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I’m seeking insurance, real estate, and financial experts to explain the homeowners insurance details buyers should investigate before purchasing a home so insurance costs or coverage gaps don’t become an unpleasant surprise after closing.
1. At what point in the homebuying process should a buyer start researching homeowners insurance?
2. What insurance-related information should buyers investigate about a property before making or finalizing an offer?
3. Which exclusions in homeowners policies are especially important to understand?
4. How should buyers determine whether they need separate flood, earthquake, wildfire, or other supplemental coverage?
5. What should buyers know about replacement cost versus actual cash value coverage?
6. Can a home’s age, roof, electrical system, plumbing, location, or claims history significantly affect premiums or insurability?
7. How can buyers estimate the true insurance cost before committing to a house?
8. Are there situations in which insurance could be so expensive or difficult to obtain that a buyer should reconsider the purchase?
9. What questions should buyers specifically ask an insurance agent before closing?
10. Do you have anything more to add?
Deadline: Sep 8th, 2026 08:52 PM (May close early)
This deadline has passed, and new answer submissions are no longer being accepted.
Publisher:
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Money Lion
This deadline has passed
New answer submissions are no longer being accepted for this question.
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Realtor.com LIVING sectionLooking for folks who purchased a primary residence in the last 18 months. This is for a series of stories in the LIVING section. Note that we are asking you to share numbers — purchase price, down payment, monthly mortgage cost — so please ONLY respond if you're comfortable with that. Also, we can link to a business website or IG. (You can be anonymous — but in that case, obv no link — but we cannot run a story without these numbers.) Home purchases can be in any city/town in the USA, but it has to be the USA.
Especially interested in:
- if you bought your dream home
- first-time home-buyers
- people who bought what they hope will be their forever/last house
- if you used a VA, USDA or other loan product
- if you bought a space that is your residence and also houses your business
- you deliberately downsized to save money
- you bought a house with a friend or family member
- anything else you think would be fun or interesting to talk about!
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Dreamy LeadsLicensed property and casualty insurance agents: share one change a homeowner can make before renewal that most reliably lowers a 2026 home insurance premium without cutting coverage they will need after a storm (for example a wind mitigation inspection, roof documentation, deductible structure, bundling or shopping carriers). How much can it realistically save, and what is the trade-off? We are a consumer research desk publishing state-by-state home insurance cost data and want practitioner insight alongside it. Please include your name, title, state insurance licence number, agency and the state(s) you are licensed in. Every quote is attributed to the named expert, and answers without a licence number will not be used.
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Morning Brew's PlaybookI'd love to hear from homeowners, real estate investors, and insurance experts on how to navigate high home insurance costs. Have you noticed rates rising? Have you found ways to lower the cost of home insurance, and if so, how? Have you ever been dropped by insurance, and if so, how did you deal with it? What lessons did you learn about insurance, and what advice would you have for others in a similar situation? Please share your stories and advice in your original message, along with an email for follow-up questions and photos of your home if you're comfortable sharing them. Thank you!