NAIC Warns Public of Added Insurance Risks of Vacant Homes as Numbers Grow

Vacant or unoccupied homes can leave a homeowner exposed to loss and liability that may not be covered by their insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The latest Pending Home Sales Index released by the National Association of Realtors, dropped 2.6 percent to 75.7 based on contracts signed in June from 77.7 in May, and is 18.6 percent below June 2009 – another sign of the stagnant housing market.

"In many cases, people who have been trying to sell their homes for awhile have moved forward with their plans regardless, leaving a vacant home on the market," said NAIC President and West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane L. Cline. "Having an unoccupied home can create several insurance implications that typically are not covered under a standard homeowners policy."