Noncompliance with Building Safety Laws Draws Scrutiny A Miami lawmaker is spearheading efforts to hold condominium associations accountable for adhering to Florida’s newly implemented building safety regulations. These laws, adopted in the aftermath of the tragic Surfside condo collapse in 2021, are designed to ensure the safety and sustainability of residential buildings, particularly those three stories and higher. Under state law, condominium associations were required to complete a building inspection and conduct a funding study for future repairs by December 31, 2022. However, of the 11,270 associations mandated to comply,…
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California Rejects State Farm’s Emergency 22% Home Insurance Rate Hike Request
California Insurance Commissioner Rejects Rate Hike Amid Consumer Concern California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has rejected a proposed 22% emergency rate hike for home insurance requested by State Farm General Insurance Company. The decision came after the company failed to provide evidence proving the increase was necessary and could not explain how the additional revenue would address its prior decisions to stop writing new policies in the state and not renew existing ones. Lara’s letter to State Farm underscored his commitment to protecting policyholders from unnecessary financial burdens while voicing…
Read MoreGovernor Newsom Backs Bill to Prioritize Homeowners Benefiting from Insurance Payout Interest
When disaster strikes, recovery often feels like an uphill battle for homeowners. For Californians impacted by the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, a new piece of legislation proposed by Governor Gavin Newsom could help alleviate some financial burdens. The proposed bill, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian (D-Pasadena), aims to ensure that homeowners—not lenders—benefit from the interest accrued on insurance payouts for homes destroyed or damaged during disasters. Understanding the Proposed California Insurance Bill Governor Newsom’s proposed bill addresses a gap in California law that currently allows lenders to collect interest…
Read MoreWildfire Survivors Get a Lifeline as California Pushes for Full Coverage Payments
California Insurance Commissioner Calls on Insurers to Ease Wildfire Survivors’ Burdens A Compassionate Plea for Full Coverage Without Detailed Inventories California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is taking a strong stance to support survivors of recent wildfires in Southern California. Recognizing the emotional and logistical toll of losing a home, Lara has issued a Notice urging residential property insurance companies to provide full contents coverage limits without requiring policyholders to compile exhaustive inventories of their destroyed belongings. “It is inhumane to require wildfire survivors who have lost everything to list every…
Read MoreLegislative Reforms and New Programs Drive Florida’s Insurance Rate Reductions
Florida Insurance Market Relief Gains Momentum Floridians may experience meaningful financial relief as recent insurance rate reductions are announced for both homeowners and drivers. While the newly proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-26 includes additional measures to lower costs moving forward, the current savings are largely the result of older legislative reforms that are only now beginning to yield results. Impact of Older Legislative Reforms Recent decreases in insurance rates can be traced back to a series of reforms passed across previous years aimed at addressing deep-seated issues in Florida’s…
Read MoreThe Roof Rule That’s Blocking Homebuyers Nationwide
Homebuyers Struggle to Navigate Insurance Obstacles with Older Roofs Buying a home is a major milestone, but for an increasing number of buyers, the road to homeownership is becoming more complicated. Across the country, insurance companies are tightening their underwriting requirements, and aging roofs are emerging as a significant hurdle. Many homebuyers are finding themselves caught in a frustrating cycle—unable to secure insurance policies that mortgages require for closing. This growing challenge is leaving buyers and sellers searching for creative solutions to keep deals intact. Why Are Insurers Focusing on…
Read MoreAllstate’s 30% Condo Insurance Hike Sparks Consumer Concern
California condo owners are bracing themselves as Allstate, one of the state’s major insurance providers, plans to raise its condo insurance rates by an average of 30% starting in April. This significant increase, authorized by the California Department of Insurance, has left many policyholders questioning how the change will affect their wallets—and what it signals about the broader insurance market. What Condo Owners Need to Know About Allstate’s Rate Changes If you’re one of the approximately 78,000 Allstate condo insurance customers in California, here’s what you can expect. The rate…
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