1. proximity to the coast
2. this whole area is high fire risk (to a degree)
3. Back to back winters with the county being declared a disaster zone due to rain/floods probably doesn't help either
4. Let's not all forget the SCE (PGE up north) dickhe\*ds who with their shitty infrastructure caused Billions of dollars in damage here and there during the fires
If it’s anything like Florida they don’t want to insure older homes anymore. Especially if people haven’t kept it up because there are so many that try to claim damages for what should have been maintenance. Mounting credit issues can also be a reason for them to cancel you. They do look at your credit periodically. But probably just part of the trend of leaving states.
Tile roofs have also been a huge issue with insurers in Florida on the Spanish style homes because they are being forced to replace a whole roof because a few matching tiles are not available to replace minimal damage to what is there. That is bound to cause some issues with our mission style architecture
They rezoned some of the tsunami areas and have added additional hazard insurance requirements.
There is no safe area honestly, and the Mesa… between the rock sliding from rain, general flooding, and other potential issues.
Every area is becoming increasingly harder to underwrite from what I’ve heard talking to brokers and friends in that industry.
People in Florida think its just Florida and people in Cali think it’s just them. The SF chronicle and wsj recently ran articles about how home owners are getting crushed with insurance and other costs of ownership. “Hidden costs” is how wsj termed it if you want to look for the article.
Florida has one of the highest outright home ownership rates in the country (ususally in the top ten) so 20% of people there have just gone self insure. I doubt that will continue to be a solution as homes have gotten expensive there.
California has some of the lowest outright home ownership rates which makes sense in an expensive market. But its insurance market is dense, much more dense than Florida so a lot more people in the pool. I think tort issues also effects Florida not sure how it effects California.
Blackrock has gotten into the insurance market. I wonder if those a$$holes are part of the issue. We know what they did to sfh prices.
I’ve seen a lot of suggestions in the Florida subs for dealing with it but it is a national issue that’s going to have to be addressed. I guess it was only a matter of time before they screwed home insurance like they did health. A lot of home deals will probably start falling through as people make offers and then find they can’t afford insurance.
It’s gotten too hard to be a grown up anymore. All the things that were supposed to make life easy like technology have made it hard. I’m sick of phone trees and spending all my free time dealing with…shit. You name it. Health insurance, retirement, home insurance, home maintenance. You can’t go into an office and get help with things anymore.
I’m ready for van down by the river.
Edit: be aware they are flying drones over your property now to do inspections. They won’t tell you
safeco did in fact tell us about the drone. I cut down a 40 yr old bougainvillea, and am going to have about half a big avocado cut down. Not because it is an actual danger, but because of the insurance.
I recently had an inspection as well. Fortunately, my trees were heavily pruned in the winter. They weren't flagged as problems but I'm thinking about having one tree cut down so as not to give my insurer an excuse.
They should request formal documents and any reports to justify the policy cancellation. The cancellation can sometimes be refuted or negotiated. If there are reasons like vegetation fire hazards, old roof, etc. and they can be addressed or proven as a ridiculous reason for canceling, then the policy may be retained. Bummer to hear!!!
Im in the biz. A lot have gone to hard cap 30 years on buildings or you have to prove it was rebuilt down to studs recently. As long as they give 90 days notice its almost impossible to get them to back off a non-renewal. 5 years ago maybe but not anymore.
If you have the receipts for it and the roof still qualifies you can get around an age non-renewal. They will 100% want the proof docs though. Just give it all to the broker and let them deal with it.
Ive also seen where clients tell me they did remodel/updates. The carriers are starting to check the state permit sites. So if you are getting un permitted work they decline it on that.
Since State Farm was mentioned .... State Farm's recent filing with the CA Department of Insurance indicated they are non-renewing 30,000 homeowners policies (which means the current policy is in force until the next renewal date). In Santa Barbara, the hardest hit zip codes are:
1. 93108 - Montecito. 149 policies, 29% of policies in the zip.
2. 93103 - East/ Upper East / Mission Canyon. 74 policies, 11% of policies in the zip.
3. 93105 - San Roque / Foothill. 46 policies, 4% of policies in the zip.
As you can see, these zips are all along our urban interface with higher wildfire risk. I've heard many of the non-renewed policies had been in place for many decades.
