Finding Homeowners Insurance in Marin County
Finding Homeowners Insurance in Marin County More Difficult Due to Recent California Fires
Until recently, it was fairly easy to obtain homeowners insurance here in Marin County. That has changed with the recent devastating fires in the state, which have caused underwriters to take another look at their exposure to claims in California. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, 1.1 million structures are in severe fire risk zones. No wonder insurers are taking a second look.
This reminds me of the early 1990s right after the Northridge Earthquake when insurers were dropping policies – until the California Earthquake Authority was formed and began offering Californians high-deductible earthquake insurance to take the pressure off the local market. Once the CEA was formed, the homeowners insurance market began to return to normal.
Some Areas of Marin County Are Considered Higher Risk Than Others
A number of my fellow agents at Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty have reported that their clients are having trouble either obtaining or maintaining coverage for their homes. Cal Fire last updated their maps of fire hazard severity zones more than 10 years ago and is reportedly working to update these again, according to this article from KQED.
According to the last Marin County fire map update in 2022, the highest fire hazard severity zones are in western Marin, including areas west of Mill Valley,San Anselmo and Fairfax. Parts of the Ignacio area of Novato west of Highway 101 has also been ranked at the “very high” level.
FireSafe Marin is a wonderful organization that is helping communities in Marin County become more fire resitant / resilient. You can read their comprehensive report published in 2020 here.
CalFire Marin County Fire Map / Fire Severity Zones Updated November 2022
An Ounce of Prevention…
If you currently have homeowners insurance in Marin County don’t take it for granted and assume that it will be renewed when the policy ends. In addition to monitoring claim history and fire risk maps, some insurance companies are working with private risk management companies such as Verisk to assign risk values by address.
A few steps you can take to help ensure you maintain your existing insurance:
- Bundle insurance with one carrier: By combining auto, home, umbrella / liability and other types of insurance with one company, they may be less likely to cancel your policy as they look to reduce risk in your area.
- File only catastrophic claims: There was a time when it was normal to file insurance claims for even small events, such as leaking hot water heaters and toilets. However insurance companies look at the history of claims when considering whether to continue underwriting a property. Raise your deductible and use your insurance only if you suffer a large loss.
- Maintain A Fire Safe Home and Property: Increasingly, insurance companies are using aerial surveys and sending inspectors to properties to evaluate risk on a home by home basis. They are looking for wood piles next to homes, gutters full of leaves, tree branches hanging over roofs, tall grasses that have not been cut, and other potential sources of ignition. Read my blog article “Marin County Fire Protection” for tips on how to create a defensible space around your home and reduce the risk of fire catastrophe.
- Work With Your Neighbors to Obtain A Firesafe Certification for Your Neighborhood: I was surprised to read that Marin County has one of the highest penetrations of Firesafe certifications in the country. As of this writing, 30 neighborhoods in Marin County have earned that certification, which can lead to lower insurance premiums and higher insurability for the homes that participate. Learn more here.
- Pay Your Premiums On Time: This goes without saying. Insurance companies also look at credit ratings when considering insurability.
Companies Offering Homeowners Insurance in California
According to the California Department of Insurance, there are more than 50 companies currently offering homeowners insurance in California. See the complete list here. As of this writing, Allstate and State Farm are no longer offering new homeowners policies in California. The large companies offering homeowners insurance in Marin County are:
- AAA/CSAA – (800) 207-3618
- American Family – (800) MYAMFAM
- Chubb – (800) 682-4822
- Liberty Mutual – (800) 699-3534
- Mercury – (800) 956-3728
- Nationwide – (877) 669-6877
- USAA (my carrier – they are wonderful) – (800) 531-8111
- Farmers Insurance – (800) 493-4917 (Note: Farmers has a monthly quota for policy issuance in California and often meets the quota early in the month)
- Travelers Insurance – (866) 523-8735
Options If You Have Been Denied Homeowners Insurance in Marin County
The California FAIR Plan (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) is a consortium of insurers who provide bare bones insurance of last resort, once conditions are met. It is costly and likely will not provide the same level of insurance as traditional market-based insurance plans. Check out this article on steps you may want to consider if your current insurance company has declined to renew your policy.
If you feel you have been treated unfairly or have been discriminated against, you may file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance here.
I hope you have found this information helpful. I would encourage you to leave questions & comments in the section below. Marin insurance agents are welcome to do so as well. A well-qualified agent will be able to advise you on your options in finding homeowners insurance here in Marin County.
Additional Resources for Your Reference
About the Author
Thomas Henthorne is consistently top-ranked, award-winning real estate agent in Marin, helping people buy and sell homes for almost a decade. He writes the #1 real estate blog in Marin County and is a frequent speaker on panels at industry gatherings.
He may be reached at 415-847-5584.
I welcome your comments below. What is your experience with homeowners insurance in California? Any advice or anything I missed? Thanks!
I have a place in Inverness Park and can verify what you say. I haven’t been dropped exactly, but have been notified that my current policy will no longer be available. Instead I am offered a new policy (with less coverage) for more than triple the cost. I understand the need of insurance companies to reassess risk in light of the fires, but feel like I’m either caught in the first wild fluctuation of their reassessments or that this company just wants to slough off its California policy holders. Obviously I am seeking a new insurance policy, and with a necessary focus on cost, one mainly to satisfy the mortgage company requirements and with a high deductible. I’d love to bundle my insurance (been with AAA for decades for autos and other homes), but they will not insure because the house does not have, like so many older homes in West Marin, a complete concrete perimeter foundation.
I would appreciate any recommendations.
Hi Frederick, I am sorry I somehow missed this comment as the pandemic was beginning last year. Were you able to find insurance? Any tips for our readers? Thanks much and hope there’s a happy ending to your story.
My friends insurance has been cancelled. She’s devasted and does not know where to turn. She’s a long time owner on Christmas Hill. It appears that insurance companies do not want to cover you in this area. Thank you for the article.
Hi Linda, I am so sorry to hear about your friend. I hope this article may be of some help. As I write this, I have a crew clearing brush and trees in the farthest reaches of my property. I have heard of instances where insurance companies will come out and do a visual inspection and make recommendations for tree/ brush removal to continue offering insurance for that property. Best of luck to your friend. I have sold several homes on Christmas Hill and it is indeed a gorgeous area of Marin.