Can't Find Home Insurance in Texas?
Been Declined for Homeowners Insurance? You May Still Have Options.
If an insurance company has told you they won't insure your home, don't assume that means your property is uninsurable.
Insurance companies use different underwriting guidelines. A property that doesn't qualify with one company may still qualify with another.
At Next Move Insurance, we work with multiple insurance markets and help Texas homeowners explore coverage when obtaining homeowners insurance has become difficult.
Whether the issue involves your roof, previous claims, the age of the property, its condition, location, occupancy, or another underwriting concern, we'll help you understand what may be causing the problem and what options may still be available.
Why Was My Home Insurance Declined?
Insurance companies use a process called underwriting to decide which properties they are willing to insure.
And not every insurance company has the same underwriting rules.
That matters because being declined by one carrier does not necessarily mean every insurance company will decline you.
Texas insurance regulators explain that companies may look at factors such as:
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Roof age and condition
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Age and condition of the home
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Construction materials
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Property location
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Replacement cost
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Occupancy
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Prior claims
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Fire protection in the area
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Other property characteristics
At Next Move Insurance, our first step is to understand why you were declined.
Then we can determine what to do next.
Common Reasons Homeowners Have Trouble Finding Insurance
Your Roof Is Too Old
Roof age has become an important underwriting consideration for many insurance companies.
Depending on the company, an older roof may affect:
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Whether they will insure the property
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How the roof is covered
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Your deductible
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The premium
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Whether they require repairs or replacement
But an older roof doesn't automatically mean you have no insurance options.
Talk to us before assuming you need to replace your roof just to obtain insurance.
We can first explore available markets and determine what different carriers may require.
Your Home Has Prior Insurance Claims
Previous claims can affect underwriting, but having claims in your history doesn't automatically mean you cannot get homeowners insurance.
Insurance companies may review both your personal claims history and claims associated with the property.
Our team can help explore available options based on your particular situation.
The House Is Older
Older Texas homes can sometimes require additional underwriting because insurers
may consider the condition of:
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Electrical systems
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Plumbing
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Roof
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Heating systems
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Foundation
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Other components of the property
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The important distinction is this:
An old home and a poorly maintained home are not necessarily the same thing.
If the property has been updated and maintained, there may still be insurance options available.
The Property Needs Repairs
Sometimes an insurance company may identify a specific condition that needs attention before it will insure a property.
Examples could include:
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Roof damage
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Missing shingles
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Deteriorated exterior surfaces
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Electrical concerns
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Plumbing issues
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Tree limbs near the structure
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Other visible hazards
If that's what happened to you, the next step may not necessarily be finding another policy immediately.
Sometimes correcting the underwriting issue can open additional insurance options.
Your Property Is Vacant
Insurance companies often treat vacant and occupied homes differently.
If your home is:
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Being renovated
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Waiting to be sold
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Between tenants
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Part of an estate or probate
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Recently purchased as an investment
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Temporarily unoccupied
you may need a policy specifically designed for that situation.
The Property Is a Rental or Investment Home
If you're renting the home to someone else, a traditional owner-occupied homeowners policy may not be appropriate.
We can help explore rental property and landlord insurance options based on how the property is actually being used.
You're Buying Near the Texas Coast
Some properties along the Texas coast can require separate consideration for windstorm and hail coverage.
Depending on the property's location and eligibility, your insurance arrangement could involve:
Property insurance
TWIA windstorm insurance
Flood insurance
Instead of assuming that "nobody will insure the house," we can help determine which pieces of coverage may be needed.
What Should I Do After Being Declined?
Step 1: Find Out Why
Ask the insurance company or agent why
the property was declined.
The answer gives us an important starting point.
Was it:
The roof?
Claims?
Property condition?
Location?
Vacancy?
Age of the home?
Another underwriting issue?
Step 2: Don't Assume Every Insurance Company
Has the Same Rules
Insurance companies use different
underwriting guidelines.
One company may decide that a property falls outside its guidelines while
another company may be willing to insure it.
