Is Your Homeowner’s Insurance Going To Cost You More Than A Few Shingles?

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Is Your Homeowner’s Insurance Going To Cost You More Than A Few Shingles?

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March 16, 2012

If you live in the state of Georgia, you may notice a big jump in your Homeowners Insurance here in 2012. Often, people don't really look closely at their homeowner's policies because their mortgage payments are tied together with their principal, interest, real estate taxes, and homeowner's insurance all paid at one time. Even though you might get a statement from your insurance company, I've seen people not reviewing these statements closely on a year to year basis. This can be especially true as people quickly scurry to the refinance window trying to lock in the incredibly low long term interest rates.

After rising steadily for the past few years, homeowner insurance premiums are expected to jump another 5% this year to $1,004, according to the Insurance Information Institute. That's the biggest yearly increase since the market downturn and will mark the first time the national average premium is above $1,000. (source: www.wsj.com)

Premiums will rise even higher in some states. In Georgia, GuideOne Insurance will raise rates by 12% on average starting this month. Farmers Insurance is increasing rates in Texas by 10% on average. Last month, Allstate started raising rates by 15% in Pennsylvania. And Florida insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and North Carolina Farm Bureau are raising rates on some condo and homeowner's by 21% and 6%, respectively. (source: www.wsj.com)

If you have seen an increase in your premium this year, here are three things you could attempt to do so your rates don't blow the roof off of your budget:

  • Raise Your Deductible - I've always been a bigger fan if you have a healthy cash reserve to keep deductibles on things like your homeowner's insurance higher (in the $1,000 level or higher if the insurance company allows for it). You can never know when a major item will hit your home like lightning striking your air conditioner, but changing the deductible to a higher number could save you as much as 25%.
  • Make Sure You Have A Good Credit Record - I've underscored in other smart money moves articles how your credit score will affect all types of things over the next decade. Many insurers are increasingly using credit scores as they price out homeowner's insurance policies. Fixing your score won't only help you when you go for a loan, but it could help keep your rates down come insurance time.
  • Review Your Coverage - Is your home worth what it was before the downturn in this real estate. I've seen many homeowners' go to their local county to appeal their real estate tax bill, but very few go back to their homeowner's insurance company to change the amounts on their insurance. Will it cost the same to rebuild your house today as it did in 2007? Are the contents of your house worth the same? Did you install a new alarm system? All of these types of questions could be important in helping you save money.

There are lots of other ways to save, but these are three that I think can have an immediate impact. In Georgia, most of the major companies filed requests to raise rates from 18% to 22%, says Steve Manders, director of insurance product review at the state's department of insurance. The states say they don't usually approve requests for increases by the exact amount insurers ask for. (source wsj.com) You should always think about getting auto and home insurance from the same carrier to get a mutli-policy discount, but keep an eye on the weather because the next natural disaster you could face in your budget is the dreaded increase in your homeowner's insurance.

Visit to www.oxygenfinancial.net to request a free consultation with the leading financial experts for people in their 20's, 30's, and 40's in the country.

Written by:

Ted Jenkin, CFP®, AAMS®, AWMA®, CRPC®, CMFC®, CRPS®

Co-CEO and Founder of oXYGen Financial, Inc - The Leaders in Gen X & Y Financial Advice

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through NFP Advisor Services, LLC (NFPAS), Member FINRA/SIPC. Oxygen Financial is not affiliated with NFPAS. NFPAS does not provide tax or legal advice. This site is published for residents of the United States only. Registered Representatives and Investment Advisor Representatives of NFP Advisor Services, LLC (NFPAS) may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Not all products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. For additional information, please contact NFPAS Compliance Department at 512-697-6000. PLEASE NOTE: The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this web site. NFP Advisor Services, LLC makes no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these web sites. Nor is NFP Advisor Services, LLC liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, web sites, information and programs made available through this web site. When you access one of these web sites, you are leaving our web site and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the web sites you are linking to.

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Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. oXYGen Financial is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS. Kestra IS and Kestra AS do not provide tax or legal advice. https://Bit.ly/KF-Disclosures

This site is published for residents of the United States only. Registered Representatives of Kestra IS and Investment Advisor Representatives of Kestra AS may only conduct business with residents of the states and jurisdictions in which they are properly registered. Therefore, a response to a request for information may be delayed. Not all products and services referenced on this site are available in every state and through every representative or advisor listed. For additional information, please contact Kestra IS Compliance Department at 844-553-7872.

PLEASE NOTE: The information being provided is strictly as a courtesy. When you link to any of the web sites provided here, you are leaving this web site. Kestra IS and Kestra AS makes no representation as to the completeness or accuracy of information provided at these web sites. Nor is Kestra IS and Kestra AS liable for any direct or indirect technical or system issues or any consequences arising out of your access to or your use of third-party technologies, web sites, information and programs made available through this web site. When you access one of these web sites, you are leaving our web site and assume total responsibility and risk for your use of the web sites you are linking to.