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1020 S Santa Fe Ave, Suite K
Vista, CA 92084

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State Farm Shuts Down Property In California: Navigating the Changing Landscape of California’s Insurance Marketplace

If you have your finger on the pulse of the insurance marketplace in California it would be flat lining. On Friday the industry received another heavy blow sending it into cardiac arrest.

Effective May 27, 2023, State Farm General Insurance Company®, the provider of homeowners insurance in California, announced that it will no longer accept new applications for property and casualty insurance. This will have an impact on a significant number of pending and future real estate transactions.

This decision was driven by a multitude of factors, including skyrocketing construction costs and inflation, growing catastrophic exposure, and a challenging regulatory and reinsurance market.

However, there is a glimmer of hope and a solution to help individuals and real estate professionals navigate this challenging market, myIQuotes powered by Alta Vista Insurance!

The Importance of Taking Action

The sudden halt in State Farm’s offerings requires immediate action for any real estate professional. To avoid any potential complications, it is crucial to take proactive steps. Here are a few essential tips to keep in mind:

  • Contact Buyers in Escrow: Reach out to all buyers currently in escrow and ensure that they have selected their hazard or homeowners insurance. It’s important to confirm that they are aware of the changes and ready to explore alternative insurance options.
  • Seek Alternative Coverage: If any buyer intended to use State Farm for their hazard or homeowners coverage, they will now need to select another insurance company promptly. Time is of the essence, and ensuring seamless insurance coverage is vital to keep the real estate purchase on track.
  • Act Swiftly on Insurance Contingency: If the insurance contingency has been lifted, the sudden absence of State Farm as an option can significantly impact the closing process. Moving quickly to secure replacement coverage is crucial. However, be aware that it may take longer and cost more than anticipated, so acting promptly is essential.

To help minimize the disruption that this is causing, we recommend myIQuotes, powered by Alta Vista
Insurance. Unlike direct insurance providers, they have access to a wide range of insurance carriers
currently offering property insurance throughout California.

myIQuotes has a deep understanding of property insurance in high fire areas and can efficiently navigate
through the challenges to secure coverage for your clients’ new homes. They have extensive experience
working with real estate agents, and we understand the time-sensitive nature of closing escrow. The
MYIQuotes team is well-versed in the insurance requirements for new home purchases, ensuring a
simple and efficient experience.

If you’re currently facing the dilemma of finding alternative insurance coverage due to State Farm’s exit from the California market, it’s time to take action. Reach out to myIQuotes and let their experienced team guide you through this insurance market. By partnering with myIQuotes, you can mitigate the disruption caused by State Farm’s departure, ensuring smooth and timely closings for your real estate transactions.

Contact the myIQuotes team!

Phone 800-741-1500

Seth Arruda seth@myiquotes.com P 858-522-0476

Jimmi Lewis jimmi@myiquotes.com P 805-559-7133

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State Farm Shuts Down Property In California: Navigating the Changing Landscape of California’s Insurance Marketplace

If you have your finger on the pulse of the insurance marketplace in California it would be flat lining. On Friday the industry received another heavy blow sending it into cardiac arrest.

Effective May 27, 2023, State Farm General Insurance Company®, the provider of homeowners insurance in California, announced that it will no longer accept new applications for property and casualty insurance. This will have an impact on a significant number of pending and future real estate transactions.

This decision was driven by a multitude of factors, including skyrocketing construction costs and inflation, growing catastrophic exposure, and a challenging regulatory and reinsurance market.

However, there is a glimmer of hope and a solution to help individuals and real estate professionals navigate this challenging market. A great way to prevent any difficulty finding your client’s insurance for their real estate purchase is to partner with an independent agency.

