MINNESOTA: Legislature Looks to Address Rising Insurance Premiums
One distressing trend that has become all too familiar for Minnesota residents is the rising cost of homeowner’s insurance. An increase in hail storms and major weather events is surely ...
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Texas is top state for hail damage insurance claims
Texas leads the nation in hail damage insurance claims, according to an analysis released by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The analysis looked at claims data from Jan. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2018. According to the analysis, there were almost 2.9 million hail loss claims filed within the study period. Of those, 811,000 were filed by property owners…
Association Insurance Deductibles
Insurance claims can create financial burdens for homeowner association who have to pay often-substantial deductibles under their master insurance policies. While every insurance policy is different, many HOA insurance policies now have separate deductibles for wind and hail claims that can be as much as 1%, 2%, or even 5% of the total insured value of the property. For example,…
Colorado Matching Law
What happens when your property’s exterior is partially damaged by a covered event, but the original roofing or siding materials are no longer manufactured? Mismatched repairs can have a huge impact on the value of your home, but is your insurance company obligated to match the repair materials to the existing materials? While the law in Colorado is not fully…
Colorado hailstorms cause insurance costs to spike
Colorado homeowners may be concerned about their insurance premiums, especially as hailstorms are causing even more damage throughout the state. In 2018, Colorado suffered the greatest hail losses across the country. This devastation exceeded Texas, which is the state with the second-largest amount of hail damage according to a report from the State Farm insurance company. The Rocky Mountain Insurance…
Preparing for disaster
Natural disasters in the United States result in billions of dollars in property damage. However, not many people take the necessary precautions. Almost 90% of insurance agents think that less than half of their clients have a comprehensive hurricane preparedness plan in place. A majority believe that less than half of their clients comply with orders to evaluate when a…
Hail Storm Hits South Metro
A vicious storm tore through the south metro early this morning July 18, 2019, with high winds and large hail (1″-2+”) in some parts of Burnsville, Prior Lake and Savage. After a storm rolls through, cleanup and repairs begin, and many don’t know where to start. is a Minnesota based national first-party insurance law firm with a demonstrated track record…
Reserve Studies are not Preventative Maintenance Plans
In 2017, the Minnesota legislature made several changes to the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act, Minn. Stat. 515B (“MCIOA”), the law governing most homeowner associations in Minnesota. One of these changes requires that associations adopt and distribute a formal Preventative Maintenance Plan (“PMP”) by January 1, 2019. For more information on the specifics of these Plans, see our previous post…
Homeowner Association Voting Rights In Minnesota
Minnesota homeowners who are part of a homeowner association (“HOA”) have the right to full participation when it comes to deciding how community issues will be handled. Whether it is an in-person vote or by an absentee ballot, voting allows homeowners to make their choices count. You Have the Right to Vote Homeowners who are part of an HOA have the…
Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act Changes and Updates
During the last legislative session, the Minnesota legislature made two significant changes to the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act, Minn. Stat. § 515B (“MCIOA”) that will affect all common interest communities subject to that law. These changes, which have been signed into law by Governor Dayton, affect community associations’ maintenance responsibilities and rights to bring construction defect lawsuits. This blog…
Airbnb Challenges with HOA and Property Insurance Claims in Minnesota
If you run an Airbnb or use another short-term rental site, it could impact any property insurance claims in Minnesota. Also, depending on the homeowner association (“HOA”) rules and governing documents, you could also be violating rules of the community. It is not unusual for HOA board members to approach Minnesota-based insurance attorneys for help in enforcing or clarifying the…
4 Reasons to Connect With a Minnesota Condominium or Townhome Association Lawyer
If you live in a condominium or townhome in Minnesota, you are likely part of a homeowners’ association. Homeowners’ associations help protect the investments of the members and community by establishing and enforcing rules and regulations. They also make sure that the shared areas are maintained and upgraded as needed. Members pay a fee to ensure these tasks are carried…
Basic Guidelines for Protecting Your Homeowner Association in Contracted Work
Homeowner associations often need to enter contracts to undertake construction work or other improvements that will affect all members of a homeowner association. Unfortunately, sometimes contracts are approved without careful review and contractors who are unqualified or unlicensed are hired. Associations should carefully review all contracts they intend to enter, giving it the same amount of exceptional care that would…