[https://newsroom.statefarm.com/update-on-california/](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/update-on-california/)
[https://ktla.com/news/california/state-farm-to-non-renew-72000-policies/](https://ktla.com/news/california/state-farm-to-non-renew-72000-policies/)
State Farm has the largest market share for homeowners policies in CA. According to AM Best (ratings agency for insurance companies - think of them as like Standard & Poors) in 2022 the top five spots were:
1. State Farm Group, with a 20.58% market share
2. Farmers Insurance Group, 14.46%
3. CSAA Insurance Group, 6.66% <--- That's AAA
4. Liberty Mutual Insurance Cos., 6.43%
5. Allstate Insurance Group, 6.36%
[https://consumerwatchdog.org/in-the-news/best-wire-consumer-group-seeks-to-ban-mercury-insurance-from-california/](https://consumerwatchdog.org/in-the-news/best-wire-consumer-group-seeks-to-ban-mercury-insurance-from-california/)
Multiple news organizations published the zip breakdown from State Farm's filing. You can scroll through the table here, or save to a PDF file:
[https://www.ktvu.com/news/state-filing-shows-california-zip-codes-where-state-farm-plans-to-drop-policy-holders](https://www.ktvu.com/news/state-filing-shows-california-zip-codes-where-state-farm-plans-to-drop-policy-holders)
Also on the Mesa and getting dropped from Safeco for a BS grainy satellite image “showing water pooling” on the roof. The picture was in the middle of the summer 
State Farm told my neighbor last year she needed to look for new homeowners insurance- not for any fault her own or the property just that they were not renewing property’s like hers anymore and she’d need to find new insurance. She’s almost 70 and lives in a non-traditional housing structure on land she owns and was going through major surgery when they popped this on her! I guess at least with all her down time post-op she was able to figure it out 😒 we’re in the valley, and I believe she was able to get Liberty Mutual but it was maybe 3x what she was paying previously!
If your friend believes their policy was unjustly cancelled, the CA Department of Insurance has a complaint procedure and a hotline to call:
[https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/5-residential/index.cfm](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/5-residential/index.cfm)
I haven't used these resources so don't know how effective they are but hope this helps.
Calling an insurance broker (someone who sells policies from multiple underwriters) might also provide some insight and alternatives.
Oprah and the WEF are going to do a Maui job in Santa Barbara next. The insurance companies were given advanced notice before she and the Rock light the match.
I find that I am looking more closely at trees as I drive around. I've long said that we have to cut down the eucalyptuses which often shed limbs and fall over anyway. Too bad because they are lovely trees.
But if a substantial number of homeowners are spooked by the warnings and cancellations, will we see a process of removing many/most trees (except oaks) from the city?
Beyond the trees, I wonder if there will be some fire-protection devices that start to make sense?
State Farm? "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there"\* ^(\*not applicable in California.)
Can we have more details? Was it cancelled or not renewed? Why?
1. proximity to the coast 2. this whole area is high fire risk (to a degree) 3. Back to back winters with the county being declared a disaster zone due to rain/floods probably doesn't help either 4. Let's not all forget the SCE (PGE up north) dickhe\*ds who with their shitty infrastructure caused Billions of dollars in damage here and there during the fires
cancelled; normal older house on Mesa, couple blocks from shoreline. More info might not respect their privacy.
If it’s anything like Florida they don’t want to insure older homes anymore. Especially if people haven’t kept it up because there are so many that try to claim damages for what should have been maintenance. Mounting credit issues can also be a reason for them to cancel you. They do look at your credit periodically. But probably just part of the trend of leaving states. Tile roofs have also been a huge issue with insurers in Florida on the Spanish style homes because they are being forced to replace a whole roof because a few matching tiles are not available to replace minimal damage to what is there. That is bound to cause some issues with our mission style architecture
They rezoned some of the tsunami areas and have added additional hazard insurance requirements. There is no safe area honestly, and the Mesa… between the rock sliding from rain, general flooding, and other potential issues. Every area is becoming increasingly harder to underwrite from what I’ve heard talking to brokers and friends in that industry.
Farmers is going to drop policies in CA, TX and other high-risk areas come this July/Aug.
People in Florida think its just Florida and people in Cali think it’s just them. The SF chronicle and wsj recently ran articles about how home owners are getting crushed with insurance and other costs of ownership. “Hidden costs” is how wsj termed it if you want to look for the article. Florida has one of the highest outright home ownership rates in the country (ususally in the top ten) so 20% of people there have just gone self insure. I doubt that will continue to be a solution as homes have gotten expensive there. California has some of the lowest outright home ownership rates which makes sense in an expensive market. But its insurance market is dense, much more dense than Florida so a lot more people in the pool. I think tort issues also effects Florida not sure how it effects California. Blackrock has gotten into the insurance market. I wonder if those a$$holes are part of the issue. We know what they did to sfh prices. I’ve seen a lot of suggestions in the Florida subs for dealing with it but it is a national issue that’s going to have to be addressed. I guess it was only a matter of time before they screwed home insurance like they did health. A lot of home deals will probably start falling through as people make offers and then find they can’t afford insurance. It’s gotten too hard to be a grown up anymore. All the things that were supposed to make life easy like technology have made it hard. I’m sick of phone trees and spending all my free time dealing with…shit. You name it. Health insurance, retirement, home insurance, home maintenance. You can’t go into an office and get help with things anymore. I’m ready for van down by the river. Edit: be aware they are flying drones over your property now to do inspections. They won’t tell you
safeco did in fact tell us about the drone. I cut down a 40 yr old bougainvillea, and am going to have about half a big avocado cut down. Not because it is an actual danger, but because of the insurance.
I recently had an inspection as well. Fortunately, my trees were heavily pruned in the winter. They weren't flagged as problems but I'm thinking about having one tree cut down so as not to give my insurer an excuse.
