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There is no way around needing Homeowners insurance if you are about to embark on the journey of purchasing a home. Depending on the size of the home, Homeowners insurance can cost as little as $400 a year to as much as $2000 a year, if not more in some parts of the country. The amount of Homeowners insurance you receive will also be determined by the value of the interior property, including the upkeep of remodeling on the home, as well as whether your policy will include valuable electronics and jewelry.

Once you have determined what type of policy you would like to implement, you can begin discussing yearly and monthly costs with insurance agents. One thing to keep in mind while you are searching for Homeowners insurance is that the rates won’t vary that much between each company, but there are small ways to save a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, simply by finding some Homeowners insurance discounts that are available.

One of the easiest ways to receive a discount on Homeowners insurance is to install a home security system, and not the type that barks and growls. Many insurance companies are actually paired up with security companies like ADT or Brink’s and will give you a discount for using that insurance company and that security company as well.

Even if you get Homeowners insurance and decide to go back later and install a security system, don’t forget to go back and call your Homeowners insurance company once the system is installed so that you can receive a discount on your insurance. Further discounts may be given for motion sensors or even for video surveillance cameras installed on the home.

Another great way to receive a small discount on your Homeowners insurance is through fire and carbon monoxide detectors and fire resistant doors, brick and even walls. Remember that not all companies will offer the same discount for fire resistance and fire protection, so it is best to do research on how much of a discount can be received before diving in to remodeling the entire house for fire resistance.

Keeping up with newer appliances is another excellent way to help receive a Homeowners insurance discount. Older appliances are more likely to develop bad electrical connections, which can make the home susceptible to fire.

The first place to begin updating appliances is in the kitchen because kitchens are on the top of the list for places where fires begin. Many other insurance companies will offer a discount for new plumbing and electrical systems, or simply for a home that is less than ten years old altogether.

While some homeowners aren’t willing to consider a higher insurance deductible, or the price they will pay before the insurance will begin paying for loss or damages, asking for price quotes with higher deductibles is an excellent way to receive a discount on your insurance.

Most Homeowners insurance companies start out with a minimum deductible of $250 to $500 dollars, but try raising the deductible by $250 and see how much this will save you a year. Often times, this can make a difference of nearly $100-$150 a year on the total insurance bill.

Remember, though, that if you choose this route, you may end up paying more than that $150 savings a year if something happens to your home and you have to pay the higher deductible. Simply weight the negatives and positives and decide if a higher deductible is right for you.

The final sure fire way to receive a Homeowners insurance benefit is to belong to a club or certain group. This could simply mean being in the “65 and older” club and receiving a senior citizens discount, or it could also mean already being a member of the bank where you are looking to purchase Homeowners insurance. Some insurance companies also give a discount if you plan on having both your car insurance and Homeowners insurance with that company.

Before settling for the first set of numbers thrown at you by the insurance company, be sure to ask about these discounts and make your assets work for you when shopping for Homeowners insurance.

Credit: Ian W Anderson of homeownersinsurance.cc, the homeowners insurance information site. For more homeowners insurance information and articles like this one visit: Homeowners Insurance

Tags:insurance,car insurance.life insurance home insurance, homeowners insurance, homeowners insurance discounts, homeowners insurance quotes

Tags: home insurance, homeowners insurance, homeowners insurance discounts, homeowners insurance quoteshome insurance, homeowners insurance, homeowners insurance discounts, homeowners insurance quotes

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As the water began to drain from New Orleans in 2005, we learned that most of the homeowners in New Orleans did not have flood insurance, since they were supposedly in “low risk” areas. The over 60% of homeowners will need to depend upon their own savings, and limited federal assistance, to rebuild New Orleans - at an uncalculated cost for homeowners and taxpayers.

Could that level of disaster, especially that level of uninsured disaster, happen in California? Less than 15% of California homeowners currently carry earthquake insurance, due to its high cost, the “can’t happen to me or my house” factor, and mortgage providers not requiring coverage. The next big quake will result in billions of uninsured damage - but is earthquake insurance really worth the high cost?

How Did We Get Here?

The state of California requires that all homeowner’s insurance providers to at least offer earthquake insurance (albeit, at a high cost). Until 1994, it was widely available - but the high damage costs of the Northridge earthquake resulted in 97% of homeowner’s insurance providers pulling out of the state the California. In response, the California Earthquake Authority was formed by the California legislator to provide earthquake insurance.

