Jennifer purchased a house in a brand new development in the outskirts of town. When her house was built, the nearest fire department was nearly 20 miles away. As her neighborhood developed, the density of the community called for a new fire department 1.5 miles away. What effect will the new fire station have on her homeowners insurance premium?

Question

Jennifer purchased a house in a brand new development in the outskirts of town.  When her house was built, the nearest fire department was nearly 20 miles away.  As her neighborhood developed, the density of the community called for a new fire department 1.5 miles away.  What effect will the new fire station have on her homeowners insurance premium?
a.
A new fire department will be more demanding on local taxes.  Her annual premium will go up.
b.
The location of a fire department has no bearing on the value of her house.  Her annual premium will stay the same.
c.
The new fire department will reduce the risk of financial loss in her home.  Her annual premium should decrease.
d.
With a fire department so close (less than 5 miles), financial risk on Jennifer’s home practically disappears.  She will not need to pay insurance anymore.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct answer is:

c. The new fire department will reduce the risk of financial loss in her home. Her annual premium should decrease.

Having a fire department closer to her home generally lowers the risk of severe damage from fires, which can lead to lower homeowners insurance premiums. Insurance companies often consider the proximity of fire services when determining rates.