Insurance for the Forestville Road and Buffaloe Road area

Around Forestville Road / Buffaloe Road

• Forestville Road
• Buffaloe Road
• Forestville Road Park
• Hodges Mill Creek
• Neuse River
• Neuse River Trail
• Buffaloe Road Athletic Park
• I-540

New homes, townhomes and HOAs

Much of the housing here is new construction. A new home with a new roof and modern systems is often easier to insure, but the dwelling limit still has to match the real cost to rebuild, which is not the same as the purchase price. Add-ons such as a finished bonus room, upgraded kitchen or fence should be reflected too.

If you buy a townhome, read the insurance section of your HOA documents. When the association insures the building, an HO-6 style policy usually fits; when you own and insure the whole structure, you need a homeowners (HO-3) policy. Loss assessment coverage helps if the HOA bills owners for a shared loss.

Buying, building and renting

If you are building a custom home on a lot here, the structure needs builder’s risk coverage until it is finished. Investors who buy new homes or townhomes to rent need a landlord (dwelling fire) policy with loss of rents coverage, and tenants need their own renters policy.

The Neuse River and its creeks

The Neuse River runs along the west side of the area, with the 27.5-mile Neuse River Trail on its banks, and creeks such as Hodges Mill Creek drain toward it. Homes near the river or creeks should be checked for flood risk. Flood is excluded from homeowners and renters policies, and NFIP flood policies generally have a 30-day waiting period.

The city bought 25 acres at Forestville Road and Buffaloe Road in 2004 for a future park, and its draft master plan sees the site’s stream as part of a future greenway link to the Hodges Mill Creek corridor.

Commutes and growing traffic

Forestville Road and Buffaloe Road connect new neighborhoods to I-540, and residents in the city’s park planning process raised concerns about traffic and safety as the area grows. Rising traffic is a good reason to check liability limits, uninsured motorist coverage and MedPay, especially with new teen drivers in the house.