HOUSTON, TX — August 26, 2026 — The Texas Home Insurance Renewal notice is the beginning of another frustrating year for many Houston-area homeowners. In past years, homeowners have seen their insurance premiums rise, but 2026 marks the fifth consecutive year of double-digit increases for many. According to McKinney Insurance Agency, growing homeowner insurance rates have many Houston-area families feeling the need to cut back on their insurance coverage. McKinney, however, advises against that very decision, saying it is the most common and expensive mistake a homeowner can make.

From a financial standpoint, the 2022 market has been brutal on Gulf Coast households. Recent numbers cite, on average, a Houston-area homeowner spending around $5,653 annually; all other major Texas cities combined have homeowner insurance spending averages that are well below Houston's. With recent increases statewide, industry experts predict another year of climbing costs for homeowner insurance in Texas. The main drivers of this continuing spike in costs are structural. Harris County is an area with high risk for multiple natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, and hail. In addition to the high risk of natural disasters, the cost of building a home has inflated due to the increase in building materials and labor costs.

“Every year I meet with folks who are upset and frustrated, and their first response is to try and minimize their premium by stripping coverage,” said Lane McKinney, founder of McKinney Insurance Agency. “I understand this anger, but lowering your out-of-pocket risk by reducing your deductible or dropping windstorm or replacement cost coverage to save a few bucks is a terrible decision. Decisions like that make the policy largely worthless. There are real ways to lower the premium, and that’s the conversation we encourage folks to have before they sign their policy.”

McKinney founded his agency in 2005 and is part of the TWFG President’s Club. This allows McKinney to shop the market and advocate for the client instead of for one particular company. This is very helpful when there are hard market trends because there are winners and losers, and a company’s premium increase may be another company’s opportunity to win business.

The agency suggested some ideas that would help sustain some protection while reducing premiums.

Re-shop with an independent broker at the policy renewal. The market is constantly fluctuating with risk pricing, and you could potentially save a lot of money by switching carriers. An independent agent can do that for you in one convenient appointment.
Ask about wind and roof credits. Texas insurance providers provide many discounts for various impact-resistant structures like roofing and garage doors. Homeowners should make sure their credits are applied for any roof upgrades made.

Adjustment should be made to the deductible rather than the coverage. Raising the household deductible can lower the premium, given the household can afford to pay the deductible; however, McKinney discourages going beyond what a household could reasonably pay after the claim has been made.

Bundle auto and home insurance. Carrying multiple insurance policies with the same insurance provider can reduce the cost on both policies.

Consider your rebuild cost and do not insure for market value. Insuring the market value of a home over the cost to rebuild can leave a household significantly underinsured.

Record your upgrades. New HVAC systems, wiring and plumbing, and security systems can provide discounts to homeowners.
"The challenge isn't about finding the lowest-priced policy. It's about finding the best-valued policy," McKinney said. "When you know the details behind each aspect of your coverage, the price you agreed to shouldn’t feel like a 'surprise' increase and should feel like a 'change' that you can control. That's the primary reason consumers have a local agent, rather than a call center."

The agency notes that homeowners should never take for granted that a standard policy will cover losses from all types of storms. Damage from a flood is one of the most common and financially devastating exclusions to standard home insurance and causes many Gulf Coast families to have a huge, costly, unexpected liability after a flood. McKinney Insurance advises homeowners to review their insurance policies several months before hurricane season to ensure that they are not financially caught off guard after a hurricane is named.

For homeowners facing a 2026 price increase, the agency has offered complimentary policy reviews to assist consumers in understanding the impact of the new policies.

About McKinney Insurance Agency

McKinney Insurance Agency is an independent brokerage firm in the Clear Lake area in Houston, Texas, that is licensed to sell insurance to customers located throughout the entire Houston metropolitan area. Started in 2005 by Lane McKinney, the agency is a branch of The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG). They offer protection for your auto, home, life, commercial, and other specialty insurance policies, with an emphasis on being straightforward with their pricing and protecting their customers with insurance policies tailored to meet their individual and business insurance protection needs. As an independent brokerage firm, McKinney Insurance Agency shops your policy with multiple insurance companies in order to secure the best coverage at the best price available.

Media Contact:
McKinney Insurance Agency
17043 El Camino Real, #101, Houston, TX
Phone: (281) 996-0040
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://mckinneyinsuranceagency.net/