That's one of the advantages of working with an independent insurance agency.
Next Move Insurance can explore multiple available markets instead of giving you an
answer based on only one carrier.
Step 3: Verify the Information About Your Property
Sometimes underwriting decisions are based on incorrect or outdated property information.
For example:
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Was the roof replaced but the insurance records still show the old roof?
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Was the electrical system updated?
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Has plumbing been replaced?
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Were previous damages repaired?
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Is the property shown as vacant when it's occupied?
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Are property details incorrect?
Make sure your insurance agent has accurate information.
If you've completed major improvements, let us know.
Step 4: Determine Whether Repairs Would Help
If the reason for the decline is the condition of the property, ask what specifically needs to be corrected.
Texas also has a Voluntary Inspection Program for certain homeowners who are having difficulty obtaining insurance because of their home's condition.
A qualifying homeowner may obtain a certificate of insurability after the property passes an inspection.
This won't be appropriate in every situation, but it is another possible avenue worth knowing about.
Step 5: Explore Other Insurance Markets
Once we understand the problem, we'll explore available insurance options.
The objective is to find an appropriate market for the property before assuming you need an
insurer-of-last-resort option.
What If No Traditional Insurance Company Will Insure My Home?
You may still have another option.
Texas FAIR Plan
The Texas FAIR Plan Association provides limited property insurance for eligible Texas property owners who cannot obtain qualifying coverage through the regular insurance market.
FAIR Plan is considered an insurer of last resort, so it isn't necessarily where we start.
Current eligibility requirements generally include being declined by at least two qualifying insurance companies and not having an offer for comparable coverage available through the voluntary market.
At Next Move Insurance, we can help:
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Explore traditional insurance options first
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Determine whether the property may meet FAIR Plan requirements
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Assist with the FAIR Plan application when appropriate
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Explain how the coverage differs from other available policies
Buying a House That Is Difficult to Insure?
Find Out Before You Get Too Close to Closing.
If you're under contract on a property and an insurance company declines it, don't automatically assume the transaction is dead.
Contact us as early as possible.
We'll want to know:
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Property address
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Closing date
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Property age
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Roof age, if known
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Previous decline information
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Reason given for the decline
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Any inspection or repair information you have
Our team understands real estate transactions, lender requirements and closing deadlines.
We'll help you determine what insurance options may still be available before you make important decisions about the property.
Has Your Current Insurance
Company Non-Renewed You?
Being non-renewed is different from choosing to cancel your own policy.
If you've received a notice that your homeowners insurance won't be renewed, don't wait until the expiration date to start looking.
Send us the notice or tell us why the company says it is non-renewing the policy.
That gives us time to:
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Understand the underwriting issue
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Correct inaccurate property information if necessary
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Explore other carriers
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Determine whether repairs may help
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Consider alternative markets if needed
Don't Replace Your Roof Until
You Understand the Problem
If someone told you:
“No company will insure your house because of the roof.”
Talk to us first.
Roof age and condition can absolutely influence insurance eligibility, and some insurers may limit or change roof coverage as a roof gets older.
But underwriting requirements vary between companies.
Before spending thousands of dollars solely because you think insurance requires a new roof, let's determine:
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How old the roof actually is
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What condition it's in
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What documentation is available
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Whether another insurance market is available
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Whether repairs or replacement are truly required for the option you're considering
Why Work With Next Move Insurance?
We're Independent
We work with multiple insurance markets instead of representing only one insurance company.
We Understand Difficult Properties
We regularly work with older homes, rental properties, vacant properties, manufactured homes, prior claims, coastal properties and other situations that may require additional insurance options.
We Understand Texas Insurance
Our team can help with traditional homeowners insurance as well as specialized options including Texas FAIR Plan, TWIA and flood insurance.
We Understand Real Estate
If you're purchasing a property, we understand lender requirements, insurance deadlines and the pressure of an upcoming closing.
You Get Personal Service
You're working with a local insurance team — not simply being passed through a national call center.
Hablamos Español
We provide service in both English and Spanish.