Local Leaders Unite to Tackle Rising Home Insurance Costs
If you live in the South Bay, you already know we have it all—from the beautiful coastlines of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and El Segundo to the vibrant, tight-knit communities of Gardena, Carson, Torrance, San Pedro, and Lomita. But lately, a dark cloud has been hovering over our local real estate market and homeownership peace of mind: the skyrocketing cost and vanishing availability of homeowners’ insurance.
Major insurance providers have been exiting key markets across California. This has forced thousands of residents onto the expensive state FAIR Plan or left them entirely uninsured. In fact, data from 2025 reveals that 16.6% of REALTORS® reported real estate transactions falling out of escrow simply because buyers couldn’t secure affordable property insurance—a massive jump from 13.4% in 2024 and 6.9% in 2023.
Thankfully, there is a bipartisan push in Congress to bring some massive relief to our neighborhoods through H.R. 1105, also known as the Disaster Resiliency and Coverage Act.
What exactly does H.R. 1105 do? This bill tackles the root of the problem by helping homeowners protect their property before disaster strikes. It offers direct grants of up to $10,000 per household for designated resilience projects in disaster-prone areas, alongside a generous 30% federal tax credit for mitigation expenses. This means extra financial help to install fire-resistant roofs, ember-resistant vents, or flood barriers. This is especially critical given that adequate fire hardening for a single-family home can easily cost upwards of $23,000. Furthermore, it aligns with state mandates such as “zone 0,” which requires clearing flammable vegetation and wooden fencing within 5 feet of a home.
The best part? Our local leaders are actively fighting for us. This bill has united California representatives from both sides of the aisle. South Bay champions like Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán, Ted Lieu, and Linda T. Sánchez are officially backing the legislation. They are joined by other notable California leaders from across the political spectrum, including Young Kim, David G. Valadao, and Doug LaMalfa, proving that keeping our communities safe isn’t a partisan issue.
Whether you are enjoying the ocean breeze in Hermosa Beach, running a business in Torrance, or raising a family in Lomita, H.R. 1105 is the lifeline our local housing market needs to stay resilient, insured, and affordable.
Source: California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.)