Latest Property Headlines

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

Texas Lawmaker Proposes Tax Caps for Commercial Property

Feb 3 2009 // Texas State Representative Bill Callegari (Katy) has filed two measures to cap increases in property tax appraisals for commercial property. The bills, HB 979 and HJR 49, limit annual appraisal increases for commercial...

Glencairn Names Andrews for Property Binding Business

Jan 28 2009 // Glencairn, a division of Faber & Dumas, the global third-party wholesale insurance broker established in London by Willis, announced that John Andrews has joined the company as Account Executive. He will help...

Obama Taps The Hartford’s Wolin for Key Economic Policy Post

Jan 28 2009 // The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. today announced that Neal Wolin, president and chief operating officer of the company’s Property and Casualty Operations, has accepted a position in the White House as...

State Farm Pulling Out of Florida Property Insurance Market

Jan 27 2009 // Florida is losing its largest property insurance company. State Farm Florida Insurance announced today it is beginning the process that will allow it to non-renew policies and halt all sales of homeowners or other...

American E&S Offers Vacant Property Insurance Program

Jan 27 2009 // San Francisco-based American E&S Insurance Brokers is offering property and general liability coverage for vacant commercial and residential buildings. Available nationwide (except Kentucky), the program is available...

Florida Panel Backs Rate Hikes, Stricter Rules for Citizens

Jan 25 2009 // A special task force is recommending that Florida’s state-backed property insurer, Citizens Property Insurance, be permitted to raise its rates beginning in 2010 and that restrictions on what homeowners it can insure...

Foreclosures, Vacant Properties Increase with Continuing Financial Crisis

Jan 25 2009 // Properties Vulnerable to Vandalism, Theft In communities across America, several factors have combined to create a “perfect storm” of property risk. Growing numbers of foreclosures are leaving scores of...

People

Jan 25 2009 // American International Group Inc. (AIG) named Russell Johnston president and CEO of AIG Environmental, a unit of AIG Commercial Insurance. Johnston joined AIG in 1990 serving in senior management positions within...

California Appeals Court Reverses Pollution Liability Decision

Jan 25 2009 // The 4th District of the California Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court decision in a pollution liability case, State of California v. Continental Insurance Co. et al. The decision is likely to influence courts...

Continuing Financial Crisis Leads to Vacant Properties, Vulnerable to Vandalism, Metal Theft

Jan 25 2009 // Brooklyn, N.Y. — Thieves who broke the locks on an unoccupied apartment building stripped the entire building of its copper piping, valued at more than $30,000. Las Vegas — The entire electrical system,...

FBI Reports Drop in Crime Including Property Crimes and Arson

Jan 25 2009 // The nation experienced a 3.5 percent decline in violent crime and a 2.5 percent decline in property crime for the first six months of 2008, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Violent crime was down in all...

London’s Reach Bolsters U.S. Specialty Lines

Jan 25 2009 // Insurers Catlin, Beazley, Amlin, Hiscox and Newcomer Torus Find Their Niche in U.S. Market Find a need, then fill it,” is a hoary business principle, but making it work is often harder than it looks. However, a...

Xl Insurance Hires 8 Engineers for Global Property Loss Prevention

Jan 22 2009 // XL Insurance announced from its office in Hartford that the Company has hired eight new field engineers for its worldwide property loss prevention services business, XL Global Asset Protection Services (XL...

Liberty Mutual Drops Direct Sales to Middle Market Businesses; Puts Faith in Independent Agents

Jan 22 2009 // Liberty Mutual Group is throwing in the towel on direct distribution of insurance to middle market businesses. Since it couldn’t beat independent agents and brokers — who dominate sales in this segment —...

Risk Management Solutions Makes UK Flood Data Available to Public

Jan 20 2009 // Risk Management Solutions announced that its flood mapping data will be made publicly available for the first time. The decision gives “homebuyers far more accurate information about the likelihood of getting...

Lawyers Hope to Fix Catastrophe- Related Insurance Problems

Jan 14 2009 // The nation’s lawyers who deal with insurance issues are developing policy recommendations designed to improve access to insurance coverage, reduce litigation over coverage and mitigate future losses involving natural...

FBI Reports Drop in Crime Including Arson

Jan 12 2009 // The nation experienced a 3.5 percent decline in violent crime and a 2.5 percent decline in property crime for the first six months of 2008, according to the federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Violent crime was down in...

Actual Cash Value Versus Replacement Cost Value

Jan 11 2009 // Navigating the Valuation Quagmire As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. And insurance agents would be wise to explain the differences between actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost value (RCV) to...

Private, Independent and Free

Jan 11 2009 // Ohio-based The Hylant Group Has 12 Locations But Only One Philosophy — Give Customers and Staff What They Need to Succeed Top 100 Agency Profile RANKING: No. 7 Agency Name: The Hylant Group Headquarters: Toledo,...

Florida Panel Backs Rate Hikes, Stricter Rules for Citizens

Jan 9 2009 // A special task force is recommending that Florida’s state-backed property insurer – Citizens Property Insurance — be permitted to raise its rates beginning in 2010 and that restrictions on what homeowners...