The Mark Newman-Kuzel Agency

11/03/2026

🏡 THE VIEW MAY BE PRICELESS. THE INSURANCE MAY BE A DIFFERENT STORY.

As Los Angeles Realtors tour properties today, there's an important consideration that deserves attention before a buyer falls in love with a home:

Can the property be insured?

Hillside homes throughout Los Angeles can present unique insurance challenges. Wildfire exposure, surrounding vegetation, steep terrain, limited emergency access, and location can all affect a property's eligibility for homeowners insurance. Additionally, homes built on stilts or elevated foundations may face significant underwriting restrictions and, in some cases, may be deemed uninsurable by traditional insurance carriers.

Some properties may be declined by traditional insurance carriers, while others may require specialty coverage or alternative insurance solutions, including the California FAIR Plan.

A home's location, views, and architectural appeal don't necessarily translate into insurability.

Whether buying or selling, understanding a property's insurance options early in the process can help avoid unexpected complications during escrow and allow everyone to make more informed decisions.

KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY.

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]
www.themnkagency.com

11/02/2026

YOUR HOME IS INSURED. BUT IS THE UNDERWRITING PROCESS FINISHED?

A BOUND INSURANCE POLICY DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S REVIEW IS COMPLETE.

For owners of multimillion-dollar properties, securing insurance coverage is an important milestone. But what many homeowners don't realize is that certain insurance companies conduct additional property inspections and underwriting reviews after a policy has been issued.

These inspections may evaluate roof condition, property maintenance, wildfire exposure, vegetation management, and other characteristics that influence a property's insurability.

Even when an application has been carefully prepared, thoroughly reviewed, and approved by underwriters, a subsequent inspection may identify conditions requiring attention.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable regulations, an insurer may request corrective measures or, in certain situations, issue a notice of cancellation.

THIS IS WHY THOROUGH INSURANCE DUE DILIGENCE MATTERS BEFORE A POLICY IS EVER BOUND.

A comprehensive review of a property's condition, maintenance history, and potential exposures before coverage is placed can help anticipate underwriting concerns and reduce the likelihood of unexpected complications.

However, even the most carefully underwritten property may be subject to additional inspections, recommendations, or requirements after the policy takes effect.

AN INSURANCE POLICY IS MORE THAN A DOCUMENT ISSUED AT CLOSING. UNDERSTANDING THE CONDITIONS THAT KEEP IT IN FORCE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SECURING IT.

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]

10/30/2026

TWO MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES. UNDER SERIOUS SCRUTINY IN 2026.

398 DOCUMENTED REGULATORY VIOLATIONS. THOUSANDS OF WILDFIRE SURVIVORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED. TWO INSURANCE GIANTS UNDER SERIOUS SCRUTINY.

The names are familiar. The findings are troubling.

STATE FARM: A California Department of Insurance examination identified 398 violations of California insurance law, raising serious concerns about claims handling, investigations, delays, and payments to policyholders.

FARMERS INSURANCE: Under formal investigation by Los Angeles County following complaints of delayed and underpaid wildfire claims, denied contamination testing and remediation, and disputes over additional living expenses. These allegations remain under investigation.

These are not obscure insurance companies. They are household names entrusted with protecting millions of Americans.

And that is precisely why these developments deserve attention.

A BIG INSURANCE COMPANY NAME DOESN'T GUARANTEE YOUR CLAIM WILL BE PAID.

Decades of brand recognition mean little if your insurance fails to respond when you need it most.

What matters is the coverage itself: the policy's provisions, exclusions, limitations, and how those terms are interpreted when a loss occurs.

THE TAKEAWAY FOR HOMEOWNERS?

Don't confuse a familiar insurance company with adequate protection. Review your coverage annually, understand what your policy excludes, and ask the difficult questions before you're faced with a claim.

BECAUSE THE TRUE TEST OF INSURANCE ISN'T THE POLICY YOU PURCHASE. IT'S THE PROTECTION YOU ACTUALLY RECEIVE WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.

☎(323) 657-6474
[email protected]

10/29/2026

LOYALTY TO YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS ADMIRABLE. BUT IS IT MUTUAL?

For decades, California homeowners remained loyal to insurance companies they trusted.

Then the market changed.

Farmers restricted new business. State Farm stopped writing new homeowners policies. Allstate stepped away from new homeowners business.

And California homeowners were left navigating an increasingly complicated insurance marketplace.

While some carriers are now reopening their doors, one important question remains:

IS YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY STILL THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR PROPERTY?

For owners of multimillion-dollar homes, insurance deserves more than an automatic renewal.

Significant properties require thoughtful underwriting, careful evaluation of exclusions, and access to specialized insurance markets.

A longstanding relationship with an insurance company does not necessarily mean your coverage remains appropriate for today's risks, replacement costs, or changing underwriting requirements.

YOUR LOYALTY SHOULD NEVER REPLACE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE.

When was the last time your insurance coverage received a comprehensive, independent review?

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]

10/28/2026

INSURED BY THE MARK NEWMAN-KUZEL AGENCY!

Nearly two years after the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires, many insurance carriers remain reluctant to insure homes in this community.

We continue to do so.

Working alongside some of the nation's leading Actuarial and Underwriting teams, we are pleased to continue helping our fellow Angelenos remain Protected, Safe, and Secure with thoughtfully structured insurance coverage.

