Homeowners insurance in Lake Elsinore, CA

A lake town between the water and the mountains

Lake Elsinore sits on the largest natural freshwater lake in Southern California, with the Santa Ana Mountains rising right behind it. That's a great place to live and a tricky place to insure, because the same house can face water from one side and fire from the other. I'm Javier Calvo, and my agency is down the road in Murrieta. Here's how I think about homes around the lake.

The hills behind town and wildfire

In 2018 the Holy Fire burned through the Cleveland National Forest above the city and forced evacuations in neighborhoods along the foothills. If your home is up toward the Ortega Highway or backs onto brush, expect carriers to look closely at it, and don't be surprised by a non-renewal letter. Calvo Insurance Agency is a Farmers agency, so I'll tell you directly whether Farmers will take your home. When the answer is no, the California FAIR Plan covers fire and a separate difference in conditions policy picks up the rest.

Hardening the house helps more than people expect. California requires insurers to recognize things like a Class A roof, ember-resistant vents and a cleared zone right around the home. If you've done that work, keep the receipts and photos.

When the lake comes up

People who've been here a while remember 1980, when heavy rains filled the lake far past its normal level and flooded homes along the shore. Flooding is never covered by a homeowners policy, so a lakefront or low-lying home needs a separate flood policy. Check your address on FEMA's flood map and plan ahead, since a National Flood Insurance Program policy usually takes 30 days to start.

There's also a link between the two risks. After a fire, rain on the burn scar can send mud and debris down the canyons. A homeowners policy excludes earth movement, but mudflow is something a flood policy can cover. If you live below the hills, that's a good reason to price flood even if you're nowhere near the water.

Docks, boats and short-term rentals

If you have a dock, it usually falls under the other structures part of your policy, so make sure that limit is big enough. Boats are a different story. A homeowners policy gives very little coverage for a boat and almost no liability for anything with a real motor, so a boat on the lake should have its own policy.

A lot of lake homes get rented out on weekends. A standard homeowners policy isn't built for paying guests, and some exclude it entirely. If you rent your place out, even a few times a year, tell me so we can set it up the right way before something happens.

The Elsinore fault and earthquake coverage

The city shares its name with the Elsinore fault, which runs along the valley. Homeowners policies don't cover earthquake damage, and the California Earthquake Authority sells separate policies with deductibles from 5% to 25% of your dwelling coverage. It's a judgment call. I'm glad to run the numbers either way.

My homeowners insurance guide explains the basic coverages. If you're also shopping for car insurance, I can quote home and auto together. Neighbors in Canyon Lake and Wildomar deal with a lot of the same issues.

Call (951) 383-3000 or stop by 26690 Madison Ave, Ste 105, Murrieta, CA 92562. I'll review what you have now for free, in English or Spanish.