Many Texas families do not have homeowner's insurance.

Following winter storm Uri, research undertaken by the Texas Real Estate Research Center at Texas A&M University indicated a widespread absence of homeowners insurance in the state.

According to the study, low-income households, those living in non-metropolitan areas, and those without a mortgage are less likely to carry homeowner's insurance.

The number of uninsured Texas households was estimated using data from the US Census Bureau. Uninsured status was reported by 26.6 percent of nonmetro homeowners. Uninsured families account for 11% of households in metropolitan areas with a major city, such as Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. 10.2 percent of people in metropolitan areas without a significant metropolis do not have homeowner's insurance.

According to Joshua Roberson, senior data analyst, "metropolitan areas in the Rio Grande Valley and along the Texas coast have the greatest percentages of uninsured households." "Nearly two out of every five households in McAllen are uninsured. With 34.9 percent, Brownville is not far behind. Even though Beaumont and Corpus Christi are prone to hurricane devastation, one out of every five homeowner households is uninsured."

"Because mortgage contracts need a homeowner's insurance policy, mortgage status plays an essential role in influencing the possibility of having property insurance," stated Research Economist Luis Torres. "The mortgage lender has a financial interest in the property, which is why insurance is required.

"Only 4.1 percent of mortgaged homeowner households are uninsured. In comparison, people who own their home debt-free have a rate of 26%."

According to the study, there is a link between having a lower average income and being uninsured. Those who own their home debt-free and uninsured earn roughly $53,274 a year, compared to $95,873 for those who own their home and are insured.

Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth had the lowest rates of uninsured households, at 6.1 and 7.4 percent, respectively.

"Homeowners who do not have a mortgage are typically seniors who live in older homes that are more vulnerable to harm from harsh weather," Torres explained.

"When one studies the relationship between household income and uninsured status, exciting problems arise. Is homeowner's insurance prohibitively expensive for low-income families? Is the cost of securing their homes from natural disasters preventing them from doing so?

"Knowing where uninsured homeowners live and their characteristics will help the state better allocate resources for home repairs following a natural calamity like a freeze."