The Importance of Taking Action

The sudden halt in State Farm’s offerings requires immediate action for any real estate professional. To avoid any potential complications, it is crucial to take proactive steps. Here are a few essential tips to keep in mind:

  • Contact Buyers in Escrow: Reach out to all buyers currently in escrow and ensure that they have selected their hazard or homeowners insurance. It’s important to confirm that they are aware of the changes and ready to explore alternative insurance options.
  • Seek Alternative Coverage: If any buyer intended to use State Farm for their hazard or homeowners coverage, they will now need to select another insurance company promptly. Time is of the essence, and ensuring seamless insurance coverage is vital to keep the real estate purchase on track.
  • Act Swiftly on Insurance Contingency: If the insurance contingency has been lifted, the sudden absence of State Farm as an option can significantly impact the closing process. Moving quickly to secure replacement coverage is crucial. However, be aware that it may take longer and cost more than anticipated, so acting promptly is essential.

Amidst the current disruptions in the insurance marketplace, there is a reliable partner that can help both individuals and real estate professionals overcome these challenges. Alta Vista Insurance is dedicated to assisting clients in finding the proper protection for their real estate purchases. Unlike direct insurance providers, Alta Vista Insurance has access to a wide range of insurance carriers currently offering property insurance throughout California. This breadth of options ensures that clients can obtain coverage tailored to their specific needs, even in the wake of State Farm’s withdrawal.

If you’re currently facing the dilemma of finding alternative insurance coverage due to State Farm’s exit from the California market, it’s time to take action. Reach out to Alta Vista Insurance and let their experienced professionals guide you through this insurance market. By partnering with Alta Vista Insurance, you can mitigate the disruption caused by State Farm’s departure, ensuring smooth and timely closings for your real estate transactions.

Contact one of our agents at 888-724-2124 or email quotes@aviains.com

The insurance marketplace in California is undergoing significant changes, and State Farm’s recent decision to cease accepting new applications has sent shockwaves throughout the industry. However, by staying proactive and seeking reliable alternatives, such as working with Alta Vista Insurance, you can successfully navigate these challenging circumstances. Don’t let disruptions hinder your real estate transactions. Take action today and secure the proper protection you need with the help of Alta Vista Insurance.

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Happy Holidays To The Boys and Girls Club of Vista

All the gifts provided by our wonderful staff before we pack them in Santa’s sleigh. (Santa drives a Subaru Outback in this story)

The holidays are here! As Christmas approaches and the hustle and bustle of the year comes to a close, we reflect on the many things we’re thankful for and take some time to be with our family and friends. For some of us the true meaning of the holidays is not the gifts we “receive” but the gift of “giving” that leaves us with a warm feeling in our hearts like a batch of cookies right from the oven.

Every year at this time our agency participates in the “Adopt a Family” program with the Boys and Girls Club of Vista, a local charity right in our community that we’ve been working with since 2017. Each year we are assigned a family that are members of the Boys and Girls Club who are in need of support around the holidays. We get a wish list of presents for each child and some items and gift certificates for the parents to make their holiday season a little brighter.

This year we have a large family that we were paired up with and all of our staff stepped up and went above and beyond! Clothes, toys, games, puzzles, gift cards, are just of the few items the kids requested on their lists and our team at Alta Vista Insurance went out and picked up all the items and much more. The presents, gifts, and gift cards were stacked in Santa’s sack tightly, we almost needed to take two trips in our sleigh.

When we arrived at the Boys and Girls Club of Vista, California, the staff were overwhelmed by the amount of presents we brought. They were so excited to make this family’s holiday season one to remember. Knowing that we can make a positive impact right here in our own community around the holidays is one of the ways we like to give back and support our local Vista, California community. As a local small business, we work with our clients and customers here in San Diego, California helping them protect their assets as their trusted insurance advisor and there are so many people that need help and support you don’t have to look very far. There are people right in our own community that are in need and we are very thankful to work with such a great cause. Working with the Boys and Girls Club of Vista is such a wonderful organization to work with and this program is just one way we help to ensure that the youth who attend the club have the resources they need to prepare for great futures.

I’m so proud to work with a staff that values the importance of community service and takes time out of their busy schedules to support the local charities we work with and give back through our service projects and charitable donations. We always make an effort to take time each year to give back to our local Vista, California community. As we spend time with our family and friends around the holidays, it’s nice to know we were able to make a small impact to make another family’s holiday season a little brighter.

