Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matic, a leading digital insurtech platform, today released its mid-year premium trends report, analyzing key developments in the U.S. home insurance market during the first half of 2026. Drawing from a dataset of 3 million Matic quotes and policies, the report finds that the market is reaching a turning point after several years of record premium increases and reduced coverage availability.
Matic's analysis found that premium growth continued to slow during the first half of 2026 as competition among insurers returned. Most notably, a record 11.7% of homeowners renewing their insurance policy saw their premium decrease — the highest percentage Matic has recorded since tracking this data.
Nationally, premiums for newly written home insurance policies increased 5.9% compared to the prior year, continuing a steady moderation after premium increases peaked at 18.7% in 2024. At the same time, homeowners had significantly more insurance options available, with the average number of quotes per person increasing 27% since 2025.
"The home insurance market is beginning to look very different," said Ben Madick, CEO and co-founder of Matic. "After several years of tightening underwriting guidelines and raising premiums to restore profitability, many carriers are now loosening those restrictions and competing for customers again. For homeowners, that means more options to choose from and slower premium growth than we've seen in recent years."
Key findings from Matic's report include:
- A record share of homeowners saw lower renewal premiums. During the first half of 2026, 11.7% of homeowners renewing their policy experienced a premium decrease, up from 7.4% in 2025 and 4.9% in 2024.
- Premium growth continued to moderate. Average premiums for newly written home insurance policies increased 5.9% year over year, down from 8.1% in 2025 and 18.7% in 2024.
- More carriers have returned to the market. The average number of insurance quotes available per person increased 27% from 2025 and has risen 74% since its low point in 2024, giving homeowners more opportunities to compare pricing and coverage.
- Renewal increases continued to ease. Homeowners renewing their insurance policies saw an average premium increase of 10.6% during the first half of 2026, down from 19.4% in 2025 and 28% in 2024.
- Recovery is uneven across the country. While national conditions improved, several states including California, Florida, and New Jersey continued to experience double-digit premium increases.
While conditions are improving, the report emphasizes that affordability is still a concern. Premiums remain at historic highs following several years of substantial increases. Insurance is also becoming a larger part of the overall cost of homeownership. Research cited in the report found that home insurance now accounts for approximately 14% of the average monthly mortgage payment, up from 10% in 2013, while homeowners in several states now pay more for insurance than property taxes.
Insurers also continue to face pressure from increasingly frequent and costly weather events, despite no hurricanes making U.S. landfall in 2025. The report notes that severe convective storms, winter weather, flooding, wildfires, and other catastrophic events are generating billions of dollars in insured losses throughout the year, changing how insurers evaluate and manage risk.
"The insurance industry is adapting to a new risk environment," said Madick. "We’re seeing weather events become less predictable, with major losses no longer limited to a specific season. The challenge ahead will be finding ways to balance affordability for homeowners with the need for a financially sustainable insurance market."
As carriers adapt to this new reality, the report explores how advances in artificial intelligence, aerial imagery, geospatial analytics, and catastrophe modeling are reshaping the underwriting process. These technologies are enabling insurers to incorporate more detailed property-level data, including factors such as roof condition, surrounding vegetation, weather exposure, and more. The report also highlights the growing role of connected technologies, such as smart water leak detectors and automatic shutoff valves, as insurers shift focus from simply paying claims to helping homeowners prevent losses before they occur.
Read the full report on matic.com for additional national and state-level findings, data visualizations, and methodology.
About Matic
Since 2014, Matic has changed the landscape of the insurtech industry by integrating insurance within the home and auto ownership experience. Today, Matic’s digital marketplace has over 70 insurance carriers, as well as distribution partners in industries ranging from mortgage origination and servicing to banking, real estate, personal finance, and more. With a single-minded focus on advocating for policyholders, Matic has created an easy and transparent shopping process, saving customers hours of work and over $900 each year. For more information, visit matic.com.
Matic press@matic.com