Insurers seek to “share the risk” with communities with a higher chance of wildfires

Insurance news – Can industry and consumers find a common ground Insurance companies have announced their hopes to “share the risk” of wildfires with the communities and homeowners located within wild land-urban interface areas. A Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association presentation outlined the details of the fact that insurance companies are not as willing to provide or renew insurance to customers who are at a high risk of wildfires. As stated by a New Mexico-based State Farm Fire and Casualty Insurance Company official, Matt Brenner, “Why should homeowners be interested…

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California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones requests reduced rates from “forced-placed” mortgage insurance companies

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has spoken with the 10 biggest insurers providing “lender-placed coverage” California insurance, in order to address a number of concerns that have been brought to his attention regarding excessive rates. Within that communication, Commissioner Jones directed that a California Department of Insurance (CDI) rate filing be made in order to lower their rates. The insurance commissioner too this step at a time when reports have been made quite heavily regarding sketchy financial integration between insurance companies that offer “forced-placed” mortgage insurance, and the mortgage lenders themselves.…

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Indiana homeowners now have access to home value protection insurance

For the first time, Indiana homeowners will be able to purchase a form of insurance that protects them from losses in their home value due to shifts in the housing marketplace. This Home Value Protection insurance is available in Indiana as of this week and is the only form of American policy that helps to reduce the risk of homeownership due to swings in the housing market. Homeowners who purchase this policy will have the peace of mind of knowing that the market value of their largest financial asset is…

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Newly mapped FEMA flood plain requires some Michigan residents to purchase coverage

Certain residents of Michigan have recently received letters from their mortgage companies, informing them that they will be required to purchase flood insurance, or that coverage will be bought on their behalf. This is the result of a newly mapped flood plain by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and affects the residents of the Frank and Poet Drain, who are currently in an uproar over the sudden cost. Since February 2012, when the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) went into effect, there has been a much larger area…

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Homeowners’ insurance rates increase as a result of last year’s tornadoes

The tornadoes that struck Joplin, Missouri, and other areas in 2011 will now be increasing the homeowners insurance rates as a whole, regardless of whether or not the area was influenced by any wind storms last year. According to data from the Missouri Department of Insurance, the rates for homeowners insurance in that state will be increasing by just over 5 percent. At the same time, state insurance officials in Illinois – an area also impacted by storms last year – have yet to provide any estimates as to how…

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