It pays to shop around for homeowners insurance.  I was almost had.  I received a consent to rate letter from my insurance company which is a new law now.  General Statute No. 58-36-30 (b)  They have to tell you when their rates change and it doesn't automately renew and require a signature.  It stated that the premium was in EXCESS of standard rates as may be applicabe to my state and that similiar coverages may be available to me either through the FAIR Plan or Beach Plan.  Which I know nothing about.

So I went "grunt" at the letter and thought my God I know nothing about homeowners insurance and had decided to just pay and sign it.  Then I decided to do research and keyed in "homeowners insurance guide" in Google and it gave me the questions to ask my agent and other key information and that's what I did.  

Then I remembered my car insurance people I really like and I called them and they were able to give me more coverage, less premium (had to up my deductible) and coverage that was not covered with my formal - like storm drain backups and they eliminated stuff I didn't need like having other structures like gazebos and trampolines that lowered the rate.  Now my mortgage won't go up because of homeowners insurance and that's a good thing because I just had my PMI to drop off.  The insurance rate going up would have put me right back where I was.

I'm glad I didn't let all the jargon scare me.  I was about to cave but I'm glad I did the research.  Now if I can do something about property taxes.