The New Reality of Property Insurance: What You Should Know

Q.  How can insurance availability/affordability affect the real estate transaction?
 
A.  The affordability and availability of insurance affects both buyers and sellers.  Buyers will typically be obtaining mortgage financing to pay the purchase price of the property.  The lender will require that there be property insurance to cover their interest in the property.  If proof of insurance is not available at closing the lender will likely refuse to release the funds and therefore delay or even derail the transaction, either of which can impose both inconvenience and cost to both the buyer and seller.  Even in a “cash” transaction the buyer may be hesitant to complete a transaction where insurance is not available to cover the buyer’s equity in the property.
 
Q.  When should a buyer apply to obtain an insurance policy to cover the property being purchased?
 
A.  The interest of both buyers and the sellers now suggests that the buyers should begin their search for insurance no later than the time of the contract to purchase is signed.  This helps to assure a firm commitment for the issuance of a policy well in advance of the settlement of the transaction.  Waiting until the last days or even weeks before the closing can limit the opportunities of the buyers and sellers to address the affordability and availability issue and, if needed, to find alternatives for difficult to insure properties.  There have been many examples of transactions, which have been adversely affected in some manner because of problems associated with insurance availability/affordability.
 
Q.  What kinds of events/records can affect the ability to obtain insurance on a property being purchased?
 
A.  A number of factors can affect the availability and cost of homeowner insurance on a property being purchased.  For example, they include:
a.   past claims filed on the property (up to previous
five years)
b.   poor insurance score of the prospective
purchaser
c.   past claims filed by the property purchaser on
other properties
d.   physical characteristics of property (e.g., leaky roof, historical)
e.   characteristics of the property’s location (e.g., proximity to fire station, regional weather conditions)
 
Q.  How does the insurance company know what claims have been filed in connection with the property?
 
A.    Approximately 90% of all insurance companies contribute information regarding
claims to an insurance industry database.  When underwriting a new policy the insurance company may obtain a report from this system from one of a couple different sources to determine the property’s claims history.  This report is most often identified as a comprehensive loss underwriting exchange report or a “CLUE Report.”  The report contains information regarding property claims filed in connection with a particular property and claims filed by a particular insured person.  For a fee the current owner of the property may obtain a copy of this report. A copy of the report is available to the property owner through companies such as ChoicePoint, Inc, either by writing to ChoicePoint, Inc. located in Alpharetta, Georgia, or by going to their website, choicetrust.com, and A-Plus, either by writing to A-Plus located in Jersey City, New Jersey or calling 800/709-8842. 
 
Q. Should I get a copy of the CLUE Report?
 
A. While this decision is up to the property owner, it is important to understand the limitations of the report.  The report contains only raw information and how that information will affect the insurability of a property isn’t explained as a part of the report.  Moreover, not all insurance companies use the report and those that do use it don’t all use the information in the same way.  As a result having the report may not enable you to predict whether a particular company will insure the property. If you want information on how a CLUE Report or other similar report may affect your ability to obtain insurance contact your insurance agent.
 
Q.  Are there factors unique to a buyer that can affect their ability to obtain insurance?
 
A.  Yes, although not used by all insurance companies in determining eligibility for insurance, some companies do review the claims filed by the buyer on properties owned by the buyer during the preceding five years.  This is another aspect of the CLUE Report database that focuses upon the insured individual rather than the insured property.
 
Another more controversial factor is the use of Insurance Scores.  Insurance Scores, which are formulas developed by insurance companies in an effort to predict the likelihood of an individual filing claims, are sometimes used to determine to whom or at what price an insurance policy will be issued. 
 
Insurance scores are not standardized within the insurance industry and both how they are calculated and how they are used is generally not known outside of individual insurance companies.  If you want additional information on how insurance scoring may affect your ability to obtain insurance contact your insurance agent.  
 
Q. Can an insurer rate my insurance risk based on my credit score?
 
A.  No.  In Maryland, insurance companies are prohibited from using credit scores to determine a property owner’s insurance risk.
 
Q.  If I have questions about insurance practices or the law, who should I contact?
 
A. The Maryland Insurance Administration has a consumer complaint line for all forms of insurance.  In the case of homeowner’s insurance, you would contact the Consumer Complaints Department for Property and Casualty at 410-468-2341.
 
 
Transaction Checklist – Insurance Issues

• Discuss current insurance market conditions with your insurance agent and any problems you may have in obtaining insurance on the home you are purchasing
• Review offer to purchase to identify insurance issues.
• Contact one or more insurance agents immediately following acceptance of purchase contract by both parties to begin process of obtaining necessary insurance.
• Obtain commitments to issue an insurance policy from an insurance company in writing and carefully review it with your attorney or insurance agent to determine scope of that commitment.
• Be aware of alternative insurance sources that may be available if a problem develops:
  • Know available sources of insurance (i.e., what other insurance companies are in market by calling different insurance agencies in the community)
  • Check with Seller’s current insurer to determine if that insurer will continue to insure property with new owner
  • Check with Buyer’s current insurer to determine if that insurer will continue to insure buyer in a new property
  • Alternative forms of coverage that may allow the transaction to proceed may be obtained by contacting the Maryland Joint Insurance Association 410-539-6808)

Prepared in part by the Risk Management Committee of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Reprinted with permission by the National Association of REALTORS®.

The Maryland Association of REALTORS®, 2594 Riva Road, Annapolis MD 21401-7406, www.mdrealtor.org; 410-841-6080