Home Warranties, Insurance, Contractors, and Mortgage Lenders: Reviews from Real Homeowners
Owning a home is the biggest financial commitment most Americans make. It's also where the worst consumer complaints pile up. Home warranty companies that deny every claim. Insurance premiums that doubled in two years. Contractors who vanish mid-project. Mortgage lenders with hidden fees. Consumer Bureau is a privately operated consumer protection resource built to give homeowners the reviews, complaint tools, and watchdog coverage the industry doesn't want you to have.
Home warranties: the good, the bad, and the claim denials
The home warranty industry took in an estimated $3.9 billion in 2023 and is expected to hit $13.6 billion by 2030. Growth that fast attracts companies that are more interested in collecting premiums than paying claims. The most common complaint we see: a homeowner pays for years, files their first claim, and gets denied on a technicality. Our reviews track which companies actually pay out and which ones look for reasons not to.
Home Warranty Company Reviews
Rated by actual policyholders who have filed claims. We track claim approval rates, service call wait times, contractor quality, and coverage limits for American Home Shield, Cinch, Select, Choice, and dozens more.
Compare warranty companiesWorst Home Warranty Companies
The providers with the highest complaint rates and most frequent claim denials. Based on verified complaint data, not paid rankings. Updated quarterly.
See the worst-ratedHome Warranty Buying Guide
What a home warranty actually covers (and doesn't), how to read the contract exclusions before signing, what a fair service fee looks like, and when a warranty is worth the money.
Read the guideHome Warranty Scam Alerts
Fake expiration mailers, bait-and-switch pricing, pre-existing condition traps, and other scam patterns from our complaint database. How to spot them and where to report them.
See active scam alertsHome Warranty vs. Home Insurance
They sound similar but cover entirely different things. Insurance handles sudden damage like fires and storms. Warranties cover breakdowns from wear and tear. Here's how to decide what you need.
Understand the differenceHome Warranty Claim Denial Tracker
Crowd-sourced data on which companies deny claims most often, for which items, and using which contract loopholes. Search by company name or appliance type.
Search denial dataHomeowners insurance: rising rates, denied claims, and disappearing carriers
Homeowners filed 12.4% more insurance complaints in 2025 than the year before. Premiums jumped roughly 8% nationally, and in states like Louisiana they climbed 58% in just two years. Carriers pulled out of California and Florida entirely, leaving homeowners scrambling. The situation has stabilized slightly in 2026, but rates remain historically high and customer satisfaction keeps dropping. We track which insurers earn their premiums and which ones leave you fighting for a payout when your roof is leaking.
Homeowners Insurance Rate & Complaint Lookup
Enter your state or ZIP code to see average premiums, year-over-year rate changes, top carriers, and complaint counts filed with your state insurance commissioner.
State Farm California: 17% Rate Increase Approved
Following the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, State Farm received a 17% increase after requesting 22%. Applies to remaining policyholders.
Florida Citizens: First Rate Decrease in Years
Citizens Property Insurance filed for a 2.6% rate decrease in December 2025. Policy count at historic low of 385,000 as private carriers return.
Rising Wind/Hail Deductibles Nationwide
Average deductibles rose 24.5% in 2025. Many policies now carry separate percentage-based wind/hail deductibles of 1-5% of home value.
Homeowners Insurance Reviews
Policyholder reviews of State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, Nationwide, and regional carriers. Rated on claims handling, premium fairness, and renewal surprises.
Read insurance reviewsInsurance Complaint Guide by State
How to file a formal complaint with your state insurance commissioner. Includes links, required documentation, expected timelines, and what happens after you file.
Find your state guideInsurance Crisis Tracker
Which states are losing carriers, where rates are climbing fastest, and what it means for homeowners who can't find affordable coverage. Updated monthly with regulatory filings data.
View the trackerFlood Insurance Guide
NFIP vs. private flood insurance: cost comparisons, coverage differences, and how FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 changed what you pay. Especially relevant if your lender requires it.
Compare flood coverageHow to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance
Practical steps that actually reduce premiums: raising deductibles, bundling policies, mitigation credits, wind-resistant upgrades, and shopping surplus lines if admitted carriers won't write your policy.
Read the guideMortgages and home buying: what lenders leave out of the pitch
Mortgage rates remain above 6% heading into 2026, and the typical new borrower is paying more of their monthly payment toward insurance than at any point in the last decade. Add in closing cost surprises, rate lock games, and the gap between what lenders advertise and what they actually fund, and the home buying process is full of places to get tripped up.
