Map Reveals Regions Where Insurers Are Dropping Homeowners at Record Rates

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Key points

• In the West, insurer pullbacks accelerated dramatically between 2018 and 2024, with nonrenewals jumping from eight per 1, 000 policies in 2022 to 25.1 per 1, 000 policies by 2024.
• While average inflation-adjusted premiums rose by 18.3 percent to 43.3 percent, according to the NAIC analysis, company-initiated nonrenewal rates rose by 96 percent to 216 percent throughout the four regions studied.
• Average premiums have continued to rise since NAIC's study, climbing 7 percent since the beginning of 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' producer cost index.
• Claim frequency and severity additionally climbed over the period, especially between 2021 and 2024.
• "A nonrenewal notice can be a bigger problem than a higher premium, " John Espenschied, owner of Insurance Brokers Group, informed Realtor.com.

As rising building material costs and more frequent, severe natural disasters push businesses to hike premiums, homeowners throughout the United States are paying more for insurance than ever. Average premiums surged by 18 percent in the Northeast, 25 percent in the Midwest, 27 percent in the Southeast, and 43 percent in the West between 2018 and 2024, even after accounting for inflation, according to an analysis by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The organization's first-of-its-kind report suggests that rising premiums are only part of the home insurance affordability crisis facing the country; increasingly, insurers are deciding they no longer want to cover certain homes at all. Researchers discovered that insurer-initiated nonrenewal rates surged throughout every major region of the country between 2018 and 2024, raising reservations concerning the growing availability of coverage in some of the most disaster-prone parts of the country. While average inflation-adjusted premiums rose by 18.3 percent to 43.3 percent, according to the NAIC analysis, company-initiated nonrenewal rates rose by 96 percent to 216 percent throughout the four regions studied. Claim frequency and severity additionally climbed over the period, especially between 2021 and 2024. Where Insurers Are Pulling Back The Southeast experienced the sharpest growth in nonrenewals, with the rate climbing 216 percent within the seven-year period. The Northeast saw a 147 percent growth over the same period. In the West, insurer pullbacks accelerated dramatically between 2018 and 2024, with nonrenewals jumping from eight per 1, 000 policies in 2022 to 25.1 per 1, 000 policies by 2024. In the Midwest, they rose by 96 percent. The results paint a picture of an insurance market under growing pressure from increasingly costly natural disasters, higher rebuilding expenses and climate-related risks. While insurers continue to operate in every region, plenty of are becoming more selective concerning the homes and locations they will insure. What Does It Mean for Homeowners? For homeowners, receiving a nonrenewal notice can be even more disruptive than receiving a premium growth – and potentially more dangerous should their home be struck by an extreme weather event. "A nonrenewal notice can be a bigger problem than a higher premium, " John Espenschied, owner of Insurance Brokers Group, informed Realtor.com. "A higher bill is painful, but at least you still have coverage." Unlike a cancellation. It usually occurs during an active policy period, a nonrenewal happens when an insurer decides not to extend coverage once a policy expires. In practice, the decision may have little to do with a homeowner's claims history. Insurers may withdraw from entire geographic areas since of rising wildfire, hurricane, flooding or storm risks. The trend has become increasingly visible in states such as Florida, California and Louisiana, where homeowners have faced soaring premiums, shrinking insurer participation and mounting uncertainty over future coverage. The matter has emerged as a defining challenge facing the U.S. Housing market. Homeowners in Florida informed Newsweek that insurance costs are becoming a major factor in deciding whether they could afford to stay in the state at all-especially as higher premiums come on top of higher property taxes and homeowners association (HOA) fees. Plenty of homeowners who have paid off their mortgages are going without coverage. Based on data from the Chicago Fed, between 2007 and 2017-before the recent premium hikes-6 percent of all U.S. Homeowners lacked property insurance. Researchers discovered that Black and Hispanic homeowners were most probable to be in the uninsured group, and years of education, income, and home value were all positively correlated with having homeowners insurance. What Happens Next? Average premiums have continued to rise since NAIC's study, climbing 7 percent since the beginning of 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' producer cost index. Experts say climate change, inflation-driven rebuilding costs, labor shortages and more expensive construction materials are among the key drivers behind these increases. As of now, these factors are unlikely to go away. For homeowners already grappling with high mortgage rates and elevated housing costs, the NAIC findings underscore a growing reality: securing affordable insurance may become just as significant as finding an affordable home. What are your thoughts? Have you received a home insurance nonrenewal notice or experienced a major premium growth? Let me know at [email protected]. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Sam Wilson.

