High valuations and interest rates are not the only factors that have negatively impacted the mortgage industry. Added to these major hurdles, spiking escrows due to rising property tax assessments and homeowners insurance costs are pushing some borrowers to the brink of default.
Tag: Insurance
Two-Thirds of Homes Underinsured, Matic Reports
Matic, Columbus, Ohio, released its mid-year premium trends report, finding that approximately two-thirds of homes are underinsured, largely due to insurance policies that fail to reflect construction costs or home improvements.
Fannie Mae: Consumers Worry About Extreme Weather on Homes, Insurance Premiums
Nearly half of Americans surveyed expressed concern about the impact of extreme weather events on their homes–especially about excessive wind and heat–according to Fannie Mae, Washington, D.C.
Homeowners Average Almost $18,000 Per Year on Non-Mortgage Expenses
The average homeowner spends $17,958 on non-mortgage expenses, a recent study found, listing categories such as maintenance, improvements, utilities, property taxes and insurance.
LendingTree: 1 in 4 Worry Their Home Will Be ‘Uninsurable’ in 2024
More than one-quarter of U.S. homeowners worry their homes will become “uninsurable” as rates continue to increase, reported LendingTree, Charlotte, N.C.
Fitch Ratings: Mortgage Insurer Ratings Reflect Strong Borrower Credit Performance
Fitch Ratings, New York, said underwriting results for U.S. mortgage insurers remained very strong through 2023.
Redfin Reports Florida Condo Prices Falling as Insurance; HOA Fees Skyrocket
Prices of condos in some major Florida metros are dropping year-over-year and sales are declining as insurance costs and homeowners association fees climb, according to Redfin, Seattle.
Matic: Challenges in Home Insurance Market Likely to Continue
Matic, Columbus, Ohio, in a recent year-end report noted 79% of mortgage lenders experienced an increase in problems with home insurance in the past year, among other challenges. Moreover, the company predicted such challenges may persist into 2024.
DBRS Morningstar Warns About Insurance and Property Values in Coastal Areas
DBRS Morningstar, Toronto, released a new analysis warning about the impacts of climate change–including hurricanes–on property insurance in vulnerable areas. Insurance companies are exiting catastrophe-prone areas, DBRS Morningstar said, potentially leading to a decline in property values.
Natural Disasters, Insurance Landscape Cause Industry Disruptions, Panelists Say
WASHINGTON–Amid a cascading series of natural disasters, the homeowners’ insurance market has been seriously disrupted, and is likely to remain that way for the foreseeable future, panelists said at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Compliance and Risk Management conference.