Why Is Your Home Insurance Going Up Again This Summer?

Renee Hackett, REALTOR®

R&B Legacy Group | 632 W 4th Street, Winston Salem, NC 27101

(336) 302-5803 · ReneeHackett@rblegacygroup.com · realtorreneehackett.com

What Changed, and Why It Matters

North Carolina homeowners insurance rose an average of 7.5 percent on June 1, 2026. It is the second of two 7.5 percent increases negotiated between Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and the North Carolina Rate Bureau, bringing the total to roughly 15 percent over two years. If you own property in Kernersville, Winston Salem, or anywhere in the Piedmont Triad, you have already felt this on your renewal statement, or you will soon.

This was not a random increase. It was the result of a negotiation that started when the Rate Bureau originally requested an average statewide increase of 42.2 percent, with some territories as high as 99.4 percent. Commissioner Causey rejected that request and negotiated it down to two 7.5 percent steps capped at 35 percent in any single territory. The state estimated the deal saved homeowners around 777 million dollars.

None of this is legal or insurance advice. It is a plain-language summary from a real estate agent who works with buyers, sellers, and investors in the Triad every week. For specifics about your policy, talk to a licensed insurance professional.

What Exactly Changed on June 1, 2026?

The June 1, 2026 increase is the second and final step of the negotiated settlement between the North Carolina Rate Bureau and the Department of Insurance. The first step took effect June 1, 2025. Both steps are 7.5 percent on average, with territory-level caps of 35 percent.

The agreement also blocks insurers from requesting another homeowners base rate increase before June 1, 2027. That gives the market a full year of rate stability at the current level, assuming no extraordinary events trigger a separate filing.

For homeowners, the practical impact is straightforward: your annual premium went up. For a home with 300,000 dollars in dwelling coverage, that can mean several hundred dollars more per year depending on your carrier, claims history, and location within the Triad.

How Much Does Home Insurance Cost in North Carolina Now?

The average North Carolina homeowners premium is about 2,951 dollars per year, or roughly 246 dollars per month for a home with 300,000 dollars in dwelling coverage, according to Bankrate as reported by WRAL. The national average is about 2,424 dollars per year. Insure.com puts the NC average near 2,933 dollars for similar coverage.

That means North Carolina homeowners are paying roughly 500 to 530 dollars more per year than the national average. In the Triad specifically, premiums vary by zip code, construction type, claims history, and proximity to flood zones, but the overall trend is the same: costs are up, and they have been for several years.

Why Do Insurance Rates Keep Rising?

Several factors are pushing rates higher across the state:

More frequent severe weather events are increasing claim frequency and severity. North Carolina saw significant damage from Hurricane Helene in western NC in 2024, and that kind of event affects pricing statewide, not just in the direct impact zone.

Higher rebuilding and construction costs mean each claim costs more to settle. Materials and labor have both risen, and carriers price that risk into every policy.

Rising reinsurance costs have roughly doubled in recent years. Reinsurance is the insurance that insurance companies buy to protect themselves. When reinsurance gets more expensive, carriers pass that cost to policyholders.

Some carriers are pulling back from writing new policies in North Carolina, which reduces competition and gives remaining carriers more pricing power.

A February 2026 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found the average U.S. premium rose only about 3 percent in real terms between 2019 and 2024, while many coastal areas of North Carolina saw increases above 50 percent after adjusting for inflation. The Triad is not on the coast, but statewide pricing models spread coastal risk across all North Carolina policyholders.

What Does This Mean If You Are Buying?

Higher insurance premiums directly affect your purchasing power. Lenders calculate your monthly payment using principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. When insurance goes up, your total monthly payment goes up, which means the loan amount a lender will approve can go down.

If you are buying your first home or looking at properties in Kernersville or Winston Salem, get an insurance quote before you lock in a purchase price. It is one of the few costs you can research early, and it can save you from falling in love with a home that stretches your budget once insurance is factored in.

