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Can insurance company for a home owner to rebuild?

Our home is insured for the "cost to rebuild." Contents insured for a large % of that cost to rebuild. The insurance company came up with the amounts. 

Would we be obligated to rebuild in case of a loss. Thanks.

3 Answers

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  • 3 months ago
    Favorite Answer

    Its going to depend on your insurance and whether or not you have a mortgage.

    If you have a mortgage, the bank must be made whole first. If you have the house rebuilt then the mortgage lien automatically applies to the new/rebuilt house and nothing changes with your mortgage.

    If you just take a check, the mortgage is going to need to be paid off first, and you will only get what's left. Then you own a damaged house with some money in your pocket but no place to live. If you try to rebuild with the insurance money there's a risk of the repairs costing more than the settlement and if you try to sell as-is investors are going to expect a huge discount on the price (far more than the cost of repair) so they can make a profit on the deal.

    So your best option is almost always going to be to let the insurance company pay a qualified contractor to rebuild. If you want to move when its all done, you can sell a newly built/rebuilt move-in ready house for top dollar and there's no risk to you if the rebuilt goes over budget because the insurance would be on the hook for the extra cost.

  • Anonymous
    3 months ago

    I think you can choose a check instead but I've never lost a house. And if you owe on the house, the check goes to the lender who may cut you one for the difference.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    3 months ago

    My insurance just says if it burns down and it's not my fault they either rebuild or give me enough to buy another house of a similar value and the cost of a hotel in the meantime. You have to check your individual terms.

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