Buying a first home is a major milestone. It often comes with excitement, new responsibilities, and many financial decisions.

Pat Howard is a licensed insurance professional specializing in home insurance. He is a former managing editor at Policygenius, where he wrote, edited, and conducted data studies, which were ...

In late 2025, Insure.com surveyed more than 2,000 insurance consumers through an independent research firm, Dynata. Customers named their insurer and rated it on satisfaction, ease of service, policy ...

Home warranties cover repairs for systems and appliances from normal wear and tear, while home insurance covers damage from events like fire or theft. Home insurance is typically required by mortgage ...

Learn the impact and consequences—and what to do next Sarah Li Cain has more than 7 years of experience as a writer, personal finance expert, author, and speaker. She is a candidate for the Accredited ...

Penny Gusner is a senior insurance writer and analyst at Forbes Advisor. For more than 20 years, she has been helping consumers learn how insurance laws, data, trends, and coverages affect them. Penny ...

The cost of home insurance in the United States rose by ~89% between 2014 and 2025, as rapidly climbing home prices, more frequent extreme weather events and inflation impacted insurers and homeowners ...

Auto and homeowners insurance rates have surged this year. For motor vehicle insurance alone, we've seen an average premium increase of 12.7% from 2023 to 2024, according to the November Consumer ...

The average annual rate for homeowners insurance increased by nearly 20% between 2021 and 2023, according to Insurify. Auto insurance premiums are up 16.5% in the last year, according to the Bureau of ...

Catey Hill is the managing editor for MarketWatch Picks. Catey is the author of two personal finance books, “Shoo, Jimmy Choo!” and “The 30-Minute Money Plan for Moms.” She previously held positions ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Writes on housing innovation for sustainability and affordability. As housing faces more climate threats that result in more ...

Buying your first home is a major milestone. However, it comes with major financial responsibilities, including protecting your home with homeowners insurance. While many first-time buyers focus on ...