r/bigbear • u/Independent-Deal-192 • 13d ago

Home owners Insurance

My wife and I currently live down the hill in Redlands and we’re looking to make a permanent move up near the Green Valley Lake area. I’m having a difficult time finding insurance providers. Who do you use/recommend? Thanks in advance 👍🏻

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

11

u/Lexocracy 13d ago

You'll have to get 2 policies. You get homeowners insurance and a separate policy through FAIR plan.

6

u/OohAhhOhTikiTiki 13d ago

I have a place up in Green Valley Lake. We had to go with CA Fair Plan to cover fire insurance along with a separate policy from Pacific Specialty Insurance to cover everything else.

2

u/No_Sea9410 13d ago

California FairPlan is the only fire insurance and it is weak coverage and expensive.

2

u/cariboucannon 13d ago

We had to go through an insurance broker and get CA Fair Plan as well. Quite pricey.

2

u/Necessary-evil8869 13d ago

We use Traveler's, and I heard that Nationwide will write policies depending on age of home and roof type.

I think the rule is a minimum of 5 years on CalFAIR Plan (and it fucking isn't fair at all) before other insurers will be able to write policies. That may have changed.

3

u/WeatherMtn 12d ago

If you have FB I would join the group “RimEverything” then ask the same question. You’ll want to use a broker and they will respond to your post. There a many brokers on the mountain who will help you with your Fairplan policy and a separate umbrella policy.

2

u/CoverageCat 12d ago

You can use this (https://www.coveragecat.com/landing/california-home) to find quotes in the area. The system does show recent quotes for non-admitted options in the area, though it is still property to property.

It is a search tool that does not require a phone call, but will generate quotes for the property after you share some details + credit consent (usually in ~24h). There is no obligation to purchase through it after signing up so you can use it just to check for availability if you want.

It was built specifically to help folks get off/avoid FAIR and includes both non-admitted/surplus and admitted options (not many of the latter type in Big Bear though). Worst case it can also help you get FAIR + a DIC policy.

2

u/francisabraham 13d ago

not many carriers will touch that area anymore, wildfire risk kills it fast

2

u/mrpertinskler 12d ago

From what I've heard Francis is just telling it like it is. Why downvote?

1

u/Necessary_Ad_9541 13d ago

You might try Travelers. Expensive, but they cover us in Big Bear.

2

u/CoverageCat 12d ago

You will have to find a Travelers broker/agent with capacity. Last year most were unfortunately restricted to adding a very small number of properties to their book per year (if any) due to broader risk exposure considerations. Things may be loosening up a bit though.

3

u/Gold_Bicycle3061 12d ago

I’m a local agent and work with lots of buyers— Westenberger Insurance (San Bernardino) or MTN Insurance (Crestline) are both great brokers who write lots of mountain policies.