Impact of High Park Fire on real estate north of FC? (2013, insurance)

[modelerr]

Was seriously considering buying a home/property in the Bellvue foot hill or Livermore areas prior to the fire. Now, not sure what living conditions are like, or whether carriers are even writing property insurance
in these regions. Also, are mudslides of day-to-day concern on/around Hwy 14? Would appreciate a few perspectives on post-fire living & changes.

[Mike Weber]

For some, post-fire living will not be much different. I drove through the area last weekend and some spots look no different, yet when you round a corner in the road a 1/4 mile away, you find massive black hillsides. I'm sure values will suffer some due to the less attractive views from some parcels.

Insurance carriers are being cautious about writing in the area and some have stopped. Check with your insurance carrier before proceeding. Closings have been delayed while lenders confirm that no damage was done to an individual property. I was hired by a lender to confirm that over 30 properties for which they old the mortgage were un-damaged in the fire. I had one vacant parcel of land listed for an out of state seller, and that property was completely burned. It has been taken off the market because we estimate that the property is no longer worth even what the owner owes.

There have been mudslides with the rains that came after the fires. In the news stories I have read, the professionals expect to have more of these in coming years until the vegetation takes hold again. I would certainly look upstream or up the mountain above any property in which you are interested, prior to purchasing.

I would expect that the properties that were not affected, nor suffered negative effects of view loss or of smoke may actually increase in cost/value due to a scarcity of unaffected properties that are now available.

[mlaughlin]

Between the fires and drought we are discouraged from moving to the FC area after 3 years of planning. It just isn't the fires. It is the long term drought conditions which forecasters are saying will be worse in the years ahead. Lack of snow fall is a huge concern for the water supply and if there is the same low level this year, FC and surrounding areas will be short on usable water in 2013. The drought overall will impact this area for years to come. Unless someone can alleviate our fears here, we are inclined to look at another state.