If you own a home in Auburn, Grass Valley, Nevada City or anywhere along the Highway 49 and I-80 foothills, you've probably heard "we're not writing in your area" more than once. We are an independent agency, so we are not tied to one insurance company. We place foothill homes every week, 25 to 50 minutes up the hill from our Roseville office.
Why foothill homes are hard to insure
Much of western Placer, Nevada and El Dorado counties sits in Cal Fire's High and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and carriers use parcel-level wildfire models on top of that. They look at slope, vegetation, road access and distance to a fire station. That's why one home gets an offer and the neighbor's doesn't.
What we do instead of the FAIR Plan
- Admitted carriers first. Some admitted carriers still write foothill homes that score well: newer roofs, good defensible space, paved access.
- Non-admitted (surplus lines) carriers next. These write full homeowners-style coverage, including liability, theft and water damage, on homes the admitted market declines. They are not backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association, and we explain that trade-off.
- FAIR Plan + DIC as the last resort. When the FAIR Plan really is the only fire option, we pair it with a difference-in-conditions (DIC) policy so liability, theft and water damage aren't left uncovered.
What helps a foothill home get approved
- A Class A roof, plus its install year
- Ember-resistant (1/8-inch mesh) vents, and enclosed eaves where you can
- Five feet of non-combustible space around the house, with brush cleared to 100 feet where you own it
- Documented updates to electrical, plumbing, heating and the water heater
- A clear driveway that a fire engine can use
Coverage we write in the foothills
- Homeowners on acreage, older homes and wildfire-exposed homes
- FAIR Plan alternatives, and DIC policies when the FAIR Plan has to stay
- Landlord policies, vacation and second homes
- Auto, RV, ATV and umbrella
Frequently asked questions
My Grass Valley home was non-renewed. What are my options?
Send us the non-renewal notice and your current declarations page right away. We check admitted carriers still writing in Nevada County, then non-admitted carriers that write full homeowners coverage, and only then the FAIR Plan with a DIC policy. Starting 45+ days before the renewal date gives you the most choices.
Is a non-admitted homeowners policy safe?
Non-admitted (surplus lines) carriers are legitimate insurers that are allowed to write risks the admitted market won't. The main difference is that they aren't backed by the California Insurance Guarantee Association (CIGA) if the carrier fails, and their forms vary. We compare coverage line by line, not just price.
Does the FAIR Plan cover everything a homeowners policy does?
No. A FAIR Plan dwelling policy covers fire and a short list of other named perils. It has no liability, theft or water-damage coverage, which is why foothill homeowners on the FAIR Plan usually also need a DIC policy.
Do you work with homeowners in Auburn and Placerville?
Yes. We're an independent agency in Roseville and write homes throughout Placer, Nevada and El Dorado counties, including Auburn, Colfax, Meadow Vista, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Penn Valley and Placerville.
Terry Bagwell Insurance Agency · 1100 Melody Lane, Ste 2004, Roseville, CA 95678 · 916-878-5160 · CA DOI License #0D85121. This guide is general information, not a policy or a promise of coverage; read your policy for exact terms.Drive times are approximate.
We're an independent agency in Roseville. We shop multiple top-rated carriers, and we'll tell you straight if what you have is already the best available.