Owning a vacation home is a dream; understand the market more clearly by considering these nine key factors.1. Market outlook: Is inventory plentiful? Are prices trending up or down? Is an area losing its cachet, or is it heating up? Be sure to … [Read more...]
FEMA New Flood Insurance Manual
All buyers of older properties (“pre-FIRM”) will see a premium rate reduction under the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014. Instead of jumping to “full cost” for flood insurance, buyers will assume the seller’s Oct-2013 rate for a … [Read more...]
Lawmakers Review Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
An aerial view of the damage Hurricane Ike inflicted upon Gilchrist, Texas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Better times could be on the horizon the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, or TWIA, has been in a … [Read more...]
Hunter bill to curb state insurance agency powers
Corpus Christi, TX, September 10, 2008 — James Alverez fills up extra tanks with gas in preparation for Hurricane Ike. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Gina Keating Texas Rep. Todd Hunter on Thursday said he will introduce legislation to sharply curb … [Read more...]
U.S. Senate approves curbs to flood insurance rate hikes
The U.S. Senate recently approved bipartisan legislation to curtail flood insurance rate increases that property owners are facing across the country. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act repeals the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s … [Read more...]
Texas windstorm insurance association names Port Aransas native as new board chair
The Texas windstorm insurance association (TWIA) board last week appointed Georgia Neblett, a longtime Port Aransas native. “I’m very honored to have been chosen and wouldn’t dream of undertaking this role were it not for the very competent board and … [Read more...]
Republicans cave to the Realtors on taxpayer flood insurance.
Bipartisan achievements are rare, but one of them was the 2012 reform of federal flood insurance.The goal of the Biggert-Waters reform of 2012 was to require that property owners gradually adjust to paying actuarial sound rates for taxpayer-backed … [Read more...]