Home Owner Insurance on the Rise

Home insurance premiums rose 19% in 2011.  In an analysis of 15,000 policies sold in the US in 2011, homeowners paid an average of $810 for their monthly home insurance premium in December 2011, up from an average of $682 in January 2011.  On average, homeowners nationwide paid $128 more per year for new homeowners’ insurance than they did at the begining of 2011.  However, some individual states fared worse.  In Mississippi, Montana and New Mexico, new insurance policies in December 2011 had premiums that were 29% to 39% higher than those sold in January 2011.  Consumers may be able to reduce premiums by shopping around and asking their insurance agent if they are eligible for discounts, such as a home-auto insurance package, which can provide substantial savings.