Do I need earthquake insurance in the Inland Empire?

Standard homeowners insurance does not cover earthquake damage in California, so protection must be bought separately, usually through the California Earthquake Authority, or CEA, which you access through one of its participating insurers. That matters in the Inland Empire, one of the higher-risk areas in the state: the San Andreas, San Jacinto, and Cucamonga fault systems all run through or near the region, and the San Jacinto fault cuts through San Bernardino and Riverside counties near densely populated areas. Even so, only about one in ten California households carries earthquake coverage. CEA premiums depend on your home's value, age, and construction, its distance from faults, and the deductible you choose, which is a percentage of your dwelling coverage, typically 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 percent. Most homeowners pay somewhere in the range of $800 to $5,000 or more a year, and a higher deductible lowers the premium but raises your out-of-pocket cost after a quake. A lender will not require earthquake insurance to close a loan, but it is worth weighing against the repair bill you would otherwise carry alone, especially for older, unretrofitted homes. Julian Cesar can connect you with local insurance brokers who quote CEA policies for a specific home, so you can price the decision before you write an offer.