A home with a newer roof, updated electrical and plumbing, and clean maintenance records will generally be cheaper to insure. That matters both for the monthly payment and for how competitive your offer is.

If you are relocating to the area, check with our relocation guide and connect with trusted local vendors who can walk you through what insurance looks like in your specific neighborhood. You can also use the AI-Powered Buyer Guide to start understanding the full cost of homeownership before you start touring homes.

What Does This Mean If You Are Selling?

Higher insurance costs affect your buyer pool. If a buyer's total monthly payment is higher because of insurance, they may need to offer less, look at lower-priced homes, or walk away entirely.

Sellers who want to stay competitive should focus on the things that make a home cheaper to insure: a newer roof (within 10 to 15 years), updated HVAC and electrical systems, no open claims, and documented maintenance. These features do not just make a home more appealing, they make it more affordable for the buyer on the other end of the transaction.

Pricing your home with awareness of the insurance landscape also helps. If similar homes in your area have higher insurance costs, factoring that into your pricing strategy keeps you realistic and prevents sitting on the market.

Check the current Triad market report for context on how pricing and inventory are trending in your area. If you are thinking about selling, the AI-Powered Seller Guide walks you through what to expect from start to close.

Additional Information for Investors: The Dwelling Insurance Change

If you own rental property or non-owner-occupied property in the Triad, a separate insurance change is coming. Dwelling insurance is a different policy type from homeowners insurance, and it has its own rate schedule.

The North Carolina Rate Bureau requested a 68.3 percent increase for dwelling insurance over two years. In April 2026, that was settled at an average 5 percent per year, effective October 1, 2026 and October 1, 2027. The settlement is estimated to save property owners around 268 million dollars.

The settlement also includes credits for fortified homes and fortified roofs, which can meaningfully reduce premiums for investors who have invested in storm-resistant construction.

If you own investment property in the Triad or are considering adding one to your portfolio, the dwelling insurance change is something to plan for now. Higher operating costs affect cash flow, cap rates, and long-term returns.

How Can You Lower Your Premium?

There is no single trick to cutting your insurance cost, but several strategies can help:

Compare multiple carriers. Rates vary significantly between companies for the same coverage. Shopping around every two to three years is one of the simplest ways to save.

Bundle home and auto. Most carriers offer a discount for carrying both policies with the same company.

Maintain your roof. A newer roof with good documentation is one of the biggest factors in your premium. If your roof is approaching 15 to 20 years old, get an inspection and keep the report on file.

Consider a higher deductible. Raising your deductible from 500 to 1,000 dollars can lower your annual premium, though you should have that amount available in savings.

Ask about mitigation credits. Storm shutters, reinforced roofing, updated electrical panels, and other improvements can qualify you for discounts depending on your carrier.

If you are having trouble finding coverage, the NC FAIR Plan and Coastal Property Insurance Pool exist as last-resort options through the NC Department of Insurance.

The Bottom Line

Insurance costs in North Carolina are not going down anytime soon. The negotiated increases were smaller than what was originally requested, but they are still real money out of your pocket every month. For buyers, that means getting quotes early and planning your budget accordingly. For sellers, it means presenting a home that is as easy and affordable to insure as possible. For investors, it means running the numbers on dwelling insurance before you acquire your next property.

The market is still active, deals are still closing, and people are still moving to the Triad. Knowing how insurance fits into the financial picture just makes you better prepared than most.

About the Author

Renee Hackett, REALTOR® | R&B Legacy Group | License #290693

Renee Hackett is a REALTOR and real estate investor with R&B Legacy Group in Winston Salem, serving Kernersville, Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and the surrounding Piedmont Triad. She has been licensed since 2016, consistently ranks in the top 20 percent of her market, and holds an A.I. Certification through The Krem Institute of Artificial Intelligence. She works with first time buyers, move up buyers, sellers, relocating clients, and investors.

Primary service area: Kernersville, Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro, and the surrounding Piedmont Triad.

(336) 302-5803 ReneeHackett@rblegacygroup.com