05/26/2026
It feels like almost everyone in California housing conversations is talking about insurance right now ๐ก
And honestly, for a lot of homeowners, this is a very real affordability concern.
The California FAIR Plan, which serves as the stateโs insurer of last resort for homeowners unable to obtain traditional coverage, is set to increase rates by an average of about 29% beginning October 15, 2026.
The increase comes as more homeowners across California have been pushed onto the FAIR Plan after private insurers limited coverage or stopped writing policies in some higher wildfire-risk areas. FAIR Plan enrollment has grown significantly in recent years as the broader insurance market has become more unstable.
And while nobody can predict exactly what happens long term, many experts do expect insurance costs across California to continue facing upward pressure because of:
โข wildfire risk
โข rebuilding costs
โข climate-related losses
โข and ongoing insurance market instability
This is part of why housing conversations have become so much more layered lately.
Real estate is no longer just about purchase price or interest rates. Insurance availability and long-term ownership costs are increasingly becoming major parts of the affordability conversation too.
Two homes with similar prices can end up having dramatically different monthly ownership costs once insurance enters the equation.
Definitely curious if other people have noticed insurance becoming a much bigger conversation lately ๐