HOMEOWNERS’ PREMIUMS STABLE

Premiums for homeowners insurance in Kentucky aren’t rising as quickly as they did in past years, and some insurers said rates are coming down.

“Rates are staying fairly stable with only small increases,” according to Tracy Bertram, personal lines program manager for the Kentucky Office of Insurance. He expects overall rate increases to average in the single digits this year.

Last year, premiums on homeowners policies in Kentucky rose an average of 12 percent, 5 percent in 2003 and 13 percent in 2002, according to statistics obtained from Office of Insurance records.

At State Farm, the largest homeowner insurer in Kentucky, overall rates were lowered by 6 percent as of April 15.