Warning to Western Homeowners - Will Your Insurance Premiums Increase?

According to an AP article Insurers try to cut losses in wildfire hotspots, many who live in areas susceptible to wildfire will see increasing premiums and requirements to make their homes more fire-safe.

"Spooked by devastating wildfire seasons, the nation's top insurers are inspecting homes in high-risk areas throughout the West and threatening to cancel coverage if owners don't clear brush or take other precautions.

The inspections have angered homeowners and watchdog groups that accuse the companies of trying to cut risk at the expense of customers, even while industry profits soar."...

"...The requirements can range from clearing brush to cutting down trees or even installing a fireproof roof.

Insurers and industry groups counter that making people take responsibility for living in the highest-risk fire areas makes good business sense.

"Insurers are in the business of measuring and attempting to put a price on risk," said Candysse Miller, executive director of the nonprofit Insurance Information Network of California. "We are encroaching further and further into hillsides and areas where we should not build, and insurers have to take a look at that...."

"...Yet a survey conducted last year by Allstate Corp. in California's most high-risk communities found that more than three-quarters of homeowners thought it was somewhat or very unlikely that their homes would burn..."

My Opinion:I used to fight forest fires in Oregon. One of my jobs was to issue burn permits to landowners. I only met 1 person who truly understood the risk. He had sprinklers on his roof. He had cut down several beautiful madrone trees and had a fire-line surrounding his property. He was a former fore manager for the California Department of Forestry in Southern California. He knew about wildfire. Was he a little paranoid? Probably. Was he prepared? Definitely.

I find it amazing that we continue to build in areas that traditionally burn and not expect to see fires. If you want to live in a fire zone do so. But take precautions, pay your extra premiums and don't come crying if your home burns down.

Larry Morris is a loan Officer with Equipoint Financial Network in Newberg, Oregon. He specializes in relocations and Sherwood, Oregon neighborhoods and Yamhill COunty. He can be reached at larry.morris@equipoint.com . His website is www.PDX-Mortgage.com . This material is copy protected 2007 by Larry Morris, Mortgage News that Matters. All Rights Reserved His opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Equipoint Financial Network.

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