severe weather in Bella Vista (Ozark, Cave Springs: insurance, new house, buying)

[luvmypackers]

I am looking at houses in Bella Vista and checking on insurance quotes for home owners. The rates are extremely high compared to what I paid in Florida for similar priced property (nearly 3 times as much). I had full coverage including hurricane coverage with a 2% deductible. When asked an insurance agent as to why insurance was so high I was told that they have a lot of tornadoes there. I can't find any record of a tornado in Bella Vista.
LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK, please.
Thanks in advance

[Slytrix]

Can you give an example of what you were quoted for Insurance in Bella Vista including size of home?

Are you getting quotes from your same agent / company as Florida?

Have you had any claims in the last 3-5 years?

I got a very good quote from a local agent (same company as my existing policies).

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Slytrix

Can you give an example of what you were quoted for Insurance in Bella Vista including size of home?

Are you getting quotes from your same agent / company as Florida?

Have you had any claims in the last 3-5 years?

I got a very good quote from a local agent (same company as my existing policies).

that was going to be my question as well and where did you get your quote? No, we do not have a high insurance rate here. Ours runs less than a $1000 a year and our home is appraised at about $175,000 I believe. OP, I think you need to talk with your realtor and see if they have a company they might recommend.

[Loveswater_outdoors]

Then that insurance agent is a damn crook. Tornadoes seem extremely rare here because of the mountains, and it is nowhere near Florida or Oklahoma levels. Coming from Oklahoma, I pretty much can ignore tornado warnings because in the two years I've been here, they have always fizzled out in NWA.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Loveswater_outdoors

Then that insurance agent is a damn crook. Tornadoes seem extremely rare here because of the mountains, and it is nowhere near Florida or Oklahoma levels. Coming from Oklahoma, I pretty much can ignore tornado warnings because in the two years I've been here, they have always fizzled out in NWA.

so true, especially in Bella Vista. I am not going to say never, cause I don't want to eat my words. They wouldn't taste very good, but i damaging tornadoes here are almost unheard of. This isn't OK or Texas for heavens sake. Obviously the agent is up to something and its't doesn't look to professional.

[luvmypackers]

In response to all the answers and I do appreciate the quick responses I paid $818 per year with a 2% deductible and a $234K valuation. Thank you all for your input. I have never had a claim.

[sub]

I'm not saying the insurance pricing isn't suspicious, but nwa is pretty vulnurable to tornados.
Oklahoma is an extreme example even within the overall tornado ally. The Ozarks are still in that region you most certainly watch out for when stronger storms strike.
I certainly wouldn't want anything to happen, but let's not be naive.
Just do a search on Ozarks tornados. Those hills don't stop everything.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by sub

I'm not saying the insurance pricing isn't suspicious, but nwa is pretty vulnurable to tornados.
Oklahoma is an extreme example even within the overall tornado ally. The Ozarks are still in that region you most certainly watch out for when stronger storms strike.
I certainly wouldn't want anything to happen, but let's not be naive.
Just do a search on Ozarks tornados. Those hills don't stop everything.

I have to ask you, have you ever lived or visited NWA especially Bella Vista? Do you have any idea how many miles NWA covers? No one is suggesting we have no threat of tornadoes, but as for severe ones or even ones that do minor damage they are rare. Yes, we do pay attention to the possibility of one, but I do not think our insurance is based on the threat of tornadoes or not much anyway and as I said the insurance rates are not all that high. The only time in 10 springs we have lived here did we any real threat of a problem was when Joplin got hit. Many of us did end up with some wind damage, but heck tell me one state that doesn't have a change of a mother nature disaster?

[Slytrix]

Originally Posted by luvmypackers

In response to all the answers and I do appreciate the quick responses I paid $818 per year with a 2% deductible and a $234K valuation. Thank you all for your input. I have never had a claim.

FWIW I got a quote for a $500k 3500 sq ft house with a $5,000 deductible in Cave Springs for $770/ year. That's not the house that I ended up buying but you can see the difference in price from what you were quoted. I haven't got a quote on the new house being built yet but expect similar but lower do to size and cost.

If you got quoted almost 3 times as much, so $2,400 or so you need to shop around. If you want to know who I am going with shoot me a private message. A+ rated company. I do have my cars with this company as well.

[sub]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I have to ask you, have you ever lived or visited NWA especially Bella Vista? Do you have any idea how many miles NWA covers? No one is suggesting we have no threat of tornadoes, but as for severe ones or even ones that do minor damage they are rare. Yes, we do pay attention to the possibility of one, but I do not think our insurance is based on the threat of tornadoes or not much anyway and as I said the insurance rates are not all that high. The only time in 10 springs we have lived here did we any real threat of a problem was when Joplin got hit. Many of us did end up with some wind damage, but heck tell me one state that doesn't have a change of a mother nature disaster?

My point simply was that tornadic activity can be expected. There is no sweet spot that tornados mysteriously avoid in this area.
The Ozarks have some effect on weather, but we're not exactly talking about the Rocky Mountains here.
Insurance companies might factor in the possibility of tornados, I don't remember on mine. I just pay it.
Yes, I'd be more concerned about hurricanes in Florida than tornados in nwa, and would expect to pay higher insurance down there as a result. Yes, disasters happen everywhere.
I don't think we disagree here.