What does "force-placed insurance" typically refer to?

Force-placed insurance refers to a type of insurance that a lender arranges for a property when the borrower fails to maintain their own insurance coverage. This situation often arises when a homeowner does not fulfill the requirement to keep a homeowner's insurance policy active, either due to non-payment or letting the policy lapse. In such cases, the lender seeks to protect their financial interest in the property by obtaining insurance on behalf of the borrower.

This insurance is typically more expensive than standard coverage and may not provide the same level of protection. It's primarily meant to cover the lender’s interest rather than the homeowner’s personal property or liability needs, which may leave the borrower underinsured. The use of force-placed insurance is a common practice in the lending industry to mitigate risks associated with insufficient insurance coverage on collateral properties.