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Rates guides
How the age of your home affects insuranceOlder homes cost more to insure and can be harder to place because of aging wiring, plumbing and roofs. Newer homes earn credits that fade. What to document.How catastrophe models shape your premiumCatastrophe models estimate yearly losses from hurricanes, wildfires and storms. How that output reaches your rate, who checks the models and what you can fix.CLUE reports: how claims history follows you and your houseA CLUE report holds up to seven years of claims tied to you and your address. What it shows, how insurers use it, how to get your free copy and dispute errors.Construction type and rates: frame, masonry and moreHow insurers classify frame, masonry veneer and masonry homes, why walls matter for fire and wind, and why a brick house is not always rated as brick.Fire protection class (ISO PPC) and your rateYour fire protection class grades local fire service from 1 to 10. How split classes work, why a hydrant 1,000 feet away matters, and how to find your class.How insurers decide whether to insure a homeUnderwriters weigh the house, your claims and credit history, and their own exposure, then accept, set conditions or decline. What they check and why.How much does homeowners insurance cost?The NAIC's latest data (2023) puts the average HO-3 premium at $1,737, but states range from $923 to $3,027. What the averages mean and how to size up a quote.Insurance scores: how credit affects home insuranceMost states let insurers price home policies with a credit-based insurance score. What it measures, where it is limited and how to dispute it or get a re-rate.Why home insurance costs the most in a handful of statesLouisiana, Texas, Florida, Colorado and Oklahoma top the NAIC's 2023 premium averages. Why: wind and hail risk, reinsurance, litigation and rate rules.Risk Rating 2.0: how NFIP prices flood insurance nowSince 2021 FEMA prices NFIP flood policies by each property's own flood risk and rebuild cost, not by zone. What drives your rate, the 18% cap, how to lower it.How roof age and material affect premiumsRoof age sets a rating factor and decides how storm damage is settled; material and impact ratings shape credits. What a new roof saves and how to document it.Rural homes: fire protection, wells and long drivesRural homes pay for distance from the fire station, wells, septic and outbuildings. What drives price and availability, and what to do about it.What affects your homeowners insurance rateLocation and rebuilding cost set most of a homeowners premium; roof, age, claims, credit, deductible and discounts adjust it. Which factors you can change.