Question for those who live in California

[DarkBlack]

I've mentioned the major insurance companies abandoning California after losses from widespread fires. I'm now paying 3x to a nobody company for way inferior coverage.

But this couple has it much harder. Farmer's refused to renew. Then 157 companies have refused them. The problem is they are near the perimeter of the Glass Fire of 2020 which burned 67,000 Acres and over 1500 structures, including some wineries.

Their loan can now be declared due in full immediately for lack of insurance protecting the lender. They don't have the money to pay it off. The house is valueless, a realtor won't touch it if it's un-insurable.

I wonder if they'll leave California.

Santa Rosa couple faces losing home over home insurance coverage denial

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) — The home insurance crisis in California is now affecting a neighborhood in Santa Rosa. Right above the homes on San Aleso Court in Santa Rosa, you can still see ch…

www.kron4.com

Yeah but..
Instead of going on television saying they’re going to lose their home, they just admitted in the story they can insure with a “California fair plan”, but that insurance cost is 60% higher than State Farm was. Waa…
You want that nice house in California, but you can’t afford 60% more on home insurance?

Never live in a lifestyle and home where a 60% insurance increase forces you to loose your home. That’s living beyond your means

Sorry to sound mean but I don’t feel sorry for them. It’s all about choices. Buck up and pay the 60% premium , or cry victim, you’re going to lose your house

 

[plowhog]

I've mentioned the major insurance companies abandoning California after losses from widespread fires.

Well that is one way of looking at it. But claims made to insurance companies is part of the business, and part of their actuarial calculations.

What upended insurance in California was the voters. Proposition 103 required insurance companies to ask for "approval" before being allowed to adjust rates due to risk. Artificial barriers were put in place on their calculations, and requests to increase rates in line with increased risk were denied. So ... the State government denied the companies an ability to be profitable in the State. After that they left and incurred even further wrath from the Department of Insurance.

I don't understand why the do-gooders always have to meddle in the free market-- my opinion is that was the source of all the current problems.

"In 1988, California voters approved Proposition 103. It said insurance companies had to get permission from the state Department of Insurance before they could raise their rates. When setting their rates, insurance companies cannot consider current or future risks to a property. They can only use historical data."

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2023-09-22/things-to-know-about-californias-new-proposed-rules-for-insurance-companies#:~:text=In%201988%2C%20California%20voters%20approved%20Proposition%20103.%20It,a%20property.%20They%20can%20only%20use%20historical%20data.

 

[DarkBlack]

…Also from that Santa Rosa news story…. Apparently she doesn’t work and neither does he… he’s retired, (somewhat young looking).

Lesson of the story … don’t retire and stop working when you haven’t even paid off the mortgage on your modest house. I thought most people understood that. Apparently not

 

[California]

Agree with all those points!

My home in town is conventional construction and no insurance issues. But ... the little farmhouse at the orchard was owner-built before building codes applied, and it doesn't qualify for California Fair Plan, in numerous issues. No perimeter foundation for earthquake resistance is the major issue. Electrical, gas, plumbing, insulation, maybe the structure itself, would all fail to qualify for the Plan.

So it's insured same as an old mobile home in a third rate trailer park. That was the best I could find. Liability insurance is what I was most concerned about and fire replacement payment for what exists now, wouldn't build much of anything. No lender to worry about, thankfully.

 

[ultrarunner]

California Fair Plan is grossly over subscribed....

It cannot handle the volume nor does it have the resources to cover a major catastrophic event...

I know 2 that are now self insured for fire... they are in their 80's and say not going to play the game... if it goes it goes...

One aspect is some may get their wish of a lowering of values but getting what you ask for seldom satisfies... especially if you can't get a mortgage due to insurance.

One plus for the insurance companies is they are saving a bundle by no longer advertising!

Too bad the public can't hold insurers to their advertising...

Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there... EXCEPT WHEN IT ISNT.

Fair Plan is very limited on what it covers… it’s not a replacement for homeowner policy but it does meet most lender requirements…

California’s insurer of last resort is a ‘ticking time bomb’

The state-chartered insurer is in dire financial straits because of climate-juiced disasters, increased enrollment and rules that limit its ability to

www.eenews.net

 

[California]

State Farm discontinuing 72,000 home policies in California in latest blow to state insurance market

Insurance giant State Farm says it will discontinue coverage for 72,000 houses and apartments in California starting this summer.

apnews.com

 

[ericm979]

Someone in my area talked to their agent who told them that 2/3 of the policies in my zip code (all rural in the mountains) will be non renewed. Agents have the info now.

 

[ultrarunner]

I realize it's posturing but in the case of insurance they can choose to exit and it happens... the myth that California is to large a market to leave is showing that is no longer true.

It's different if your business is say rental housing because the powers that be got you knowing not possible to pick up your house and move.

Growing up it was somewhat common for folks to drop insurance after the loan was paid... heck people back then often were self insured on old paid for cars.

The more we become dependant through acts of law the more constrained we become

I think more and more will find themselves truly uninsurable... be it not available or at such a price it's not feasible.

Auto, Home, Business, Health, etc consume a ever bigger part of the pie...

 

[jyoutz]

I realize it's posturing but in the case of insurance they can choose to exit and it happens... the myth that California is to large a market to leave is showing that is no longer true.

It's different if your business is say rental housing because the powers that be got you knowing not possible to pick up your house and move.

Growing up it was somewhat common for folks to drop insurance after the loan was paid... heck people back then often were self insured on old paid for cars.

The more we become dependant through acts of law the more constrained we become

I think more and more will find themselves truly uninsurable... be it not available or at such a price it's not feasible.

Auto, Home, Business, Health, etc consume a ever bigger part of the pie...

I think the insurance companies handled the wildfire hazard risk rating wrongly. They should have inspected individual rural properties and then gave homeowners a price (high) for insuring under current high hazard conditions, and then a list of things people could do to get a lower rate (removing trees near house, thinning, brush removal, installing metal roof, etc…). Instead they rely on a generic location risk rating. There are lots of things people can do to considerably reduce wildfire hazards to structures.

 

[ultrarunner]

None of my fire mitigation attributes factor and I'm in a city of 450,000

1 mile from two fire houses, upgraded high pressure city fire hydrant, fire resistive construction of which engineered roof framing to support the clay tile roof is number one.

The only thing factored is the fire rating for the area...

How a home with wood shake roof, single pane windows and not sprinklered can be rated the same as me is non sense.

My agent told me to avoid preferences or possible race based influence it's all now done by computer modeling with no boots on the ground inspections.

The only thing I could do to lower premiums is raise my deductible to 10k

I know everyone says how important insurance is but few have earthquake coverage and earthquake could be just as costly as fire...