October 2026 Recap on Pathpoint: Fastest-Growing Classes and Renewal Pricing

Lessor’s-risk-only (LRO) office and mercantile buildings ranked among the top three bound excess and surplus (E&S) classes in 13 of our 16 regions, and subcontracted work on one- and two-family homes was in the top three in seven. Apartments led in California, New York, and the Midwest. Apartments 2 stories and under made up 25% of Northern California binds and 22% of Southern California binds, and apartments over 2 stories made up 16% of New York binds.

A few classes made up a much bigger share of binds than of submissions:

Siding installation is 14% of Midwest binds, compared with 5% of submissions.
Grading of land is 13% of Great Lakes binds, compared with 5% of submissions.
LRO office and mercantile buildings are 15% of Pacific Northwest binds, compared with 6% of submissions.

Outdoor service trades were still binding, too. Pressure washing made up 10% of New England binds, and swimming pool servicing made up 8% of South Florida binds.

Table 1: Top-bound classes by region, October 2026 (share of region’s binds)

How we group regions: We report new business by the territories our underwriting teams cover, so each group reflects the markets and carriers those teams work with every day. Some cover only part of a state, and groupings can shift as our teams grow. Smaller regions can also swing sharply from one month to the next, so use these numbers to spot direction rather than to size a specific market.

Which E&S classes saw the fastest submission growth in October 2026?

Submissions climbed in a handful of smaller classes. From September to October, submissions about doubled for vacant buildings in the Mountain West, residential carpentry in the Pacific Northwest, interior carpentry in New England, and insured-maintained LRO buildings in South Florida. Churches and other houses of worship grew 34% in the Midwest. Most of these are smaller classes, so large percentage gains reflect modest volume.

Table 2: Fastest-growing classes by region (change in submitted accounts, September → October)

What were October 2026’s top-renewing E&S classes, and how did they price?

Apartments and lessor’s-risk-only (LRO) buildings were the four most-renewed classes on Pathpoint in October. Apartments over 2 stories led the list, followed by LRO office and mercantile buildings, apartments 2 stories and under, and insured-maintained LRO buildings.

Pricing for all four held close to flat. Apartments over 2 stories had a median change of -1.8%, with 60% renewing below expiring premium. Both LRO classes came in within half a percent of expiring, with about half renewing lower. Apartments 2 stories and under came in slightly higher, with a median change of +2.5%.

Table 3: Top-renewing classes, October 2026

If a renewal comes back well above expiring, check what changed on the account, then send it to us so we can compare it across markets. E&S policies don’t auto-renew, and the earlier we see a renewal, the more markets we can put in front of it.

Already on Pathpoint? View your renewals.

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Data from Pathpoint, October 2026 compared with September 2026. Submissions and binds are new-business accounts and exclude automated agency submissions. Submissions are dated by first submission and binds by policy effective date. Regions reflect Pathpoint’s current underwriting territories, applied to both months, so they differ from regions in earlier recaps. An account with more than one class code counts once in each class, so shares can add up to more than 100%. ‘Fastest growing’ ranks classes by change in submissions and only includes classes with enough September volume to measure growth reliably. Renewals are policies effective in October 2026 compared with their expiring term. Top-renewing classes are ranked by renewed accounts. Premium changes include changes in exposure or coverage, not just rate.