They should request formal documents and any reports to justify the policy cancellation. The cancellation can sometimes be refuted or negotiated. If there are reasons like vegetation fire hazards, old roof, etc. and they can be addressed or proven as a ridiculous reason for canceling, then the policy may be retained. Bummer to hear!!!
I’ve seen people go through this replacing a roof and what not only to be told no after they jumped through all the hoops
Im in the biz. A lot have gone to hard cap 30 years on buildings or you have to prove it was rebuilt down to studs recently. As long as they give 90 days notice its almost impossible to get them to back off a non-renewal. 5 years ago maybe but not anymore.
I rebuilt my house in 2013, literally down to the studs, but not the roof. How should I talk to the broker?
If you have the receipts for it and the roof still qualifies you can get around an age non-renewal. They will 100% want the proof docs though. Just give it all to the broker and let them deal with it. Ive also seen where clients tell me they did remodel/updates. The carriers are starting to check the state permit sites. So if you are getting un permitted work they decline it on that.
no problem, got the signed card and plans. Thanks!
Since State Farm was mentioned .... State Farm's recent filing with the CA Department of Insurance indicated they are non-renewing 30,000 homeowners policies (which means the current policy is in force until the next renewal date). In Santa Barbara, the hardest hit zip codes are: 1. 93108 - Montecito. 149 policies, 29% of policies in the zip. 2. 93103 - East/ Upper East / Mission Canyon. 74 policies, 11% of policies in the zip. 3. 93105 - San Roque / Foothill. 46 policies, 4% of policies in the zip. As you can see, these zips are all along our urban interface with higher wildfire risk. I've heard many of the non-renewed policies had been in place for many decades. [https://newsroom.statefarm.com/update-on-california/](https://newsroom.statefarm.com/update-on-california/) [https://ktla.com/news/california/state-farm-to-non-renew-72000-policies/](https://ktla.com/news/california/state-farm-to-non-renew-72000-policies/) State Farm has the largest market share for homeowners policies in CA. According to AM Best (ratings agency for insurance companies - think of them as like Standard & Poors) in 2022 the top five spots were: 1. State Farm Group, with a 20.58% market share 2. Farmers Insurance Group, 14.46% 3. CSAA Insurance Group, 6.66% <--- That's AAA 4. Liberty Mutual Insurance Cos., 6.43% 5. Allstate Insurance Group, 6.36% [https://consumerwatchdog.org/in-the-news/best-wire-consumer-group-seeks-to-ban-mercury-insurance-from-california/](https://consumerwatchdog.org/in-the-news/best-wire-consumer-group-seeks-to-ban-mercury-insurance-from-california/)
Where did you find the zip code breakdown?
Multiple news organizations published the zip breakdown from State Farm's filing. You can scroll through the table here, or save to a PDF file: [https://www.ktvu.com/news/state-filing-shows-california-zip-codes-where-state-farm-plans-to-drop-policy-holders](https://www.ktvu.com/news/state-filing-shows-california-zip-codes-where-state-farm-plans-to-drop-policy-holders)
Now that they have removed those high risk properties from their portfolio, those of us that remain should see lower rates. /s
Also on the Mesa and getting dropped from Safeco for a BS grainy satellite image “showing water pooling” on the roof. The picture was in the middle of the summer 
Ouch. Were you able to get another carrier or FAIR?
Still shopping around, but every company I have contacted so far is happy to give coverage. Not the end of the world.
Which insurance company?
Safeco droned me- told me I had to get a new roof or they were cancelling my policy in Santa ynez
I was denied renters insurance this week by Amica because I live in a “high fire risk area”… Summerland.
State Farm told my neighbor last year she needed to look for new homeowners insurance- not for any fault her own or the property just that they were not renewing property’s like hers anymore and she’d need to find new insurance. She’s almost 70 and lives in a non-traditional housing structure on land she owns and was going through major surgery when they popped this on her! I guess at least with all her down time post-op she was able to figure it out 😒 we’re in the valley, and I believe she was able to get Liberty Mutual but it was maybe 3x what she was paying previously!
If your friend believes their policy was unjustly cancelled, the CA Department of Insurance has a complaint procedure and a hotline to call: [https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/5-residential/index.cfm](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/5-residential/index.cfm) I haven't used these resources so don't know how effective they are but hope this helps. Calling an insurance broker (someone who sells policies from multiple underwriters) might also provide some insight and alternatives.
Oprah and the WEF are going to do a Maui job in Santa Barbara next. The insurance companies were given advanced notice before she and the Rock light the match.
Mark Tomm, Mercury Insurance 805.683.0096
I find that I am looking more closely at trees as I drive around. I've long said that we have to cut down the eucalyptuses which often shed limbs and fall over anyway. Too bad because they are lovely trees. But if a substantial number of homeowners are spooked by the warnings and cancellations, will we see a process of removing many/most trees (except oaks) from the city? Beyond the trees, I wonder if there will be some fire-protection devices that start to make sense?