What Is the California Earthquake Authority, and How Does It Work?

The California Earthquake Authority provides two-thirds of the earthquake policies in California, sold through their member providers, like Allstate and State Farm. A homeowner purchases the policy through their regular insurance agent, but the policy is actually a CEA policy.

The CEA currently has about $7.2 billion to pay claims, which it states is enough to pay foreseeable damages (Loma Prieta in 1989 had $6 billion in total damages). If the damage claims are more than $7.2 billion, then each claim would be paid a prorated portion of their losses - unlike a regular insurance company, which promises to pay the actual damages under the insurance policy. The state of California cannot help pay the claims out of general funds.

The policies also have a high deductible - usually 15% of the value of the dwelling. In other words, your home must be damaged more than 15% of its value before the insurance starts paying. So, this insurance is not for cracks in the driveway - it is for significant structural damage to your home. The policy also pays for limited contents (starting at $5K) and loss of use (starting at $1500).

Why Is Earthquake Insurance So Expensive?

Insurance policy premiums are calculated based on probabilities - the probability that a house like yours in a neighborhood like yours will catch fire, or a driver like you will have an accident. With data from millions of homes, these probabilities can be calculated with reasonable accuracy. But, no one can reliably predict the probability that there will be an earthquake strong enough to damage your home.

And, as you can imagine, damages from an earthquake, flood, or hurricane, are widespread, over potentially thousands of square miles - instead of one or a few dozen homes, as in a fire. As such, the insurer would have to pay either zero claims, or billions of dollars of claims - too much variance to reasonably plan for or price accurately.

Are We Really At Risk Here in San Jose?

According to the USGS, there is a 62% probability that there will be an earthquake of 6.7 or greater (like the Northridge quake) in the Bay Area in the next 30 years. In my zip code (San Jose 95126), USGS calculates a 80% chance of a 6.0 earthquake and a 20% chance of a 7.0, in the next 30 years. Whether you consider that to be a high risk depends on your risk tolerance for earthquakes - I consider that a high risk of a moderate earthquake and a somewhat low risk of a terrible earthquake, over the next 30 years.

But like any issue involving real estate - it is all local. Where your home is actually located significantly affects your risk - bedrock, reclaimed land from the bay, soil type, nearby streams, actual distance from the epicenter - all can affect potential damage.

But of course, many earthquakes occur where the USGS was not even aware of a fault line - and we never know when or where it will happen, until it happens.

Should I Obtain Earthquake Insurance?

Factors to Consider:

• Could you afford to pay for the rebuilding your home from your own savings & investments?
• Can you afford to pay the high cost of insurance, indefinitely?
• Could make payments on your current mortgage and on a new loan to rebuild?
• Can you mitigate your potential losses by bolting your roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation, for example?
• What is your tolerance for the risk of an earthquake?
• What is the risks of your current home construction (type, age, foundation)?
• What are the risks of your specific location (soil type, distance to known faults)?

Are the Costs Worth It?

Let’s assume that you have a home that would cost $250K to rebuild, you will own the home for the next 30 years, and your earthquake premiums are $1200 per year. Over the next 30 years, that would be a total of $36,000 in premiums (assuming your premiums do not increase, to simplify calculations).

Instead of purchasing insurance, you invest the premiums in a diversified mutual fund. With an 8% annual return, you would have $135,000 (pre-tax) in year 30.* But of course, you only have that total in year 30, not in year one - meaning that if the earthquake happens tomorrow, you don’t have the money.

The deductible is another big turn off for many homeowners. The insurance pays only for large structural damage, not broken dishes or cracked driveways - meaning that it is less likely you will use it. However, be aware that you will not need to come up with the cash for the deductible - you may either opt to not undertake those repair or rebuilding costs, or you can apply for an SBA loan to pay for the deductible (assuming a federal disaster area is declared).

Why Not Just Get Federal Aid, or “Walk Away” and Let the Bank Have the Property?

The federal government would probably provide access to SBA loans, if the area is declared a federal disaster area (no small business required). However, the $200K maximum SBA loan may not be enough to rebuild your home - and, it is a loan that you need to pay back (in addition to your current mortgage).

