Are Insurance Companies Requiring Home Repairs in Central New York?
Real Talk with Stephanie | August 2026
There’s something I’ve started noticing in some of our recent Central New York real estate transactions: repair requests and requirements aren't always coming from the buyer.
We’ve had repair issues arise through appraisals and underwriting, and we've also seen insurance companies ask for certain conditions to be corrected.
Is this the beginning of a larger change in the Central New York real estate market?
It's too early for me to call it a trend—but it's something I'm paying very close attention to.
🎥 Watch: Real Talk with Stephanie
In this Real Talk with Stephanie, I explain what I've recently seen in our transactions and why buyers and sellers should understand that repair issues can sometimes arise even after the home inspection.
Who Can Require Repairs When You're Buying a Home?
Most buyers and sellers naturally think of the home inspection when they think about repairs.
A buyer has the home inspected, identifies concerns and, depending on the terms of the purchase contract, may request that certain items be addressed.
But that's not the only place property-condition concerns can arise.
Depending on the property and transaction, issues may also be identified during:
The home inspection
The appraisal
Mortgage underwriting
The homeowners insurance process
And those are very different situations.
A buyer may have some discretion over how they handle an inspection issue. A condition affecting the lender's willingness to fund the mortgage or an insurer's willingness to insure the property can create an entirely different challenge.
Why Would an Appraiser or Lender Require a Repair?
The answer can depend heavily on the type of financing.
Certain property conditions can become an issue when a lender or appraiser determines that they affect the safety, soundness or eligibility of the property for a particular loan program.
That means a buyer could complete their inspection negotiations and still encounter a property-condition issue later during the financing process.
This is one reason it's important for buyers to understand that getting through the inspection doesn't necessarily mean every property-condition question is behind you.
What About Homeowners Insurance?
This is the area I'm particularly interested in watching.
Before closing, buyers generally need to secure homeowners insurance if they're financing their purchase.
An insurance company evaluates risk differently than a home inspector or appraiser. Depending on the property and insurer, certain conditions could affect whether the company is willing to insure the home or what it requires before or after issuing coverage.
We've heard extensively about homeowners insurance becoming a major part of real estate conversations in states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
I'm not suggesting Central New York is experiencing the same insurance environment.
But now that I've started seeing insurance-related repair requests in our own transactions, I think it's worth paying attention to what happens next.
What Does This Mean for CNY Sellers?
For sellers, the biggest takeaway is that an accepted offer doesn't necessarily mean you're finished dealing with the physical condition of your home.
Even if the buyer is satisfied with the property, another party involved in the transaction could identify an issue that needs to be addressed before the transaction can move forward as planned.
That's another reason I encourage sellers to prepare their homes before listing.
Addressing obvious deferred maintenance ahead of time can make your home more attractive to buyers and may also reduce the chance of surprises later in the transaction.
What Does This Mean for CNY Buyers?
Buyers shouldn't panic about this either.
It simply reinforces why there are so many moving pieces between "offer accepted" and "closed."
Your Realtor, lender, attorney, insurance professional, appraiser and home inspector all have different roles in the transaction.
If an issue comes up, the next step depends on who identified it, why it's being requested, your financing, your insurance carrier and the terms of your contract.
Don't assume that a repair request automatically means the transaction is falling apart.
Find out exactly what's being requested and why, and then determine your options.
Is This Becoming a Trend in Central New York?
I don't know yet.
And that's exactly why I'm talking about it.
One of the reasons I started Real Talk with Stephanie was to share what's actually happening inside real estate transactions—not just what's visible in market statistics.
I've now encountered enough repair-related situations involving appraisals, underwriting and insurance to have this on my radar.
I'll be watching our transactions over the coming months to see whether these remain isolated situations or become something Central New York buyers and sellers encounter more frequently.
And if the market changes, I'll keep you updated.
About Stephanie Scriven
Stephanie Scriven is a NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker and Broker/Owner of Home With Us Realty Group, serving buyers and sellers throughout Syracuse and Central New York.
Through Real Talk with Stephanie and Market Watch Monday, Stephanie shares firsthand observations from the Central New York housing market and practical information to help consumers better understand the buying and selling process.
Have a question about buying or selling a home in Central New York?
Stephanie Scriven
NYS Licensed Real Estate Broker
Home With Us Realty Group
315-569-8931
StephanieScriven.com
