Yes I think for its far more practical to build on stilts than a floating house. There are though a lot of interest in building floating cities.
Not Texas, but perhaps the future for us. Texas might not have as many manufactured homes in Coastal areas as Florida does, but still this trend is likely to continue for housing in general. Another home insurance company is getting out of Florida LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Another home insurance company is going out of business in Florida, and this time, the decision impacts manufactured homeowners in particular. “This is an unfortunate step back in an already fragile and slow insurance market,” said Doug Nellans, with the Insurance Center of Fort Myers. It’s a sign that Florida’s insurance crisis is far from over. American Mobile Insurance Exchange has sent out cancellation notices to manufactured homeowners in Southwest Florida, leaving many such homeowners with even fewer options. Many of the local parks are still building back from Hurricane Ian which destroyed hundreds of manufactured homes. Chad Hartkopp works for Sylvester Companies, a contractor, which has helped many mobile homeowners build back. “A lot of people just want to get their houses fixed. We have to start it even before the insurance will start to help them,” Hartkopp said. He moved to Southwest Florida just before Ian hit and has worked nonstop since then. He said he has personally resisted buying a home, in part, because of the home insurance costs. He said many of his clients are going without insurance because they either can’t afford it or can’t find anyone to insure them. A homeowner and retiree he had been working for Thursday, just off McGregor Boulevard was one of those going without insurance but was to upset to talk about it. “A lot of our manufactured homeowner clients are, in fact, retirees and on fixed incomes. This entire situation is incredibly difficult for them,” Nellans said. It just got more difficult after American Mobile, based in St. Petersburg, sent out letters canceling insurance policies. “The loss of even one of these companies is adding tremendous amount of pain to an already unpleasant situation,” Nellans said. Nellans confirmed many manufactured homeowners are rolling the dice and going without. “We've had plenty of homeowners who have indicated this has gotten to be too much too fast and I have no choice but to go without insurance, and that is a very difficult position to be in,” Nellans said. It is forcing many of those homeowners into the state-run Citizens Insurance company, as rates for nearly everyone continue to increase, keeping new residents like Hartkopp out of the housing market. “I don't want to pay the high interest rates and insurance rates right now. I'm waiting,” Hartkopp said. Homeowners believe elected leaders at the state and federal levels must do more to help.
I'm going to avoid comments better left to the D&D but the insurance industry is helping to push changes to building codes and planning in response to a changing climate.
More at the link. Insurance rates could climb for some Texas coastal homeowners, businesses Homeowners typically pay $2,300 a year for a Texas Windstorm Insurance Association policy. The rate increase would bump premiums by 10%. ************************ TWIA POSTS 2024 RATE ADEQUACY ANALYSIS Published on: July 1, 2024 TWIA’s 2024 Rate Adequacy Analysis indicates that TWIA’s current rates are inadequate by 38 percent for residential coverage and 45 percent for commercial coverage. The Rate Adequacy Analysis is an estimate prepared by TWIA’s actuarial staff of whether rates are sufficient to cover the Association’s operating expenses and its expected losses from claims. The 2024 Analysis shows that TWIA’s rates are less adequate than a year ago. This can be attributed to an increase in the Association’s policy count, inflation in the cost of labor and materials for construction, and the need for more reinsurance coverage. YEAR....RESIDENTIAL RATE INADEQUACY....COMMERCIAL RATE INADEQUACY 2020.................................44%....................................................49%.......................... 2021.................................39%....................................................46%.......................... 2022.................................15%....................................................11%.......................... 2023.................................20%....................................................22%.......................... 2024.................................38%....................................................45%.......................... TWIA’s Rate Adequacy Analysis consists of several PDF documents and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The complete 2024 TWIA Rate Adequacy Analysis is now available. -State law requires TWIA to post a rate adequacy analysis on its website 14 days prior to the date the TWIA Board of Directors votes on a rate filing. -TWIA must make a rate filing with the Texas Department of Insurance by August 15 each year. -TWIA’s Board will meet August 6, 2024, to make a decision regarding the filing. Previous TWIA Rate Adequacy Analyses can be found in the Financials & Reports section of TWIA’s website. ************************ CenterPoint intends to ask Texas PUC for rate increase to recoup losses from Hurricane Beryl response AUSTIN, Texas – As CenterPoint Energy remains in the hot seat, facing scrutiny for its response to Hurricane Beryl, the CEO has promised the energy giant will do better, but Texas lawmakers are wondering how much of that weight taxpayers will have to carry going forward. During a hearing Monday held by a special senate committee in Austin, Senator Carol Alvarado asked CenterPoint CEO Jason Wells if the energy giant had any plans