Treacy Duerfeldt Launches Free Education Course to Address the Growing Homeowners Insurance Crisis in the U.S.
The growing concern about homeowners’ insurance affordability in the United States has begun to influence not only individual households but also broader housing accessibility. According to Treacy Duerfeldt, founder of Construction Insurance Risk Education (C.I.R.E.), this issue is no longer isolated to policy pricing but is increasingly shaping whether people can enter or remain in the housing market.
Duerfeldt explains that even small changes in insurance costs can significantly impact affordability. He notes that when insurance expenses rise, they affect the full value of a home rather than just the financed portion, which amplifies the financial burden on homeowners. From his perspective, this dynamic has contributed to a situation where insurance costs are becoming a determining factor in homeownership decisions, particularly in regions where premiums have risen sharply in recent years.
Recent data shows that homeowners’ insurance premiums increased by 24% nationwide between 2021 and 2024, by an average of $648 per year across the country, underscoring how rapidly costs are rising and how directly they are influencing housing affordability.
In response, C.I.R.E. has announced the upcoming release of a new education course designed to clarify the underlying factors behind the crisis while offering a practical framework for understanding solutions tied to new construction. The course, developed over several years, is intended to make complex insurance concepts accessible to a wide audience, including homeowners, builders, and insurance professionals.
“I have spent years watching people struggle to understand why their insurance costs are rising,” Duerfeldt says. “This course is about breaking that down in plain language so people can see what is actually driving the problem and what they can do about it.”
C.I.R.E., an education-focused organization operating at the intersection of construction and insurance, develops training programs that aim to improve how risk is understood and managed across both industries. According to Duerfeldt, the organization’s approach centers on translating technical insurance concepts into practical knowledge that can be applied in real-world scenarios.
The course itself reflects that philosophy. Duerfeldt explains that it was built with the intention of removing barriers to understanding, ensuring that even individuals without industry experience can follow the material. He emphasizes that the goal is to equip individuals with the knowledge needed to navigate it more effectively.
“I’m not suggesting this solves everything,” he says. “What it does is give people the information they need to ask better questions, make more informed decisions, and start addressing the issue where they can.”
One of the central ideas explored in the course is the relationship between construction standards and insurance outcomes. Duerfeldt points out that newer homes, particularly those built to more recent codes, have demonstrated different risk profiles compared to older properties. From his perspective, this distinction has not always been fully reflected in how insurance is structured or priced, which contributes to broader inefficiencies in the system.
He also highlights the role of data and systemic complexity in shaping insurance costs. According to him, insurers often rely on a mix of historical and evolving data sources, which can lead to inconsistencies in how risk is assessed and priced. While these challenges are not always visible to consumers, they play a significant role in how premiums are determined.
“The system is more complicated than most people realize,” Duerfeldt says. “There are layers of data, assumptions, and constraints that influence pricing, and without understanding those, it’s difficult for anyone to make sense of what they are paying for.”
The course further examines how education can serve as a starting point for change. Duerfeldt believes that when individuals better understand how insurance operates, they are more likely to engage proactively with agents, builders, and other stakeholders. In turn, this can lead to more informed conversations and potentially better-aligned decisions across the board.
“I want people to feel confident enough to pick up the phone and ask the right questions,” he says. “That’s where change begins, when people understand what they are dealing with and start engaging with it directly.”
A key aspect of the initiative is accessibility. According to Duerfeldt, the course will be made available free of charge, with no requirement for users to provide personal information to access the material. He notes that this decision reflects the broader purpose behind the project, which is centered on education rather than commercial outcomes.
From his perspective, the long-term impact of the course will depend on how widely the information is shared and applied. By reaching homeowners, construction professionals, and insurance agents simultaneously, he aims to create a more informed ecosystem where decisions are guided by a clearer understanding of risk and responsibility.
“This is about getting everyone on the same page,” he says. “When people understand the system, they can start working within it more effectively, and that’s where meaningful progress happens.”
The course reflects a broader recognition that complex challenges often require foundational understanding before larger solutions can take shape. “It’s about giving people the clarity and confidence to understand what’s happening and take meaningful action,” Duerfeldt says. “When individuals are equipped with the right knowledge, they begin to navigate it effectively and contribute to stronger, more resilient outcomes over time.”
