, Shrink Size

Nov 16 2011 // Florida’s largest property insurer wants sweeping changes — including the ability to charge higher rates — in the coming year. It may be a hard sell during a contentious election year, but the board that governs...

What Options Do HomeWise Customers Have in Homeowners Choice Deal?

Nov 14 2011 // Florida policyholders of HomeWise Insurance should not see dramatic changes in their renewal premium if their policies are taken over by Homeowners Choice, according to the company official. The policyholders have the...

Bank of North Dakota May Offer Homeowners Low-Interest Disaster Loans

Nov 10 2011 // A key provision in the North Dakota Legislature’s disaster aid bill would provide low-interest, unsecured loans of up to $30,000 for homeowners hit especially hard by this year’s flooding, the Bank of North...

Homeowners Choice Assumes HomeWise Policies in Florida

Nov 8 2011 // Homeowners Choice Property and Casualty Insurance Co. said it has acquired HomeWise Insurance Co.’s book of business in Florida. Approved by state regulators, the deal adds 70,000 Florida homeowners to Homeowners...

Home Insurance Rates Do Not Reflect Cost of Risk: Aon Benfield

Nov 7 2011 // U.S. insurers’ prospective after-tax return on equity for homeowners’ insurance is 4.8 percent on average, a decrease from the 6.9 percent of 2010, mainly due to subdued investment returns and higher estimates...

Top 10 Risky Industries to Avoid

Nov 7 2011 // Future Looks Brighter for Overall Economy But These Top Industries Will Be Left Behind, Says IBISWorld As the United States inches toward recovery, there are several industries that aren’t expected to improve along...

FEMA Agrees to Re-Inspect North Carolina Homes

Nov 4 2011 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency says its flood insurance arm will re-inspect more eastern North Carolina homes and businesses damaged during Hurricane Irene after owners complained claims adjusters weren’t...

50 Homes Added to Louisiana Hurricane Repair Program

Oct 28 2011 // Fifty additional homes have been added to a federal repair program for people in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, whose houses were damaged by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The Times-Picayune reports the parish council...

Home Insurance Rates Do Not Reflect Cost of Risk: Aon Benfield

Oct 24 2011 // U.S. insurers’ prospective after-tax return on equity for homeowners’ insurance is 4.8 percent on average, a decrease from the 6.9 percent of 2010, mainly due to subdued investment returns and higher estimates...