Kittitas Insurance Issue: Protecting the American Dream in the Face of Wildfire Risk

As wildfire risk escalates across the Pacific Northwest, homeowners in Kittitas County are confronting a troubling consequence: rising home insurance cancellations, non-renewals, and sharply increased premiums. Seattle King County REALTORS® (SKCR) is sounding an alarm, urging stakeholders and policy­makers to address the crisis and keep homeownership attainable.

The Problem: Home Insurance in Retreat

• For some property owners in Kittitas County, existing homeowner insurance policies are being outright cancelled—either on individual property or across entire communities.
• Others face non-renewal or drastic fee increases so steep that many homeowners find themselves priced out of coverage.
• This shift is not merely financial: mortgage lenders typically require homeowner insurance, meaning that without viable insurance, access to home financing (or refinancing) can vanish.
• The implications are serious: potential buyers may be deterred, existing homeowners may be trapped in a bind, and communities may face declining property markets.

REALTORS® Step Up: Advocacy, Education, and Resources

REALTORS® in Kittitas County, in concert with state and national real estate organizations, are gearing up to respond. On Saturday, October 25, SKCR hosted a town hall meeting at the Upper Kittitas County Senior Center in Cle Elum. Over 150 potentially impacted Kittitas citizens attended to hear from David Forte, senior policy advisor at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and Kenton Brine, President of the Northwest Insurance Council, as well as state legislators from District 13—Representative Ybarra, Representative Dent, and Senator Warnick. Mailed invitations to the town hall meeting went out to over 16,000 households across the county, as well as three weeks of targeted digital ads. Additionally, RE/MAX brokers Colette and Hailey Rarden hand-delivered invitations to community businesses and homes. SKCR received a $25,000 Consumer Outreach Grant from the National Association of REALTORS® to fund the outreach.

“REALTORS® are keenly aware of the issues facing our community,” said Colette Rarden. “Members of the association are working tirelessly to find solutions. We point clients to resources that will help them maintain coverage and protect their homes.”

To address the insurance problem in Kittitas County, REALTORS® are working hard on

• Advocacy for fair access. REALTORS® are pushing for policies that preserve insurance options in wildfire-prone areas.
• Education and tools. REALTORS® are leveraging resources like Fire Factor™ (a risk assessment tool) and offering guidance to clients navigating wildfire disclosures and insurance-related obstacles.
• Local collaboration. REALTORS® are working with local fire experts, insurers, and clients to survey risk mitigation strategies like defensible space, fire-resistant building materials and landscaping.
• Resources. Through downloadable presentations, FAQs, and referrals to regulatory bodies (e.g., state insurance commissioner, WA Fair Plan), REALTORS® are equipping brokers and the public with further insights.

Conclusion

The “Kittitas Insurance Issue” is not just a local concern—it exemplifies a mounting challenge across fire-prone regions throughout the United States. What’s at stake is access to homeownership in communities facing environmental peril. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, REALTORS® in Kittitas County aim to protect both individual homeowners and the long-term viability of the local real estate market.