Your carrier just sent a non-renewal notice. Or your premium jumped 30% at renewal. Or you’re buying a home in the hills and can’t find anyone willing to write the policy.
This is the reality for homeowners in Laguna Hills right now. More than 610,000 California homes are on the FAIR Plan as of 2025, up from 200,000 just five years ago. Carriers are pulling out or pricing people out, and standard policies weren’t built for hillside properties with brush exposure anyway.
You need coverage that accounts for wildfire risk, earth movement, and the fact that your home sits in one of Orange County’s most beautiful—and most exposed—neighborhoods. That means working with an insurance broker who can shop multiple insurance companies at once, not just sell you what one carrier offers. It means understanding what the California FAIR Plan actually covers and where you’ll need to layer additional protection. And it means having someone local who knows what’s happening in Laguna Hills, not a call center in another state.
Shieldly Insurance Agency is an independent insurance broker serving Laguna Hills and Orange County. That means we’re not tied to one insurance company. We work with over 50 top-rated carriers to find you the right coverage at the best rate.
We live and work in this community. We know what’s happening with non-renewals in the hillside neighborhoods. We know which carriers are still writing new policies in 92653 and which ones stopped six months ago. And we know how to structure coverage when standard options fall short.
You’re not getting a sales pitch from us. You’re getting straight answers about what your home actually needs, what it’ll cost, and what your options are when the market feels like it’s working against you.
First, we look at your property. Not just the address, but the actual risk factors: proximity to brush, age of the roof, fire mitigation you’ve done, claims history. This determines which insurance companies will even consider writing the policy.
Then we shop. We’re comparing rates and coverage from multiple carriers at the same time—something you can’t do if you’re calling companies one by one or working with a captive agent who only represents one brand. We’re looking at standard markets first, but we’re also checking surplus lines carriers and specialized programs for homes that don’t fit the usual box.
Once we find the best option, we walk you through what’s covered and what’s not. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for, where the gaps are, and whether you need endorsements for things like water backup or equipment breakdown. If you end up needing the FAIR Plan, we handle that process too and help you layer a difference-in-conditions policy on top for broader protection.
After you’re covered, we’re still here. If you need to file a claim, you’re calling someone local who knows your policy. If the market shifts again next year, we’re already shopping your renewal before you even see the notice.
Ready to get started?
A home insurance policy in Laguna Hills should cover your dwelling, your personal property, liability protection, and additional living expenses if you can’t stay in your home after a covered loss. But the devil’s in the details, especially in hillside areas with wildfire exposure.
Standard homeowners insurance in California often excludes or limits earth movement coverage. If your home shifts during heavy rain, you need a separate earthquake policy or a specific endorsement. Wildfire coverage is included in most policies, but carriers are non-renewing homes in high-risk zones or requiring specific mitigation measures like defensible space and ember-resistant vents.
The California FAIR Plan is the insurer of last resort. It now offers up to $3 million in dwelling coverage, up from $1.5 million. But it only covers fire—nothing else. You’ll need a separate policy for theft, liability, water damage, and everything else a normal policy covers. That’s called a difference-in-conditions policy, and it’s essential if you’re on the FAIR Plan.
Orange County homeowners are paying an average of around $1,200 annually for coverage, but that number means nothing if your home is in a high-risk area or you’ve had recent claims. Rates are climbing roughly 20% across California, with some carriers requesting increases over 30%. The new regulations allow insurance companies to use advanced fire modeling and satellite imagery to price your specific property, not just your ZIP code.
Carriers are non-renewing policies in Laguna Hills and across Orange County because of wildfire exposure and mounting losses. They’re using satellite imagery and advanced modeling to identify homes near vegetation or in wildland interface zones, and they’re deciding the risk isn’t worth it anymore.
It’s not personal, and it doesn’t mean your home is uninsurable. It means that specific carrier doesn’t want the exposure. This is happening to hundreds of thousands of California homeowners—you’re not alone.
Your best move is to work with an independent insurance agent who can shop multiple insurance companies at once. Some carriers are still writing new policies in your area, but you won’t find them by calling the big-name brands directly. We know which companies are still active in 92653 and what they’re looking for.
There’s no one-size-fits-all number. Your rate depends on your home’s age, construction type, roof condition, claims history, coverage limits, deductible, and—most importantly right now—your wildfire risk score.
Orange County averages around $1,200 a year, but hillside homes with brush exposure are paying significantly more. If you’re on the FAIR Plan plus a difference-in-conditions policy, you could be looking at $3,000 to $5,000 or higher depending on your home’s value and location.
Rates are climbing fast. California insurers are raising premiums roughly 20% on average, with some requesting 30% or more. The state is allowing carriers to price in climate risk more accurately, which means your specific property’s exposure matters more than ever. The only way to know what you’ll actually pay is to get quotes from multiple carriers and compare coverage side by side.
The California FAIR Plan is a state-mandated program that provides basic fire coverage when you can’t get insurance from a standard carrier. It’s not ideal, but it’s a safety net when you’ve been non-renewed or denied by everyone else.
The FAIR Plan only covers fire and smoke damage. It doesn’t cover theft, liability, water damage, or anything else a normal homeowners policy includes. You’ll need to buy a separate difference-in-conditions policy to fill those gaps, which adds cost and complexity.
Coverage limits recently increased to $3 million for your dwelling, up from $1.5 million. That helps if you own a higher-value home, but you’re still paying for two policies instead of one. If you’re being pushed onto the FAIR Plan, we’ll help you navigate the application and find the best DIC policy to pair with it. It’s not the outcome anyone wants, but it’s better than going uninsured.
Yes, if you want to be covered for those risks. Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t include earthquake or flood coverage—you need separate policies for both.
Laguna Hills sits in an area with earth movement risk, especially during heavy rain on hillside properties. If your home shifts or sustains damage from ground movement, your standard policy won’t cover it. You’ll need an earthquake policy through the California Earthquake Authority or a private carrier.
Flood insurance comes through the National Flood Insurance Program or private flood carriers. Even if you’re not in a FEMA flood zone, heavy rain and runoff can cause water damage that isn’t covered under a standard policy. We can help you evaluate whether you need this coverage based on your property’s specific location and grading.
Yes, but discounts depend on the carrier and your specific situation. The most common discount is bundling your home and auto insurance with the same company—that can save you 15% to 25% on both policies.
You might also qualify for discounts if you have a newer roof, a monitored security system, fire-resistant materials, or if you’ve completed wildfire mitigation work like creating defensible space. Some carriers offer discounts for being claims-free for a certain number of years.
The catch is that not every insurance company offers the same discounts, and some carriers weight them differently. That’s why shopping multiple companies matters. We compare what you’d actually pay after discounts across all the carriers we work with, so you’re seeing the real bottom line—not just a list price with hypothetical savings.
Don’t wait. You typically have 75 days from the notice date before your coverage ends, and that time goes faster than you think—especially in a tight market.
Start shopping immediately. Contact an independent insurance broker who can check multiple carriers at once instead of calling companies one by one. Some homeowners wait until the last minute and end up with no options except the FAIR Plan, when they might have qualified for standard coverage if they’d started earlier.
Document any wildfire mitigation work you’ve done: defensible space, ember-resistant vents, roof upgrades. Some carriers will reconsider or other companies will give you credit for risk reduction. If you can’t find standard coverage, we’ll help you get set up on the FAIR Plan and pair it with a DIC policy so you’re not going without protection. The key is acting fast and working with someone who knows which doors are still open.
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