Mortgages · Housing Market · Insurance, Explained
Plain-English research on U.S. home and car insurance, mortgages and the housing market. We name the companies, show the math in real dollars, and link every number to its source, so you can keep more of what you earn.
Latest research · October 31, 2026
State Farm Roof Memo: Why Hail Claims Get Denied
When a regulator approves a rate cut, an insurer's internal memo becomes public, or attorneys general settle with an automaker, we tell you who, what and when, and link the filing or press release.
Every story ends with a worked example: what a deductible, a rate change or a price cut means for a real monthly payment, with our assumptions spelled out.
We rely on primary sources such as state insurance regulators, the NAIC, Freddie Mac's mortgage survey, the Federal Reserve, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, court filings and the FTC, plus established data providers like Redfin. Every article lists them in full.
Home insurance
An internal 2021 document made public in an Oklahoma lawsuit shows how roof claims were measured. Plus the deductible math that can turn the same storm into a $0, $1,800 or $9,000 check, and 8 steps if your claim is denied.
Read the article: State Farm Roof Memo: Why Hail Claims Get Denied Watch the video on YouTube: State Farm Roof Memo: Why Hail Claims Get Denied
Mortgages
The Fed held rates on October 28 with two votes for a hike, yet mortgage rates fell to 7.24 percent. Why your rate follows the 10-year Treasury, and the payment on a $400,000 loan from 6 to 8 percent.
Read the article: Fed Hike Odds Hit 80 Percent: What It Means for Mortgages Watch the video on YouTube: Fed Hike Odds Hit 80 Percent: What It Means for Mortgages
Car insurance
36 attorneys general say GM sold Smart Driver data that reached insurers. What a 22 percent increase costs on an average policy, and the free LexisNexis and iiX reports you can request.
Read the article: GM's $220 Million Driver-Data Settlement Watch the video on YouTube: GM's $220 Million Driver-Data Settlement
Real estate and mortgages
Redfin's median sale price slipped 0.1 percent, but the typical payment rose 10.7 percent. It would take about a 10.4 percent price cut to match last year's payment. A five-move buyer playbook.
Read the article: Home Prices Fell for the First Time in 3 Years Watch the video on YouTube: Home Prices Fell for the First Time in 3 Years
Car insurance
The government's auto insurance index is down 5 percent, yet 32 states are projected to end 2026 higher. Who is getting rate cuts, and the renewal math that shows how to claim yours.
Read the article: Car Insurance Rates Are Falling. So Why Isn't Yours? Watch the video on YouTube: Car Insurance Rates Are Falling. So Why Isn't Yours?
Home insurance
Premiums are up 54 percent in five years and now top property taxes in two-thirds of U.S. counties. Seven practical moves, with the dollar savings for a typical homeowner.
Read the article: Why Home Insurance Keeps Rising, and 7 Ways to Lower It Watch the video on YouTube: Why Home Insurance Keeps Rising, and 7 Ways to Lower It
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Disclosure: Policy & Property is an independent educational publisher. We are not a licensed insurance agent, broker, adjuster or mortgage lender, and nothing here is financial, insurance or legal advice. Some pages may in the future include clearly labeled paid links; see our Affiliate Disclosure.