Mortgage Lender Reviews
Borrower reviews of national banks, online lenders, and credit unions. Rated on rate accuracy, closing speed, fee transparency, and communication during underwriting.
Compare lendersFHA Loan Lender Reviews
Which lenders handle FHA loans well, and which ones drag out the process or tack on unnecessary fees. Especially useful for first-time buyers.
Read FHA reviewsVA Loan Lender Reviews
Reviews from veterans and service members on which VA lenders offer the best rates, fewest hassles, and fastest closings.
Read VA reviewsHome Buying Guide
From pre-approval to closing: a step-by-step walkthrough that focuses on where the money traps are. Covers earnest money, inspection contingencies, appraisal gaps, and closing cost negotiation.
Read the guideReal Estate Website Reviews
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, Opendoor, and others compared on listing accuracy, Zestimate reliability, agent matching, and iBuyer offer fairness.
Compare platformsFinancial Advisor Reviews
Reviews of financial planning services for homeownership decisions: whether to buy, how much house you can afford, and how home equity fits into your broader financial plan.
Find an advisorHome improvement and contractors: finding good help without losing your shirt
The average American homeowner spent over $8,800 on repairs and maintenance in 2025. Hiring the wrong contractor can double that number and leave you with unfinished work. Bathroom remodels that take six months. Kitchen contractors who cash the deposit and disappear. Roofers who do half the job. Our contractor reviews are written by homeowners who paid the bill and lived with the results.
Home Improvement Contractor Reviews
General contractors rated by homeowners on workmanship, timeline accuracy, budget adherence, communication, and cleanup. Covers both national franchises and independent contractors.
Find contractor reviewsKitchen Remodeling Company Reviews
Reviews of kitchen remodeling companies and designers. What homeowners actually paid vs. what was quoted, and how the finished product held up.
Read kitchen reviewsBathroom Remodeling Contractor Reviews
Bathroom renovation companies rated on project scope accuracy, tile and plumbing quality, permit handling, and whether the work was done on schedule.
Read bathroom reviewsHome Builders & Developers Reviews
New-construction homeowners review builders on build quality, warranty honor rates, punch list responsiveness, and how the house looks two years after closing.
Compare buildersContractor Scam Alerts
Storm chasers, unlicensed handymen, deposit-and-vanish schemes, and permit fraud. How to verify licensing, check insurance, and protect your deposit.
See active alertsSunroom & Addition Contractors
Reviews of sunroom companies (Champion, Patio Enclosures, etc.) and general addition contractors. Cost transparency, permit compliance, and structural quality.
Compare companiesHome security and safety systems
Security system contracts are some of the stickiest in the home services industry. Long terms, steep early termination fees, and equipment you don't own. Our reviews focus on what matters: does the system work, can you cancel without a fight, and is the monthly monitoring fee worth what you're paying.
Home Alarm & Security System Reviews
ADT, Vivint, SimpliSafe, Ring, Abode, and others reviewed by actual subscribers. Covers false alarm rates, app reliability, contract terms, and cancellation difficulty.
Compare systemsHome Automation System Reviews
Smart home platforms rated on device compatibility, reliability, app quality, and whether they actually make your life easier or just add more things that break.
Read automation reviewsSmart Home Privacy Guide
What your smart doorbell, thermostat, and voice assistant collect about you. Which companies sell that data, which ones don't, and how to limit what gets shared.
Check your devicesOutdoor, yard, and property maintenance
Lawn care subscriptions, pest control contracts, pool maintenance, and the hot tub that looked great in the showroom but leaked three months in. Outdoor services come with their own set of consumer headaches, from automatic renewal traps to pest control treatments that don't work.
Lawn Care Company Reviews
TruGreen, Sunday, Lawn Doctor, and local providers reviewed on treatment quality, scheduling reliability, contract transparency, and cancellation policies.
Compare lawn carePest Control Reviews
Terminix, Orkin, Aptive, and others rated by homeowners. Does the treatment work? Do they show up on time? How hard is it to cancel?
Read pest control reviewsPool Company Reviews
Pool builders and maintenance companies reviewed on construction quality, chemical balance accuracy, leak repair responsiveness, and seasonal service reliability.
Compare pool companiesHot Tub & Swim Spa Reviews
Brand reviews (Jacuzzi, Bullfrog, Master Spas, etc.) covering build quality, energy costs, warranty honor rates, and long-term reliability after the first year.
