When Emily bought her first home in Frisco, she was excited. It was a brand-new build with a fresh yard, clean paint, and that wonderful smell of a home that had never been lived in before. Like most new homeowners, she had a mountain of paperwork at closing. Mortgage documents. Disclosures. Title paperwork. Somewhere in the stack, the builder’s representative slid in the in-house homeowners insurance package.
The pitch was simple. “We’ll bundle this for you and get you a great rate.” Emily barely had time to think, and honestly, it felt like one less decision she had to make in the middle of everything. For the first year, her insurance premium was low and she didn’t think twice about it.
Fast forward two years. Emily opened her renewal letter and almost spit out her coffee. Her home insurance premium had almost doubled, her hail deductible quietly increased, and when she called the 1-800 number to ask questions, she found out her roof coverage had shifted to a payment schedule instead of full replacement value. Suddenly, her “easy” homeowners insurance wasn’t such a great deal anymore.
Emily’s story isn’t unique to her or just Frisco. Many Texans who bought new builds in the last couple of years are now discovering that the builder’s home insurance program that was convenient up front isn’t designed to protect them long-term.
Three Things You Need To Know Right Now
If you're in a hurry, here are the three key takeaways you need to understand!
- Price vs Coverage Shifts After Year One
- You Need Coverage That Actually Matches Texas Risks
- Guidance From A Local Texas Independent Agent Matters
If you want more insight, there are FAQs at the bottom of the page. Now back to Emily's story.
Price vs. Coverage Shifts After Year One
The big volume builders know how to make things simple during the home buying process. That’s why their in-house insurance programs often come with a low introductory premium and can often include some other extras thrown in on the house. It feels like you’re saving money at a time when every penny counts, especially with moving expenses and furnishing a new home.
But here’s the reality. After the first year or two, those home insurance rates always climb. And not just by a little. Many homeowners see sharp increases that put their “cheap” policy right in line with what they would have paid through an independent agent, except now they’re likely paying more for less.
On top of the price jump, many of these home insurance policies come with coverage reductions buried in the fine print. Deductibles go up. Roof coverage changes from replacement cost to a payment schedule. Water coverage may get capped at a reduced amount. It is not always obvious until you file a claim and realize the deal you thought you had is no longer there.
What looked like a smart choice during Emily's closing turned into frustration when her second renewal arrived. The lower premium she had, didn’t hold. And the coverage was nowhere near what she thought she had.
You Need Coverage That Actually Matches Texas Risks
Texas isn’t like other states. Our homes face unique risks that builders and their national insurance partners often don’t fully account for. Extreme weather produces natural disasters like hailstorms, windstorms, and wildfires that can produce big claim payouts.
Beyond the catastrophic weather we also see shifting foundations and water damage as constant threats across the state. Yet many builder-provided policies are written as if the home is sitting in Ohio instead of Texas.
One of the biggest traps is the roof payment schedule. Instead of covering the full replacement cost of your roof after hail damage, the insurance company pays a percentage based on the roof’s age. So if your roof is only five or six years old, you could lose 15% or more of the payout before your hail deductible is even applied.
That is why coverage that matches Texas risks matters. Replacement cost protection on roofs. Comprehensive water coverage that accounts for slab leaks and foundation issues. Deductibles that don’t wipe out your savings account. These are the details that protect your family when the storm actually hits, even if you don't have to fully rebuild your home.
Emily discovered her builder’s program didn’t account for these Texas-specific risks. She realized that saving a few dollars on premiums wasn’t worth the financial exposure when hail or water damage is inevitable in our state.
Guidance From a Local Independent Texas Agent Matters
This is where the biggest difference shows up. When you buy your homeowners insurance through a big call center, you are dealing with a national system. You are just another number in a database. The policy is written to fit a template, not your life.
When you work with an experienced local, independent Texas agent, you are talking to someone who knows the storm activity, the neighborhoods, and the realities of living here. We know that roofs in North Texas take a beating every two or three years. We know foundations shift in Central Texas. We know floods in the Hill Country don’t care how new your home is.
Because we are independent insurance agents, we have options. Instead of one carrier that the builder has a deal with, we shop across multiple insurance companies. That means you see choices for premiums, deductibles, and coverage terms that actually fit your home, construction materials, and budget. You aren’t forced into a single path.
Most importantly, you have someone in your corner when the weather claim comes. Instead of calling a 1-800 number and waiting on hold, you pick up the phone and talk to someone right here in Texas who advocates for you.
Emily made the switch after asking a lot of questions. She called Insurance For Texans, and evaluated proposals from several companies. The homeowners insurance premiums were competitive, the coverage was stronger, and she had the confidence of knowing she was working with someone who understood what Texas homeowners really need. And when Emily saw the effects of bundling your coverages together, she felt like she had an advocate.
Why True Texas Home Insurance is the Right Move
Builder insurance programs are convenient at closing, but convenience does not equal protection in the long run. As home insurance premiums climb and coverage shrinks, many Texans are realizing that working with an independent agent allows them to have peace of mind.
True Texas Home Insurance is built differently. We focus on the value you receive. That means we make sure dwelling coverage and deductible match your risk tolerance when the proverbial stuff hits the fan. These are the things that matter when the storm comes.
When Emily signed up for her new policy, she said it best: “I’m not just buying insurance. I’m buying the promise that my home will be protected when it matters most.”
Ready to Rethink Your Coverage?
If you bought a new build in the last couple of years and are still with your builder’s in-house insurance program, now is the time to take a hard look at what you are really getting. There are multiple insurance companies that would love to cover your home. Don’t wait until a hailstorm or water leak exposes gaps.
Click the button below to talk with a local agent at Insurance For Texans. We will walk you through your options and help you build a True Texas Home Insurance policy that protects your home, your family, and your future.