homeowners insurance News

J.D. Power: Personal Lines Agents Missing out on Opportunities in Renters Segment

Insurance agents who only focus on homeowners insurance customers are missing a golden opportunity to build long-term relationships with renter customers as their insurance needs grow due to life or circumstance changes—such as having a family or purchasing a home …

The Hartford Extends Term of AARP Home, Auto Insurance Program

The Hartford has extended its agreement with AARP to offer home and auto insurance products to its members. With the three-year extension, The Hartford’s relationship with AARP now runs through January 1, 2023. This is the fourth extension since the …

N.J. Bill Seeks to Strengthen Homeowners’ Cases Against Insurers in Civil Court

New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer/Hunterdon) last week proposed a bill aimed at strengthening homeowners’ cases against their insurers in civil lawsuits. Assemblyman Gusciora said the bill (A-4382) would strengthen the cases of policyholders who sue their insurers in civil …

California Wildfire More Destructive Than Thought

Fire officials say crews assessing the damage from a Northern California wildfire have determined 68 homes were destroyed. That’s up from the earlier tally of 37. State fire information officer Roy Del Carlo said Thursday the count of outbuildings destroyed …

New Mexico City Refuses To Pay For Damage From ‘Bait’ Car

Albuquerque refuses to pay for damage to a New Mexico home struck by a city-owned bait car driven by teens, directing the homeowner to turn to his insurance policy to recover the costs for the damages. Bait cars are vehicles …

Ohioans See Bump in 2012 Average Insurance Rates

Ohioans saw increases in their homeowners and auto insurance rates last year, though they’re still getting a bargain. Ohio’s Department of Insurance recently released the 2012 average rates for homeowners and auto insurance. The state’s top 10 auto insurers raised …

More than $10M Returned to Missouri Consumers in First Half 2013

Consumers who filed complaints with the Missouri Department of Insurance received $10.1 million in additional claim payments from their insurance companies in the first half of 2013, the department said. That’s nearly twice the amount consumers received at this time …

Judges Reject Challenge to Texas State Farm Rates

Two administrative law judges have rejected a consumer challenge to a recent 20-percent rate hike for Texas homeowners covered by State Farm Lloyd’s. The judges decided on Aug. 19 that the premiums for 1.2 million homeowners are not excessive or …

Ex-Construction Firm Worker Admits Role in N.J. Insurance Fraud

A Florida man who worked for a now-defunct southern New Jersey construction company has admitted his role in a scheme in which he purposely damaged homes he claimed had been hit by hail. New Jersey authorities announced Monday that 34-year-old …

Georgia Commissioner Offers Advice in Wake of Recent Flash Flooding

With confirmed flash flooding in northern Georgia from torrential rain, Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens is reminding homeowners that policies for mobile or manufactured homes may include coverage for flood damage, unlike standard home policies. Owners of traditional site-built homes can …