Compare hot tubsUtilities and energy: internet, electric, solar, and cable
In deregulated energy states, choosing the wrong electricity provider can cost you hundreds of dollars a year in hidden rate adjustments. And across the country, internet service remains one of the top consumer complaint categories. We track pricing accuracy, service reliability, contract traps, and cancellation hassles across all utility types.
Internet Service Provider Reviews
Xfinity, AT&T, Spectrum, T-Mobile Home Internet, Starlink, and regional ISPs. Rated on actual speeds vs. advertised, outage frequency, pricing games, and customer service.
Compare ISPsSolar Energy Company Reviews
Sunrun, SunPower, Tesla Solar, and others reviewed on installation quality, production vs. projections, lease vs. purchase value, and how long it actually takes to see savings.
Compare solar companiesElectricity Company Reviews
For homeowners in deregulated states: reviews of retail electricity providers in Texas, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, and other choice markets. Rate accuracy, billing transparency, and contract lock-ins.
Read electricity reviewsTV & Streaming Provider Reviews
Cable, satellite, and streaming bundle reviews. DIRECTV, DISH, YouTube TV, Hulu Live, and others compared on channel selection, pricing accuracy, and contract flexibility.
Compare TV providersHome product recalls and safety alerts
The CPSC issues hundreds of household product recalls every year. Space heaters that catch fire, furniture that tips over, electrical outlets that spark, dishwashers that flood. Many homeowners never find out about recalls on products they already own. Our alerts page makes it easy to check.
Portable Space Heater Fire Risk
Multiple brands recalled for overheating and fire hazard. Over 200,000 units sold at major retailers. Check model numbers.
Dishwasher Water Leak Alert
Certain 2022-2024 models with faulty door seals. Manufacturers offering free replacement parts.
Counterfeit Electrical Outlets
Non-UL-listed outlets sold on Amazon and other marketplaces failing safety tests. Check for counterfeit markings.
Home Product Recall Alerts
Searchable database of CPSC recalls for appliances, furniture, electrical products, and home improvement materials. Sign up for free email alerts by product category.
Search recallsAppliance Safety Reports
Which appliance brands generate the most safety complaints, and which products have the highest injury rates. Data sourced from CPSC and NEISS databases.
View safety dataClimate risk, HOA disputes, and emerging homeowner problems
About 12% of U.S. homes now sit in high-risk disaster zones, with potential reconstruction costs estimated at $4.3 trillion. Insurance premiums rose 70% nationally between 2019 and 2025. HOA fees are climbing as associations pass along higher insurance and maintenance costs. These are the problems reshaping homeownership in ways that most consumer sites haven't caught up with.
Climate Risk & Insurance Map
Interactive map showing wildfire, hurricane, flood, and severe storm risk by ZIP code, with corresponding insurance availability, average premiums, and carrier exit data.
Check your areaHOA Complaint Center
File complaints about your homeowners association. Fee transparency, rule enforcement disputes, maintenance failures, and special assessment surprises. Searchable by HOA name and state.
File an HOA complaintSmart Home Data Privacy Guide
What Ring, Nest, Alexa, and other smart home devices collect about your household. Which companies share data with police without a warrant, and how to limit collection.
Check your privacyHome Resilience & Mitigation Guide
How to harden your home against wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, and hail. Which upgrades qualify for insurance discounts, and what grants or tax credits are available in your state.
Build resilienceWhere to file a homeowner complaint
An insurance company that won't pay your claim is a different complaint than a contractor who took your money and didn't finish the job. Each type of problem has a different agency, and knowing where to file makes the difference between getting a response and getting ignored. Our routing tool points you to the right place.
Complaint Filing Guide by State
Look up your state to find every relevant agency for homeowner complaints: state insurance commissioner, contractor licensing board, attorney general, CFPB, HUD, and your state's consumer protection office.
Find your stateHomeowner Class Action Tracker
Active and recently settled class actions involving defective building materials, insurance bad faith, contractor fraud, HOA mismanagement, and mortgage servicing abuse. Check if you qualify.
Search class actionsConsumer Bureau is a privately operated consumer protection resource. We are not affiliated with any government agency. Our reviews come from verified consumers. Our editorial content is fact-checked and updated regularly. We accept no payment from companies in exchange for positive reviews. When you see a company comparison or recommendation, our methodology is published alongside it.