Latest Property Headlines

A year after Katrina, commercial property market ‘bleak’ in New Orleans

Nov 5 2006 // We insure a business in French Quarter in New Orleans which was unaffected by the flooding from Katrina and for the most part had fairly limited windstorm damage,” said Parke Ellis, a principal with Gillis, Ellis...

Survey: Commercial market softens, insurer appetite increases

Nov 5 2006 // The commercial property/casualty market continued to soften during the third quarter, with indications that some insurers are finding an appetite for business in which they previously were not interested, according to the...

Consumer group says property-casualty rates drop ‘irrespective’ of tort reform enactment

Nov 5 2006 // There is continuing evidence that the skyrocketing insurance rates of 2000 to 2003 have led to record industry profits, but commercial insurance rates have stabilized or dropped in almost every sector, including medical...

Commercial Property

Nov 5 2006 // N12 84 IT spurs need for underwriters Professional liability issues expected to grow

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Nov 5 2006 // Douglas G. Hotchkiss, owner of the Dallas, Texas-based Hotchkiss Insurance Agency, hadn’t thought much about building “green” or environmentally-friendly structures. But he now says, “it’s a...

There are no ‘mulligans’ in commercial property

Nov 5 2006 // You may be familiar with the word “mulligan.” In golf it means a chance to do it over without a penalty. Unfortunately, in the world of loss prevention and property protection, a mulligan is typically not an...

Crist, Davis Vow Different Approaches if Elected Fla. Governor

Oct 30 2006 // Charlie Crist and Jim Davis agree that three challenges facing Florida are skyrocketing homeowners insurance rates, rising property taxes and public schools that some rank among the nation’s worst. That’s where...

The Hartford’s Net Income Jumps 41% for Third Quarter

Oct 30 2006 // The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. reported record third quarter 2006 net income of $758 million, or $2.39 per diluted share — a sizable 41 percent boost over the same quarter last year. The Hartford’s...

Western Security Surplus adds Texas Coastal Property Coverage

Oct 30 2006 // Ron Klimek, vice president and Dallas branch manager, announced that Western Security Surplus has increased capacity to write coastal property coverage in Texas, including wind and hail, Tier 1 and 2 counties. The property...

Janes Named Property Broker in Swett & Crawford’s Los Angeles Office

Oct 30 2006 // Swett & Crawford has welcomed Brian Janes, a property broker, back to its Los Angeles office. Since 2004 he was a property broker with Stewart Smith/AmWins in the Glendale, Califo., office. James began his career in...

Mich. H.E.A.T. Increases Stolen Property Recovery by $2 Million

Oct 25 2006 // Michigan celebrated the 21st anniversary of the H.E.A.T. (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) program with its annual award program this week. According to the official release, since its inception in 1985, H.E.A.T., with its...

Aon Moves On Exit Plan, Announces Sale of Construction Program

Oct 25 2006 // Chicago-based Aon Corp. today announced that it has taken further steps to exit its property & casualty underwriting business by signing a letter of intent for the sale of its Construction Program Group (CPG). Aon...

$8 Million N.Y. Program Aids Flooded ‘Main Street’ Properties

Oct 24 2006 // In an initiative targeted to upstate communities hardest hit by this summer’s flooding, The Community Preservation Corp. (CPC) in partnership with the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR)...

Editor’s Note: Fire safety begins at home

Oct 23 2006 // Home fires continue to be the number one cause of fire deaths. Home fires also account for 74 percent of total reported civilian fire injuries and 63 percent of total reported direct property damage. The good news –...

Alabama coastal property owners face more insurer restrictions

Oct 23 2006 // Two of the Alabama’s largest insurance firms said they’re reducing coverage and increasing deductibles in Mobile and Baldwin counties, citing frequent hurricanes, coastal construction growth, lack of strong...

Oct 23 2006 // People The Main Street America Group has named Bonny Parker vice president for personal lines. She will be based at corporate headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., and report to Bill Anderson, senior vice president,...

News Currents

Oct 23 2006 // Fla. gubernatorial candidates offer property insurance proposals If he is elected governor, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis says Florida homeowners would see lower property insurance rates as soon as next year...

Editor’s Note: Fire safety begins at home

Oct 23 2006 // Home fires continue to be the number one cause of fire deaths. Home fires also account for 74 percent of total reported civilian fire injuries and 63 percent of total reported direct property damage. The good...

Fiess: Texas Supreme Court speaks

Oct 23 2006 // Despite the mandate of new mold endorsements and adoption of new forms, there has been a great deal of continuing litigation in Texas under the Homeowners B form as to when mold is covered. The focus has been on the...

People

Oct 23 2006 // The Society of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters elected new officers and governors. They are: President Betsey L. Brewer, senior vice president of The Rule Co. in Pasadena, Calif. President-Elect James L. Britt,...