Getting Preliminary Homeowner's Insurance Estimates

Overview

Deal Details integrates with a national insurance data aggregator to provide preliminary homeowner's insurance ranges based on property characteristics and borrower credit. This helps you have informed conversations with clients about total housing costs, especially when quoting properties in unfamiliar markets where insurance rates may surprise you.

Before You Start

Requirement	Details
Property address entered	The property card must have a valid address loaded
Credit score on file	A borrower credit score is required before the system will return insurance estimates

Step-by-Step: Pulling an Insurance Estimate

1. Open the Property Card

Navigate to the property you want to quote. The address and property details should already be populated.

2. Enter the Borrower's Credit Score

Before requesting insurance data, add the borrower's credit score to the scenario.

⚠️ Important: If you click the insurance lookup without a credit score on file, the system will prompt you to add one first. Credit score is a primary driver of insurance pricing.

3. Click the Homeowner's Insurance Section

Locate the homeowner's insurance area on the property card and click to request a quote.

4. Review the Estimate Range

The system returns a range from multiple carriers (such as State Farm, North Star, and American Select) rather than a single number.

Credit Level	Example Range
Good credit (700+)	$2,500 to $3,500 annually
Lower credit (below 650)	$3,300 to $4,200 annually

Actual ranges will vary based on the specific property and location.

Understanding the Estimate

Factors That Affect the Quote

The insurance estimate considers multiple property and borrower characteristics:

Factor	How It Impacts Price
Property age	Older homes (built 1900, for example) may have aging systems that increase risk
Zip code	Location-specific risks like weather patterns, crime rates, and regional claim history
Credit score	Higher credit typically means lower premiums
Square footage	Larger homes cost more to insure
Additional factors	The API evaluates five or more supplemental data points

Data Source

The estimates come from the largest homeowner's insurance data aggregator in the United States. This is the same organization that provides insurance data to the federal government, so the information reflects real market conditions.

When to Use This Feature

Best Use Cases

Scenario	Why It Helps
Quoting out-of-state properties	Insurance costs vary dramatically by region. A Florida property after hurricane season may have rates far higher than you would expect from your home market.
Setting client expectations	Gives borrowers a realistic view of total housing costs before they commit
Comparing scenarios	See how insurance estimates change across different properties

What This Feature Is Not

This is a preliminary estimate, not a binding quote. Clients will still need to shop for actual coverage and may receive quotes outside this range based on their specific circumstances and chosen coverage levels.

Finishing Up

1. Share the Range with Your Client

Use the estimate to have a conversation about expected insurance costs as part of their total monthly payment.

2. Recommend They Shop for Actual Quotes

Encourage clients to get formal quotes from insurance providers once they are serious about a property.

Quick Reference

Open property card → Add credit score → Click Homeowner's Insurance → Review estimate range → Discuss with client

Tips for Success

Always enter credit score first—the system requires it and will block the lookup until you do
Use this for client conversations, not final numbers—present ranges as estimates to set expectations, not guarantees
Pay attention to unfamiliar markets—this feature is especially valuable when quoting properties in areas where you do not have firsthand knowledge of local insurance costs
Compare good vs. fair credit scenarios—showing clients how credit impacts insurance can motivate them to improve their score before purchasing