Is homeowners insurance required for all homes? Can the homeowners association require the owners to buy a separate insurance policy? Q: I read your column in our local Florida newspaper. In my development, all of the homes are attached townhomes. I recently got an email from our community’s management company that said homeowners' insurance was [...]
What does homeowners insurance cover? What typical policies cover and how to adjust premiums and deductibles to get the right coverage for you. Homeowners insurance can shield families from devastating losses if they have the right amount of coverage but it turns out many are unclear what that looks like for their home. Nearly half [...]
HOA insurance: What coverage do you need to insure your unit? This is what homeowners association insurance covers and why you need insurance for your unit. Q: Our homeowner’s association (HOA) is requiring that each owner buy insurance to insure that owner against damage caused by their unit to the common areas of the association [...]
Moving tips to make your big move easier. These tips will help you plan a less stressful move, whether you're doing it DIY or hiring professional movers. An estimated 20 million Americans will pack up their lives and move into a new home this summer, according to InsuranceQuotes.com. No matter how organized you are (or [...]
Trees, neighbors and insurance coverage: What you need to know when nature strikes and your homeowner's insurance gives you the runaround. Over the past few weeks, we’ve received a number of letters on our recent column about trees, neighbors and insurance coverage. A reader wrote in that a tree fell on his neighbor’s garage and [...]
When facing a potential liability lawsuit, it’s important to take immediate action to protect the rest of your assets. Here’s where to start. Q: My brother and I have owned a rental property together for more than 15 years. There is a current mortgage, and both of our names are on the mortgage and on [...]
Since Hurricane Harvey hit, the news coming out of Texas and Louisiana has been heartbreaking. Some people survived Katrina only to be caught up in another catastrophic storm, and others not only lost property, but family and friends as well. The victims continue to be in our thoughts and prayers. If you’re in a position [...]
If you’ve paid off the mortgage, you might be ready to celebrate. Except don’t get too excited: While you’re done with the mortgage, and hopefully your home equity line of credit, you won’t be living in the house for free. Here are four post-mortgage expenses every homeowner has to handle and a few things [...]
Owning and operating a car isn’t cheap. Aside from paying for gas, maintenance, and repairs, you’ll likely need to buy an auto insurance policy. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), most states require some form of auto insurance. Among other factors, insurance companies look at who you are and how you drive [...]
According to statistics compiled by People For Bikes, a nationally recognized movement to promote the benefits of cycling, Americans spend $81 billion annually on biking. Buying a bicycle can be an expensive endeavor: A low-end model can cost hundreds, and for the more serious rider, a high-end bike can cost thousands. Whether you’re commuting to [...]
