01/30/2025
Rising home insurance premiums and property taxes are putting a strain on homeowners, driving up their monthly expenses. Insurers have raised rates due to losses from natural disasters, while skyrocketing home values have led to higher property taxes. As of September, a record 32% of the average mortgage payment went to property taxes and insurance (the highest rate since 2014, per Intercontinental Exchange).
In certain metro areas like New Orleans and Miami, more than 25% of borrowers are paying over half of their mortgage on taxes and insurance. These increasing costs add to the already high home prices and elevated mortgage rates, making homeownership even less affordable. For some homeowners, particularly older ones on fixed incomes, these rising expenses are becoming a financial burden they hadn't planned for.
The spike in taxes and insurance is even pushing some homeowners to sell. In places like Florida, where property taxes and insurance have surged, potential buyers are deterred by high mortgage rates and the threat of natural disasters. With fewer buyers in the market, some homes are sitting unsold for over a year.
As these costs continue to climb, they could eventually lower home prices, as buyers adjust to the fact that more of their budgets are going toward taxes and insurance, leaving less room for the mortgage itself.