to go forward before the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) for a rate increase and what that would look like and how taxpayers would be affected. In summation, Wells admitted CenterPoint would ask for a rate increase, with the Senator sharing a brief bit of that exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This covers the key parts. More at the link for those that enjoy reading. Progressive Insurance confirms it's "temporarily restricting new homeowners business" in Texas and several other states. What does that mean for you? DALLAS — First came the rumors, and then came a report (without definitive, direct confirmation) that Progressive Insurance was no longer writing new homeowner’s policies in Texas. If true, that would be big news. So, I did some digging and repeatedly asked Progressive about it. I specifically sought information about whether they were no longer writing new homeowner’s insurance policies in Texas and whether current homeowners policies in Texas wouldn’t be renewed when they expire. After initial silence, I got an answer. Well… a partial answer. Progressive responded: “We are temporarily restricting new homeowners (HO3) business for certain agents in several states. We remain committed to the property business in these states and expect that these actions will better position us to build a stronger, more stable, and more competitive Progressive Home business for consumers and independent agents in the long run. These actions will not impact any other lines of business in the affected states; impacted agents can continue to write Personal Auto, Recreational Lines, and Commercial Lines products. Additionally, property-appointed agents can continue to offer Renters, Condo, Flood, and Umbrella.” Just to be extra sure, I asked them whether Texas is one of those “several states” they referred to. Progressive confirmed that, yes, “Texas is one of the states in which we are temporarily restricting new homeowners business (HO3) for certain agents”. ...The part of their response where Progressive maintained that this doesn't affect their other lines of insurance in Texas is significant, because according to Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) documentation, Progressive was this state’s largest private passenger auto insurer in 2023, accounting for 18.49% of the market here. By contrast, the company handled 2.52% of homeowners multiple peril policies in Texas last year. That may not sound like a lot, but that made Progressive the 8th largest home insurer in Texas in 2023. Insurance profits and losses Importantly, if you look at the eight largest home insurers in Texas, Progressive made a net underwriting profit of $101,694,659 from its homeowners policies last year. The state’s largest home insurer, State Farm, did well, too: $128,191,092. But the six other large insurers between State Farm and Progressive all lost between $15 million and $459 million last year on their home policy business in Texas. So, you have to wonder how those other large insurers are doing – and specifically, how they feel about the risks of doing business in this state. Many insurers have been raising our homeowner premiums, which, as I reported earlier this year, went up more than in any other state last year and for the last five years, according to data analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence. But even that extra revenue from increased homeowners premiums hasn’t been enough... ...Rising insurance risks in Texas First, Progressive explained that they are working to reduce their “exposure to coastal and hail prone states for our homeowners products.” That's obviously not good given that we have a lot of coastline in Texas. And then there's the fact that, as I also reported this past spring, Texas was the runaway winner — or loser in this case — for the number of major hail events last year, with more than a thousand of them. Second, Progressive noted that, in the second quarter of this year, they dealt with a number of “severe weather events throughout the United States” and that Florida, Colorado, Missouri, and Nebraska combined accounted for about 30% of their catastrophic losses. Finally, in the third sentence – really more of a clause for the second sentence than anything else – Progressive added it could credit "nearly 40% of [its] storm losses in Texas" alone...
I've no idea how do insurance companies sustain long term business operations. Around 2016 had a roof partial collapse due to ice build up, took roughly 3 months to fix, 50k USD paid by the insurance company. last July I decided its time to replace my miserable roof DYI solo/fun outdoor project at 90+ degree weather. It cost less than 5k (70 bundles/new 3/4 sheathing/synthattic felt/ gutters-faceia/ Disposal Bin & lift rentals and a chiropractor visit) done in 10 days of my vacation time
Congrats on DIY roof replacement. Roofing is something I wouldn’t consider DIY given both the heat and danger of it. In the colder climates roofs are steeper in general than in the South. When I had my roof done one of the roofers fell. Thankfully no major injuries but they dissuaded me from trying it.
That’s scary. It’s an obvious thing, but if hiring some people to replace your roof, folks, always make sure who you use is bonded. @Exiled is braver than I ever would have been, back when I might have been physically capable of replacing a roof. As for flooding coastal cities, the impact of climate change, and what now looks to be a dystopian future that’s not at all distant, I read a SF novel in 2009 that addresses a lot of what could happen. The debut work by the American writer Paolo Bacigalupi, The Windup Girl. It won both the Nebula and Hugo awards, the top awards for science fiction. Not bad at all for a first novel. Highly recommended.
