homeowners insurance News

Vt. Fire Chief: Chimney Fires on the Rise Because of Warmer Weather

A Vermont fire chief says there’s been an increase in chimney fires because of the warmer weather. Townshend Fire Chief Doug Winot says two fires over the weekend were apparently caused by clogged chimneys. He tells the Brattleboro Reformer that …

Allstate Wants a Rate Increase in Louisiana

Allstate Corp. is asking to raise rates for 144,000 Louisiana homeowners who get their insurance coverage from two Allstate companies. According to the state insurance department, Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate wants an average 11.3 percent increase for 71,000 homeowners covered by …

North Dakota Town Approves Flood-Related Home Buyout Program

The city council in Minot, N.D., has approved a plan that could result in the acquisition of more than 270 properties for future flood protection measures. The voluntary program calls for negotiations to begin with willing landowners, with a goal …

Report: N.Y. Regulators Examine Banks Over Force-Placed Home Insurance

New York financial regulators are reportedly investigating several major banks to find out whether they fraudulently steered homeowners into more expensive home insurance. According to The New York Times, the office of Benjamin Lawsky, the superintendent of New York State’s …

More Louisiana Property Owners Move to Private Insurers

Fresh data shows Louisiana’s insurer of last resort keeps churning away on getting private insurers to pick up policyholders, a problem largely stemming from the 2005 hurricanes. For policyholders of Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the wait to go private …

Elderly Michigan Woman Protests High Home Insurance Bill

An 83-year-old woman in Michigan says she won’t suffer silently after an insurance company raised her bill from $585 to $4,092. Alice LaDuke lately has been standing outside the home office of Auto-Owners Insurance in Delta Township, near Lansing, wearing …

Pennsylvanians Face Sinkhole Threat, But Many Lack Insurance Coverage

A U.S. senator is enlisting the help of Pennsylvania insurance commissioner to help protect the Keystone State’s homeowners from sinkhole damages. In a letter to Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Consedine, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-Penn.) asked that all new homeowners …

State Farm Gets 7.8% Homeowners Rate Hike in Louisiana

Louisiana has allowed its largest insurer of homes to raise its rates by an average 7.8 percent. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. spokeswoman Molly Quirk told The Associated Press that the $32.2 million increase goes into effect with new …

State Farm Hikes Homeowner Policy Rates, Deductibles in Texas

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 deductible. The Dallas Morning …

American Platinum Writes First Homeowners Policy in Florida

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 Casualty Insurance Corp., had issued its first Florida homeowners’ policy. …