As California's insurance landscape continues to evolve, so do underwriting requirements, replacement costs, and coverage considerations.

Annual Insurance Policy Reviews remain essential.

When was the last time you reviewed your coverage with your Insurance Advisor?

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]

10/26/2026

A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR COASTAL HOME. AN OCEAN THAT ISN'T INSURED.

Southern California's coastline is confronting another round of potentially record-breaking sea levels, with flooding and erosion threatening some of the region's most valuable coastal properties.

For owners and purchasers of significant oceanfront real estate, the implications extend well beyond the immediate weather forecast.

A substantial homeowners insurance policy does not necessarily insure against coastal destruction.

Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding, storm surge, erosion, and earth movement.

Even separate flood insurance has important limitations, particularly when damage involves land loss, shoreline instability, or undermined foundations.

These distinctions deserve careful consideration during coastal property acquisitions, insurance placement, and annual coverage reviews.

The property's value does not determine whether the cause of loss is insured.

A $10 MILLION HOMEOWNERS POLICY MEANS LITTLE WHEN THE OCEAN CAUSES DAMAGE THE POLICY EXCLUDES.

Are you Protected, Safe, and Secure?

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]

10/24/2026

WHEN THE HILLSIDE MOVES, WILL YOUR INSURANCE RESPOND?

Southern California's recent wildfires and powerful storms have exposed a devastating insurance reality for homeowners in hillside and canyon communities.

YOUR HOME MAY BE INSURED FOR MILLIONS — YET HAVE NO COVERAGE WHEN THE GROUND BENEATH IT GIVES WAY.

Landslides, mudslides, and earth movement can cause catastrophic structural damage or destroy an entire home. Yet these perils are generally EXCLUDED from standard homeowners insurance policies.

WHAT HOMEOWNERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND:

• Landslides & Earth Movement: Generally NOT covered by homeowners insurance.

• Mudflow: Certain qualifying mudflows may be covered by separate flood insurance. Mudslides and landslides generally are NOT.

• Post-Wildfire Exposure: Burned hillsides become especially vulnerable to erosion, debris flows, and slope failures during heavy rainfall.

• Specialty Coverage: Limited insurance solutions may be available through specialized markets, subject to underwriting and policy exclusions.

For owners of significant hillside properties, having a multimillion-dollar homeowners policy does not guarantee protection against these potentially devastating losses.

THE TIME TO DISCOVER YOUR LANDSLIDE DAMAGE IS NOT INSURED IS NOT AFTER YOUR HOME HAS SLID DOWN THE HILLSIDE.

Are you Protected, Safe, and Secure?

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]

10/23/2026

We love our Clients!

There is nothing more meaningful to us than earning the trust of our clients, especially when that trust is tested during life's most difficult moments.

We are incredibly grateful to Harrison for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and generous review.

Harrison and his family entrusted us with insuring their Pacific Palisades home before the devastating wildfire. Knowing that the coverage we carefully put in place helped spare them many of the insurance challenges experienced by other homeowners is deeply gratifying.

More recently, we had the privilege of assisting Harrison with insurance for his Hollywood soundstage, continuing a relationship that we genuinely value.

The greatest reward isn't the policy we place. It's the trust we earn and the relationships we build along the way.

10/22/2026

THE OCEAN IS CLAIMING HOMES. WILL YOUR INSURANCE COVER THE LOSS?

California's coastline is once again demonstrating the destructive power of the ocean.

As reported by the Los Angeles Times on October 21, powerful waves along Long Beach's Alamitos Peninsula are destroying oceanfront properties, damaging the historic boardwalk, and threatening foundations that have stood for decades.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-10-21/waves-are-destroying-long-beachs-peninsula-its-about-to-get-worse

For California homeowners, these events raise a serious insurance question:

Will your homeowners insurance respond when the ocean causes the damage?

In many circumstances, the answer is NO.

Standard homeowners insurance generally excludes coastal flooding, storm surge, erosion, and certain forms of wave-related damage and earth movement. Even separate flood insurance policies have important limitations and exclusions.

A multimillion-dollar homeowners policy does not necessarily mean a multimillion-dollar coastal loss will be covered.

Understanding the distinction between insured property values and insured causes of loss is essential, particularly for coastal homeowners.

An Annual Insurance Policy Review should include a careful examination of exclusions, coverage limitations, and potential gaps in protection.

The time to understand what your insurance does not cover is BEFORE the damage occurs.

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]

Long Beach's breakwater protects the shore from waves from the west, but allows waves from the south to hit a narrow stretch of the peninsula that's been badly damaged this year.

10/21/2026

INSURED BY THE MARK NEWMAN-KUZEL AGENCY!

Nestled in the heart of Laurel Canyon, this charming cottage and its enchanting gardens offer a peaceful retreat in one of Los Angeles’ most distinctive hillside communities.

Despite the property's elevated wildfire risk, we successfully secured comprehensive, high-quality insurance coverage without the need for a California FAIR Plan policy.

Through collaboration with some of the nation’s leading underwriting and actuarial teams, we identified an insurance solution tailored to the property's unique characteristics and exposures.

In California’s continually evolving insurance marketplace, securing the right coverage is only the beginning.

Annual Policy Reviews remain essential to ensuring that coverage keeps pace with changing property values, reconstruction costs, underwriting requirements, and evolving risks.

A property's location may present challenges. The right insurance expertise can make all the difference.

☎ (323) 657-6474
[email protected]