If you have refinanced your mortgage, you have a recourse mortgage - which means that not only can the bank foreclose on the property in case of non-payment, the bank can also come after your personal assets and future income in case of non-payment. So you cannot just walk away, especially if you have a good income and some personal assets. The bank may help out by deferring payments for a few months, but you still must pay back the loan.

Last Thoughts

We have earthquake insurance on our home. Our home was not yet built in the 1906 earthquake (so who knows if it would stand), it is 75+ years old and is not bolted to the foundation, and we have a refinanced mortgage. For my family, the insurance premiums are worth peace of mind in case of a major earthquake disaster. That’s exactly what insurance is for - the “you never know.”

*calculations ignore inflation

Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, JD, a licensed attorney and Registered Investment Advisor, is the founder of Potts Weinstein Financial Consulting, a financial and estate planning firm, headquartered in San Jose, California. The firm specializes in providing fee-only, hourly financial planning, estate planning, and investment advice for people from all walks of life and income brackets. For more information about Potts Weinstein Financial Consulting, or to subscribe to our monthly eZine ‘Prosper!’, please visit http://www.pottsweinstein.com

Tags:insurance,car insurance.life insurance earthquake insurance, california earthquakes, potts weinstein, homeowners insurance

Tags: california earthquakes, earthquake insurance, homeowners insurance, potts weinsteincalifornia earthquakes, earthquake insurance, homeowners insurance, potts weinstein

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Homeowner’s insurance. You know you need it, but you really don’t like paying an arm and a leg for it.

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. But saving on home insurance isn’t time consuming or impossible. With a few simple tips, you can shrink your home insurance premium and keep your house adequately protected for years to come!

Saving Tip #1: Buy Car and Home Insurance from the Same Insurer

Buying both your car and home insurance from the same insurer will grant you a multiple policy discount, which can save you anywhere from five to 15 percent on your policy. Just make sure the combined price of home and auto insurance is lower than what you’d pay with a different company.

Saving Tip #2: Inquire about Discounts

On top of a multiple policy discount for auto and homeowner’s insurance, remember to ask your agent about discounts for:

• Home security devices
• Additional smoke detectors
• Home sprinkler systems
• Dead bolts on doors or windows
• Modernized home plumbing
• Being over 55 years of age and retired

These discounts can add up to some pretty hefty savings, so be sure to do your homework and ask about any and all discounts for which you think you may apply.

Saving Tip #3: Increase Your Deductible

Increasing your deductiblethe amount you pay out-of-pocket when filing a claimwill have a substantial impact on your premium. That’s because any money you pay toward a claim means less money for your insurer to pay out. Just make sure you choose a deductible you can afford if you have to file a claim!

Saving Tip #4: Review Your Policy Annually

While you’ll want to have protection on any new additions or purchases to your home, you don’t want to pay for coverage you don’t need. Reviewing your policy every year will help you to make sure you’re not paying for extra coverage. So if you sold Aunt Betty’s antique china in the last year, be sure to let your agent know so he or she can adjust your premium accordinglyand put money back in your pocket.

Additional Tip: “Home inventory” checklists are made available by many insurers and consumer groups. You can visit the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) online to print a copy and take an inventory of your belongings.

Saving Tip #5: Shop Around

While insurance companies are regulated by your state, most companies can offer similar policies for very different prices. Therefore, comparing multiple homeowner’s insurance quotes is by far the best way to find the most affordable home insurance. The advent of the Internet has made this task even easierallowing you to compare multiple quotes without flipping through the phone book in search of an insurer.

Start Saving Today!

Say goodbye to expensive homeowner’s insurance premiums and find the cheap home insurance you need to protect your treasured abode. Use these tips to enjoy savings success for years to come!

About InsureMe
Megan L. Mahan is a copywriter and insurance information expert with InsureMe in Englewood, Colorado. InsureMe links agents nationwide with consumers shopping for insurance. Specializing in auto, health, life, long-term care and home insurance quotes, the InsureMe network provides thousands of agents with insurance leads every year. For more information, visit InsureMe.com.

Tags:insurance,car insurance.life insurance home insurance quotes, home insurance tips, cheap home insurance, homeowner’s insurance, home insurance

Tags: cheap home insurance, home insurance, home insurance quotes, home insurance tips, homeowners insurancecheap home insurance, home insurance, home insurance quotes, home insurance tips, homeowners insurance

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