This is UNBELIEVABLE! I decided to try to insure my house with TSC b/c the quote was so low. So, I call them back to start my application and they tell me that they can't insure my house b/c it's less than 1000 ft from the water! Why would you give me a quote if you can't insure the place?!?!

Posted by: honeybear at May 27, 2009 4:37 PM in response to Can't Get Insured Near Water

Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to check with some insurance brokers. All this talk about a hurricane and flooding is getting me very worried. I never used a broker before. If I don't like the quotes that the broker gives me, can I go thru TSC directly? are you in any way obligated to use the broker after getting quotes thru one? TSC gave me a very good quote, but i'm worried about what crownheights2007.

Posted by: honeybear at May 14, 2009 9:32 AM in response to Can't Get Insured Near Water

I know exactly how you are feeling. I am also having trouble finding homeowner's insurance. I'm looking for insurance for a house near Shore Rd on Dyker Heights but being denied left and right b/c it is too close to the water. I know Geico and Allstate don't cover much of Brooklyn anymore. State Farm, Traveler's and Liberty Mutual have also denied me coverage because of the water. The only company so far that will insure my home is TSC (tristate consumer). Their rates are actually very good. Can anyone tell me if they are a good company?

SSP Stacy, which companies have you contacted?

Other brownstoners, can you recommend any other insurance companies? Does anyone else have problems getting insurance?

Posted by: honeybear at May 9, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

File a written complaint with the new york state insurance board. Explain why you think they are refusing you a policy.
Keep in mind there might be some form of discrimination going on with the insurance companies. Maybe you are a woman or maybe you have an ethnic (foreign sounding name etc.) Maybe an ethnic neighborhood? It is worth looking into since it will cost you nothing to do it. The ny insurance board will do everything on your behalf.

Global warming? It's a new one!

Posted by: Ysabelle at May 9, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

Allstate bumped me off, then I tried TSC, which after agreeing to cover me then insisted on a premium 50% higher than originally quoted, claiming my house was a 3-family home in spite of all evidence and documentation to the contrary. Then I tried Tower and they canceled after one month, saying they only insure homes constructed after 1980 (which rules out 90% of Sunset Park!). Three weeks ago I contacted State Farm, and I told the woman, if you don't like frame houses that are around 100 years old, tell me now so we don't waste each others' time. No problem! she says, and the quote was okay -- higher than the others but acceptable. Now my Tower insurance expires on Monday, and State Farm has still not deposited my check! The people at State Farm keep telling me it's okay, they're just waiting for the corporate office to send them the confirmation, but I see the writing on the wall. And that means as of Monday, I have no insurance, after being jerked around by these people!!!! I've had it!

Posted by: SSP Stacy at May 9, 2009 3:03 PM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

We had some trouble when we bought our wood frame house last fall in Windsor Terrace - ended up with Liberty Mutual, they were the ONLY company that would insure us. So far so good, although I do feel like the system is a bit screwy and basically Liberty can charge what it wants b/c we have no other options.

Posted by: WTbound at May 10, 2009 8:51 AM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

Call Brownstone Agency
32 Old Slip
NY NY 10005
212-962-5620

They have been more than fair and are generally very easy to deal with. The only problem with them is that they issue policies for 3 years, you pay them for the first year and then a finance company for the second and third year. This gets a bit complicated with the escrow making sure that the bank pays the correct party - but its worth it for the lower rates - and..... Brownstone Agency does really understand brownstone and other row house living.

Posted by: rickintheridge at May 10, 2009 11:30 PM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

Call Sylvia at State Farm...tell her Dave in Bed Stuy referred you. I just switched from Chibb and had no problem

718-692-2500

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 11, 2009 8:57 AM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

Thanks to all for helpful advice! Today State Farm assured me that I was insured, even if they hadn't deposited my check (they said the delay was caused by their own tardiness in having photos taken of the house). So for now I'm insured, but I thought that before, too! If State Farm eventually craps out on me, I'll try Liberty Mutual next.
I did have insurance with Brownstone Agency way back when I first bought the house, but they also refused to renew on the basis that my house was only a frame and not a "real" brownstone. Looks like the humble frame abode is consistently dissed by the insurance fraternity.
It's ridiculous, because my house is really solid, and I didn't even get flooding in my basement during the heavy rains.

Posted by: SSP Stacy at May 11, 2009 5:09 PM in response to Trouble getting homeowner's insu

I was initially accepted by TSC, after been dropped by Allstate like others above, but they came back within the first month and said they would have to increase my premium by 50 percent because they insisted my house was a three-family, even though it is a two-family house (I even had documentation from the city government to that effect, but they weren't interested). So be prepared for the possibility that they will jack up your premium substantially once you're feeling secure -- my broker told me they've been doing that to a lot of people lately. I didn't like their attitude, so I've gone elsewhere.

Posted by: SSP Stacy at May 14, 2009 3:46 PM in response to Can't Get Insured Near Water

As several other people mentioned, many companies have dropped out of coastal areas (including Allstate & State Farm). The companies are waiting for NY to be hit with a huge storm. I am an independent insurance agent located in Brooklyn. We have many clients within 1 mile of the coastline and have several companies willing to insure coastal regions (including Bay Ridge, DUMBO, and even beachfront in the Hamptons). Insurers are willing to do business in these areas- you just need to know which ones! Feel free to contact me...even if it's just for advice.

William Smoltino
Narrows Insurance Agency
(718) 745-1500

Posted by: WSNarrows at May 20, 2009 4:20 PM in response to Can't Get Insured Near Water

This is UNBELIEVABLE! I decided to try to insure my house with TSC b/c the quote was so low. So, I call them back to start my application and they tell me that they can't insure my house b/c it's less than 1000 ft from the water! Why would you give me a quote if you can't insure the place?!?!

Posted by: honeybear at May 27, 2009 4:37 PM in response to Can't Get Insured Near Water