The Boys and Girls Club of Vista meets the needs of over 2,800 kids a year, many from families who are of lower/moderate income households that rely exclusively on the broad range of services the Club provides. our mission is to empower every Club member, though safe and impactful experiences to graduate high school with a plan for college and career, contribute to their community, and live a healthy life. We rely on community members who fill the gas so the Club can provide these services to Vista’s kids. Member pay $50 a year to join, but the actual cost is $702/child.

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New Requirements For California Commercial Property Investors

As a commercial property owner, you want to make sure that your most valuable real estate assets in your portfolio are properly protected. But you also want to make sure that you’re complying with all of your insurance companies guidelines and maintaining your buildings so you can prevent future losses.


The California insurance marketplace has been experiencing unprecedent turmoil over the past few years. California insurance companies have suffered major losses over the last 5 years resulting in billions of dollars in damage due to the catastrophic wildfires and major water losses.


It’s caused many insurance companies to change their underwriting guidelines, increase their rates, no longer accept business in certain locations in the state, and go out of business. We call this a hard market in the insurance industry, and it could last for several years.


One of the best ways to prevent future losses and stay in compliance with your insurance company is to follow specific guidelines when maintaining your property which also mitigates future losses.
We’ve gathered research with our top insurance companies to find out what the mandatory requirements are for commercial buildings in California and we’re going to share these tips with you so you can stay out of harm’s way and help prevent any future losses.


As a commercial real estate investor, the last thing you want is an insurance company to decide they no longer want to insure your building due to failing to meet the mandatory requirements, not providing proof of updates to your building, or being out of compliance with certain maintenance issues. If you receive documentation or a renewal questionnaire from your insurance company, return the information to them immediately. You can also give us a call or schedule an appointment with us, and we can review the possible exposures to your building.
Here are some of the new mandatory requirements for commercial buildings in California.

  • Older buildings, built before 1990, may require data and documentation of upgrades to the electrical, plumbing, roofs, and heating.
  • If your building has Zinsco or Federal Pacific electrical panels and breakers, they need to be replaced. They are old and outdated and have been found to have a defective design that is prone to over-current and arcing, and do not meet underwriting standards anymore. Zinsco panels and breakers are no longer in production and replacement parts have been proven to be unreliable. The panels present an unacceptable life safety and fire hazard. Unfortunately, replacement of these panels is required with most insurance companies.
  • Installation of GFCI (ground gault circuit interrupter) receptacles must be installed in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, laundry rooms, garages, and on outdoor receptacles. As an alternative GFCI breakers can be installed in the electrical panels to provide protection for these circuits. Remember to consult an electrician to inspection the system and perform repairs that meet the local electrical codes.
  • Swimming pools need to be fenced and gated with self-locking gates. Gates should automatically close, latch and lock when released. Also, the handle and hardware must be ADA compliant. It must be of a proper height and have a handle on both sides of the gate. No round knobs should be installed.
  • Fire extinguishers in the building must be fully charged and in good condition. A fire extinguisher maintenance company must service and inspect all fire extinguishers on the property on an annual basis and the service tag should be attached to each unit. Also, there should be no cracked, broken, or missing glass in the fire extinguisher cases.
  • Railings need to be no less than 42” which is the minimum standard or the current building codes in CA. In the past five inch spacing was allowed, but no longer. Call us if you have questions about this. Make sure that all vertical railings on balconies and stairways are a minimum of 42”.
  • It’s recommended but not required to prevent water damage the pressure relief valves on the hot water heaters need to be plumbed so they water can exit the building. You can also install drain pains and pressure relief valves plumbed into the pans.

These are some of the new mandatory requirements insurance companies have implemented in California for placing new insurance business and at renewal of a commercial property insurance policy. Many insurers of commercial property in California are sending out renewal questionnaires and reinspecting buildings to make sure commercial property owners are complying with these new requirements. If they identify the building needs repairs, updates, or maintenance they will require the property owner to make the necessary changes to the building to continue coverage or place new business.

As a commercial property specialist, we want to make you are educated on these changes and you have the proper protection for your commercial real estate portfolio. If you have questions or need additional information, click the link below to schedule an appointment with one of our commercial agents.

