WHEN IT COMES TO selling real estate, the mantra is "location, location, location." The same could be said for selling property insurance on the East Coast, where the main determinant of pricing and availability also hinges on location: namely, whether the property is inland or on the catastrophe prone coast.

Whether it's nor'easters threatening properties in New York and Massachusetts, or hurricanes pummeling Cape Hatteras, N.C., and Naples Beach, Fla., the tail wagging the dog from north to south for East Coast consumers and agents is coastal property coverage.

This month's look at the U.S. East Coast introduces the fi rst of AA&B's regional focus issues. We examined market conditions, insurance availability, unique exposures, state legislatures and other concerns, from Maine and Vermont, all the way down to Florida. Although there were plenty of variables by state, such as unique local industries and regulatory experience, their shared exposure to potential coastal weather catastrophes binds them–and sets them apart from inland states.