FAIRMONT -- Home sales jumped 11 percent over last month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Still, 2009 is shaping up to be the worst year for new-home sales since at least 1963.

Allstate Insurance reports a 27 percent increase in its customers transferring their insurance policies to landlord policies to turn the bills into cash.

Stan Cameon, an AllState Insurance Agent in Clarksburg and Fairmont, says landowners are getting impatient in the current housing market.

"Over the whole region (which is West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C.), we've had an 88.5 percent increase over last year," he said.

This first-quarter report comes as the housing market recovers 11 percent since last month. Consumers seem to be responding to the tax credits and lower prices due to the flooded market.

"Housing's down a little bit from last year this time," explained Cameon. "A lot of folks, whose houses have been for sale for a while, are unable to sell them, so they're renting the homes as opposed to keeping them on the market to be sold."

Cameon says there can be a lot of benefits to renting a home, but there are liability issues to keep in mind to protect the building and the landlord.

"We're going to cover the dwelling itself, of course, plus your liability, plus we're going to cover things the land lord may leave at the house to maintain the property," Cameon said. "Snowblowers, lawnmowers, weedeaters, those kinds of things are going to be covered."

If you're the renter, however, Cameon says insurance to cover your belongings inside the property is cheap and affordable.

Allstate advises that you speak to your insurance company about the ups and downs of becoming a landlord before renting your home.