you're an architect which makes me feel like self reporting a robbery to cop. had a mysterious leak last winter that seap through walls and at times it trip the breaker. Tried to pinpoint where it was leaking from was the easy part,it leaked from everywhere, obvious attempts to fix the leak from previous owners (walls,panels,massive moisture exhausts installed) so I knew I'd to try some drastic solutions. -deleted the woodstive fire place.,knocked out that giant ashtray -framed a lean to roof over a flat roof area. Doubled as needed the (an existing 24" OC,2×4 joist, 3/8 plywood )were not good enough. *I paid attention to details that contractors won't do like using a hammer to nail 2" plastic caps at each 6" which was one of most boring thing ever to do ,ice and water shield over the entire roof. roofing scam is quite common,it's hard to inspect or keep up with work progress. I found these issues : *Shingles were nailed down in 2011. Some area they were stacked to each other without a trace of support specially around hard to reach spots. *The tar paper felt was dated from 1994. The underlayment it self was installed over plywood that was severe delaminated with large rotted area covered with foil tape or thin gauge aluminum flashing!. at one point lost 12 Ibs and I m not over weight, 11 of it due to dehydration, but seriously it was fun and rewarding. the structure I built was 3-12 slope. Didn't bother with ledgerboards to avoid messing with the stucco, a saw horse like with structural screw and all simspon strong hardware they sell on shelves turned out sturdier than I thought and easier than what I had anticipated. * just got my hydro bill: You've used an average of 8 kWh or 27% less electricity per day than this billing period last year. the thicker sheathing seemed like it had helped,I thought it was just an illusion
I'm fortunate to live in a neighborhood where kids can be kids ,walk to school,hang out all day long safely and that there're many seniors who are quite active (they walk twice daily ,garden,go on group trips)and the dearest of all is my closest neighbor,he and his wife are from Netherlands,a metal fabricator since he was 16 until he retired at 68. He's my goto DYI Dadd. he has thr most beautiful front and backyard,breathe taking landscaping view for real which is quite hard for 3/4 of an acre property. Somehow he manage to stay elegant,energetic,neat despite long daily hours of work. Btw he look like a Skinny taller Harrsion Ford with full hair. He frequently climbed the ladder and jump on roof to inspect my work ,he lifted a 75 ibs bundle to see if it heavy and told me :not too bad ,he could help if I needed to ,... he is 85 This is his current project, he is experimenting diffrent winding setting to generate an optimal current flow to his green house while he's going away on a cruise trip to BoraBora this coming winter
I forgot to come back to this thread and respond. I am not in the insurance business, but I would think that they have enough slack built into their calculations to be able to handle a few unexpected claims and keep going. When Bad Stuff Happening becomes more of a trend than an unexpected bump, then they are forced to adjust their rates higher or leave the Market that is causing them problems. I can't speak for the Pacific northwest, but some Coastal States such as California Texas Louisiana Florida are probably getting closer monitoring from Insurance companies for claims than in the past. Since California, Texas and Florida are at/near the Top of the List on populations size, the number of potential claims will be on the high side and Insurance companies will keep that in mind.
Don’t worry I won’t turn you in as my duty to report only applies to projects where I’m under contract. Also a 3:12 roof isn’t too dangerous try that on a 6:12 roof two stories up.
Continuing about housing and insurance in Florida. Hurricane-Proof Construction Will Further Polarize Florida’s Housing Stock And Housing Values Hurricanes, Insurance & the Cost of Risk
We need to keep in mind there is no such thing as “Hurricane Proof” construction. What there is is varying degrees of “Hurricane Resistant” construction. I haven’t read the last FL codes so don’t know what they are mandating.
Fair enough about there not being "Hurricane Proof" construction. When I read about this topic and related, it is usually via writers with Finance - Consumer backgrounds - interests such as The Institutional Risk Analyst and they will have limitations when discussing architecture - construction. Whether it is funding via Insurance or government programs, continuing to rebuild parts of Florida hit by hurricanes are at the limits of what is financially tolerable. Perhaps to probably the same can also be said for other U.S. coastal areas. Category....Wind Speeds ....1...............74-95 MPH ....2..............96-110 MPH ....3.............111-129 MPH ....4.............130-156 MPH ....5.............157+ MPH.....
I've seen a few others here and on other sites show examples of construction in Florida that has handled Hurricanes very well. Yes those are very expensive and rebuilding and retrofitting existing construction to standards to survive hurricanes very expensive. Also again hurricane proofing a house is virtually impossible. Certainly houses can have features that make them better withstand strong winds. A storm surge though is another matter. To be able to survive 20 foot storm surges driven by 150 MPH winds we're talking about building bunkers and not houses. One thing that many people don't realize about building codes is they aren't meant for the structure to survive a disaster. For example we design for fire ratings based on hours that the structure will stand up in a fire so that people can get out. Not that the structure is fireproof. I suspect "the hurricane proof" standards are similar. That the structure might be able to survive long enough for people to get rescued. Another thought on all of this that might be D&D territory. The next Administration is promising major cuts in the National Hurricane Center, NOAA, FEMA and etc.. Are Red State Governors like DeSantis just going to go along with massive cuts to agencies and programs that are essential to the safety and recovery of their states? I guess we'll find out next Hurricane season.