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Average premiums surged by 18 percent in the Northeast, 25 percent in the Midwest, 27 percent in the Southeast, and 43 percent in the West between 2018 and 2024, even after accounting for inflation, according to an analysis by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

In practice, the organization's first-of-its-kind report suggests that rising premiums are only part of the home insurance affordability crisis facing the country; increasingly, insurers are deciding they no longer want to cover certain homes at all.

Researchers discovered that insurer-initiated nonrenewal rates surged throughout every major region of the country between 2018 and 2024, raising reservations concerning the growing availability of coverage in some of the most disaster-prone parts of the country.

For context, the Southeast experienced the sharpest growth in nonrenewals, with the rate climbing 216 percent within the seven-year period. The Northeast saw a 147 percent growth over the same period.

In the West, insurer pullbacks accelerated dramatically between 2018 and 2024, with nonrenewals jumping from eight per 1, 000 policies in 2022 to 25.1 per 1, 000 policies by 2024. In the Midwest, they rose by 96 percent.

Meanwhile, the results paint a picture of an insurance market under growing pressure from increasingly costly natural disasters, higher rebuilding expenses and climate-related risks. While insurers continue to operate in every region, plenty of are becoming more selective concerning the homes and locations they will insure. What Does It Mean for Homeowners?

For homeowners, receiving a nonrenewal notice can be even more disruptive than receiving a premium growth – and potentially more dangerous should their home be struck by an extreme weather event.

"A nonrenewal notice can be a bigger problem than a higher premium, " John Espenschied, owner of Insurance Brokers Group, informed Realtor.com. "A higher bill is painful, but at least you still have coverage."

Unlike a cancellation, which usually occurs during an active policy period, a nonrenewal happens when an insurer decides not to extend coverage once a policy expires. The decision may have little to do with a homeowner's claims history. Insurers may withdraw from entire geographic areas since of rising wildfire, hurricane, flooding or storm risks.

Meanwhile, the trend has become increasingly visible in states such as Florida, California and Louisiana, where homeowners have faced soaring premiums, shrinking insurer participation and mounting uncertainty over future coverage.

For context, the matter has emerged as a defining challenge facing the U.S. Housing market. Homeowners in Florida informed Newsweek that insurance costs are becoming a major factor in deciding whether they could afford to stay in the state at all-especially as higher premiums come on top of higher property taxes and homeowners association (HOA) fees.

Plenty of homeowners who have paid off their mortgages are going without coverage. Based on data from the Chicago Fed, between 2007 and 2017-before the recent premium hikes-6 percent of all U.S. Homeowners lacked property insurance. Researchers discovered that Black and Hispanic homeowners were most probable to be in the uninsured group, and years of education, income, and home value were all positively correlated with having homeowners insurance.

Experts say climate change, inflation-driven rebuilding costs, labor shortages and more expensive construction materials are among the key drivers behind these increases. As of now, these factors are unlikely to go away.

For homeowners already grappling with high mortgage rates and elevated housing costs, the NAIC findings underscore a growing reality: securing affordable insurance may become just as significant as finding an affordable home.

What are your thoughts? Have you received a home insurance nonrenewal notice or experienced a major premium growth? Let me know at [email protected]. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Sam Wilson.

In short, map Reveals Regions Where Insurers Are Dropping Homeowners at Record Rates is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.