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ServPro of North Vista/San Marcos To The Rescue!

We wanted to give a big shout out to Servpro of North Vista/San Marcos for helping out one of our local elementary schools right here in Vista, CA.

Over the weekend there was a shed that was broken into and vandalized at T.H.E Leadership Academy, AKA Temple Heights Elementary. Luckily nothing was stolen but there was damage to the shed. The school was having a hard time trying to get the repairs completed so, we called up one of our clients, Servpro of North Vista/San Marcos to help out! They sent a team over to Temple Heights Elementary School and they repaired the shed at no cost to the school.

We love these types of success stories especially when our clients make a large impact in our community right here in Vista, CA. The students, teachers, and staff are so grateful for lending a hand. Thank you ServPro!

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Community Service Day At San Diego Food Bank With Liberty Mutual

Fun serving our local community with San Diego Food Bank volunteers from left to right: Kahtija Popovic (Liberty Mutual) Seth Arruda, Beth Walls, Morgan Hege, Mark Lamb (Alta Vista) and Nancy Trejo (Safeco)

Giving Back Overview | LMG (libertymutualgroup.com) We had fun serving with our friends from Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance for their annual Giving Back to the local community event!

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No Worries Podcast #4 Home Appliance Repair With Pacific Coast Appliance

Homeowners you don’t want to miss this episode. I sat down with Ryan DeHart, owner of Pacific Coast Appliance to talk the basics of home appliance repair. Ryan shares his story about how he started in the appliance repair business and the challenges of starting a business during the pandemic. When one door closes another door opens and Pacific Coast Appliance flourished since most homeowners were, well…home.

I also learned some great tips homeowners can learn to help them properly maintain their appliances and things to look for if appliances need repair. Ryan is very knowledgeable about appliance repair. He takes the time to explain things in detail so you understand what goes wrong and how it can be fixed properly. This was a great conversation with a business owner that is passionate about his craft and helping people solve problems.

If you live in the San Diego area I highly recommend call Pacific Coast Appliance.

For service visit their website. Go to: https://www.pcarepair.com/

Ryan DeHart 619-333-0946 Email info@pcarepair.com

Looking for better homeowners insurance? Contact Alta Vista Insurance.

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No Worries Podcast #3 Solar For Homebuyers and Real Estate

In this episode I talk with my good friend Alec about the basics of solar when it comes to homeownership. We talk about some important things to know when thinking about adding solar to a home and what to look for when purchasing a home with solar installed.

Alec also shares some great information about other home improvements that can reduce your power usage and out of pocket expenses.

We had a great conversation and I learned a lot about the benefits of solar and ways to be more efficient with our power usage when it comes to residential real estate.

Learn how to properly insure your solar! Setup an appointment and we can review your insurance and help you be financially protected. Looking for a better solution to insure your real estate property? Save money and get a quote today!

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No Worries Podcast Ep. 2 Lumber Prices, Inflation, And How It Effects Property Insurance

In this episode our agent, Seth Arruda talks about some of the serious effects of inflation and construction costs on property insurance. The cost of building has risen and we’re seeing that reflected in new construction, but it can also effect the cost to rebuild, especially after a large catastrophic wildfire.

Update: lumber prices have come down recently but that doesn’t mean they will return to pre-pandemic prices. Also the with inflation and with the additional higher costs involved in building those costs are being passed down to the consumer.

So let’s dive into how the rising costs of building materials and inflation are effecting replacement cost and being properly insured to value.

Want to look at a plan for your personal or commercial insurance? Schedule an appointment!

Do it! do it now! - Dwight Meme | Meme Generator
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Alta Vista Insurance Was Chosen As One Of The Best Homeowners Insurance Agencies in Vista, California By Expertise.com

Expertise.com scored 65 agencies in Vista, California and selected the top 8 for 2021!

Recognition as a subject matter expert in homeowners insurance in San Diego, California shows how dedicated we are to helping our clients protect their lifestyles and their most valuable assets, their homes. So, when Alta Vista Insurance was selected as one of the top 8 personal lines insurance agencies in Vista, California for homeowners insurance by expertise.com we were very excited to be recognized for the amazing service we provide to our San Diego community and throughout California.

