Housing markets

Of the 15 states most affected by natural disasters, California and Florida had the highest non-renewal rates in 2024, a Weiss Ratings study found.

Kin, a direct-to-consumer insurance provider, has started a mortgage broker in Florida which also takes loan applications through a call center or online.

The title industry sustained improvement first seen last year, with second-quarter premium totals up on both a quarterly and annual basis, ALTA said.

Consumers are so concerned about rising costs that they often forego coverage altogether, according to two separate studies from Valuepenguin and Realtor.com.

Between rising home costs and the end of mortgage relief programs, many homeowners are struggling to stay above water, especially in the South and West.

As homeowners insurance becomes expensive and hard to find, mortgage loan officers should work closely with insurance agents, said Travis Hodges of Viu by Hub.

With proposed tariffs on homebuilding materials working looming and a cloudy forecast for mortgage rates, young homebuyers are facing increased volatility.

A trio of blazes in SoCal have destroyed over 2,000 homes and structures in neighborhoods with average property values well above the national average.

Losses related to natural disasters and other perils rose for the seventh year, and that costs both insurers and consumers more money, LexisNexis said.

Despite shopping rates reaching a record high, clear communication strategies can mitigate carrier switches, according to the 2024 Home Insurance Study.

The volume of active for-sale condo listings in the Sunshine State increased by 40% last month compared to a year earlier, Redfin said.

The nation's most flood-prone counties experienced a net influx of about 400,000 people in 2021 and 2022, Redfin found.

The first and fourth-largest home insurers in the Golden State won't issue new policies because of rising construction costs and exposure to catastrophes.

All six companies were profitable in the fourth quarter and the full year, but had far less new volume than in 2021.

Special purpose credit programs, down payment assistance and potential mortgage insurance premium cuts came into focus over the past year.

The Personal Lines Insurance Shopping Report suggests consumers are overcoming fears of surveillance to reduce premiums.

Freddie Mac researchers led by Ajita Atreya found that homes directly exposed to projected sea-level rise command no discount over those that aren’t.

Keeping track of frequent changes to homes has become a complex issue for many insurers. With limited resources and rising customer expectations, many insurers are moving beyond traditional forms of customer outreach – emails, phone calls, and on-site inspections— to obtain the latest underwriting data about the properties in their portfolio.

Despite an influx of potential rental insurance customers, carriers must innovate to cut through the noise and connect with their best prospects on a personal level to ultimately turn them into a client. With so much competition, simply reaching out at the right time may not be enough. Insurers need to understand these consumers on a deeper level.

Armadillo was founded this year by two insurance industry executives. Matan Slagter, who was most recently with AIG, and Lansdon Robbins, a serial entrepreneur, recently launched the home warranty solution in 20 markets.