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Solutions for Fall Agribusiness risks
Fall Festivals, Trail Riding, & Crop Spraying: Solutions for complex risks With fall in full swing, your agribusiness accounts are handling everything from…
Key Takeaways:
When standard markets shift or “last resort” programs change their terms, the effects reach you. High value clients start asking questions, their agents start looking for answers, and that’s when you start getting the calls.
Right now, we’re seeing major rate hikes in California following the FAIR Plan’s rate increase October 15, and starting January 1, 2027, Florida’s Citizens will require flood coverage for most new and renewal wind-coverage policies. This guide walks you through what’s changing, what to tell your agents, and how Kinsale can structure the account.
What’s changing
Important Talking Points
Which structure fits which client?
How a Deductible Buyback works
How a Per Occurrence Limit works
Why Kinsale
Appetite and capacity at a glance
What we need to send you a quote
Explore the Potential and find the solutions with Kinsale
FAQs
The California Department of Insurance approved an overall 29.1% average rate increase for the FAIR Plan, effective for new and renewal policies on October 15.
Not every policyholder sees the same change. The FAIR Plan has said the largest component is the wildfire portion of the premium, so homes at significant wildfire risk see higher increases than lower-risk homes. And because the new rate applies at renewal, the conversations will continue for months, not just weeks.
Florida’s strict, multi-year flood mandate reaches its final phase. Previously, only policyholders with higher-value homes were required to carry flood coverage. On January 1, 2027, the home-value threshold drops to zero. This means all new and renewing Citizens personal residential policyholders with wind coverage must secure separate flood insurance to keep their policy—regardless of whether they live in a designated flood zone.
For homeowners who assumed basic property coverage was enough, it represents an immediate new cost and regulatory hurdle.
If your client is on the FAIR Plan and the new rate doesn’t work, or the coverage was never enough, Kinsale can consider primary coverage up to $5M, or a DIC policy that wraps the FAIR Plan and fills the gaps. If the accounts carries a large wildfire deductible on their primary policy, a Deductible Buyback can reduce what the homeowner pays out of pocket without replacing the primary.
If your client’s Citizens policy comes with a flood requirement, Kinsale provides an alternative. Kinsale offers homeowners insurance with wind coverage and no flood coverage requirement. Flood is still a separate decision since lenders and flood-zone rules may call for it, so it’s worth talking through the exposure with the client.
Kinsale is committed to finding solutions. Our first quote is just the start. If it isn’t quite right, we’ll keep working with you to find the right fit.
if their client… |
Kinsale can consider… |
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Is on the FAIR Plan and needs more than basic DP1 protection |
A DIC policy to fill gaps left by the underlying program |
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Carries an oversized wildfire or named storm deductible |
A Deductible Buyback: a standalone monoline policy that eases the CAT deductible without replacing the primary |
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Only needs the peril that’s hard to place |
Wildfire-only or Wind-only primary coverage |
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Needs one clean structure for the whole home, or was just non-renewed |
A Per Occurrence Limit up to $5M primary, with one attachment point for excess |
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A home with a dwelling value of $500,000+, including unique properties like historic homes, hobby farms, mountain or waterfront homes, etc. |
Our proprietary HO3-style primary form, ground-up or primary |
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Is tenant-occupied, seasonal/vacant, or used as a short-term rental |
Kinsale can consider these dwellings |
Deductibles Buybacks are monoline policies that ease oversized CAT deductibles without replacing the primary policy. Here’s how they work:
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If a primary policy carries a $25,000 AOP deductible and a $500,000 Wildfire deductible, it won’t respond to a wildfire loss until the loss exceeds $500,000. However, Kinsale can issue a Wildfire-only Deductible Buyback policy that attaches at $25,000 with a $475,000 limit and covers the $25,000–$500,000 layer. So, on a $1,000,000 wildfire loss: |
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Insured Retention |
Buyback Policy |
Primary Policy |
And here’s how we’ve used Per Occurrence Limits to help homeowners:
A broker brought us a high value home that had been non-renewed after a $600,000 loss. The request was $12M Dwelling, $1.2M Other Structures, and $5M Personal Property.
Kinsale offered $5M in primary limits across all three coverages under one combined cap. The homeowner got clarity on total protection, and the broker got a single attachment point for excess.
Kinsale’s High Value Homeowners Division is built for homes that carry complexity and may not fit in the standard market: mansions, ranches, historic homes, gentleman’s farms, and mountain and waterfront properties with dwelling values of $500K or more. We offer primary limits up to $5M and unsupported excess to $10M, with DIC, Deductible Buyback, single-peril, and Per Occurrence structures to fit the risk.
Programs reprice and mandates change—but Kinsale remains consistent. Our steady appetite and flexible terms make us the carrier you can count on.
Item |
Detail |
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Target classes |
Single-family gentleman’s farms and hobby farms, historic homes, mansions, mountain homes, ranches, and waterfront homes |
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Dwelling value |
$500K or more |
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Primary limit |
Up to $5M |
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Excess limit |
Up to $10M, unsupported only |
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Policy form |
Proprietary form similar to HO3, on a primary or ground-up basis. Follow-form excess is available on an unsupported basis and can sit in excess of sublimits on the primary coverage |
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Primary territory |
29 states and DC: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, KY, LA, MA, MS, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY |
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Excess territory |
All 50 states |
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Not eligible |
Multi-property schedules |
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Builders risk |
Homes under construction go to our Inland Marine Division. Once the home is complete, it can move to High Value Homeowners |
Send submissions to hv@kinsaleins.com
When a market of last resort changes the rules, you shouldn’t have to wonder where to turn. Send us your high value homes—and we’ll help you find the solution.
Request a High Value Homeowners Quote
Can a high value home move from the FAIR Plan or Citizens to Kinsale?
Kinsale’s High Value Homeowners Division can consider homes with dwelling values of $500K or more, with primary limits to $5M and excess to $10M, subject to underwriting and eligibility in the state.
Kinsale writes surplus lines coverage, and surplus lines placement requirements vary by state, so confirm them before placing the risk.
What is a DIC policy for a FAIR Plan home?
A difference in conditions (DIC) policy covers perils or limits that an underlying policy leaves out. For a FAIR Plan home, a DIC policy can wrap the FAIR Plan and fill gaps in the underlying coverage. Kinsale can consider DIC for qualifying high value homes.
What is a Wildfire Deductible Buyback?
A Deductible Buyback is a standalone monoline policy that reduces what a homeowner pays out of pocket on a large CAT deductible, without replacing the primary policy. For example, a $475,000 buyback attached at $25,000 can reduce the insured’s share of a wildfire loss from $500,000 to $25,000.
Where is Kinsale’s primary High Value Homeowners coverage available?
Primary coverage is available in 29 states and DC, including California and Florida. Excess coverage is available in all 50 states.
How do I request a revised quote?
Let us know. The first quote is just the start, and we’ll work with you.
Who do I talk to?
Shea Hopkins, Division Manager, High Value Homeowners:
(804) 289-1359
shea.hopkins@kinsaleins.com
Coverage is subject to underwriting review and approval; availability, terms, and eligibility vary by state, and binding restrictions may apply in certain states. Information about the California FAIR Plan and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation comes from public sources and may change.
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