Our goal is to be an expert in real estate asset protection in San Diego, California. Focusing on property insurance is one of the cornerstones of our clients’ asset portfolios and that’s where we shine. Providing the proper education about the importance of financial protection gives our clients a solid foundation to build wealth and achieve financial freedom. Partner that with a subject matter expert that specializes in personal insurance like homeowners insurance, auto insurance, landlord insurance, flood insurance and earthquake insurance along with commercial property insurance, general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, workers compensation, and cyber liability insurance in California and you have a healthy ecosystem to protect your personal and commercial assets.

“We want to give our clients the personal guidance and advice, so they feel empowered to make educated choices about their insurance. Be the guide in their story. We want to guide our clients through their insurance protection and put a plan together that leads our customers to success, so they can reach new heights. We invite our clients into a story where they have peace of mind and all their assets are properly protected.”

This is another feather in our cap and award to put on our mantel. The last two years, 2019 and 2020 Alta Vista Insurance was selected as Agency For The Future with Safeco Insurance and Liberty Mutual!

“This group includes some of the most innovative agencies in the entire independent agent channel. While they are all unique – each with their own distinct value proposition, customer focus and company culture – what they have most in common is in just how prepared they were to tackle the challenges of 2020 head on. They quickly adapted to the changing market conditions brought about by the pandemic, fully embraced digital to ensure the customer experienced remained strong, and continued to cultivate great corporate cultures to keep their teams engaged.”

-Tyler Asher, President of independent agency distribution for Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance.

The “proof is in the pudding”. I could go on and on and tell you all about the great work we do for our clients but it’s better to hear their stories. Check out some our client testimonials on our Google Business Page.

As an independent agency here in Vista, California since 1978, we’re no stranger to the neighborhood. Ever since then we’ve focused on personal and commercial property in San Diego, California working with real estate investors, property owners, homeowners, and new home buyers to give them the right plan to protect their lifestyles. We also focus efforts on helping other strategic partners in San Diego, California grow their businesses through our expertise and knowledge as an insurance guide to help them reach new heights in their businesses and provide their clients with a personal risk manager. We form long lasting relationships throughout Vista, California and all of San Diego with real estate agents, commercial real estate agents, property managers, mortgage lenders, bankers, CPA’s and attorneys.

We work strategically with business partners, especially real estate agents, to help those individuals grow their businesses, save time, and save money. One of our main focuses is to help agents close their transactions smoothly and on time and provide their clients with the proper protection they need for their lifestyles so they can live their best life. Insurance is a relationship business. Our goal is to build long lasting relationships with our clients, business partners, and our community.”

Expertise.com based their selections on a number of different criteria. They also looked at our online presence and social proof. They even took the time to test our strengthens with their surprise “mystery shopper” calls to ensure their list of insurance agencies are of the highest quality. Let’s just say, we passed with flying colors! Our staff was friendly, accommodating and answered all questions about bundling personal insurance and available discounts. Their selection criteria consists of five major categories.

Top Homeowners Insurance Agencies in Vista

1. Availability

Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.

2. Qualifications

Building customer confidence with licensing, accreditations, and awards.

3. Reputation

A history of delighted customers and outstanding service.

4. Experience

Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.

5. Professionalism

Providing service with honesty, reliability, and respect.

Recognition and awards tell a story that we’re doing things right and putting our clients in San Diego, California first and we’re just getting started. Leveraging technology and our systems to create a seamless positive customer experience is a big focus as we look at new ways to meet the needs of our customers in the 21st century. We’re using more video and social media to educate our clients throughout the customer journey. Text messaging alerts and automation to keep clients informed about policy notifications and upcoming renewals has been a great addition to our client experience. During COVID-19 we’re able to reach our customers through virtual meetings using Microsoft Teams and book appointments using our online virtual calendar. If you’re looking for a better insurance experience and a personal guide to keep you informed about how to protect your lifestyle, we’d like to welcome you to Alta Vista Insurance.

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Testimonials