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When you think about it, our feet are pretty amazing. For most, they're an unfaltering foundation - two shock absorbers we rely on daily to hold our weight and propel us through life. Comprised of dozens of bones and hundreds of ligaments, muscles, and tendons, the average person's feet take a fair beating every day - on average, people stand for about four hours every day and take around 5K steps as well. Because your feet are smaller than most other parts of your body, they endure an enormous impact with each step, adding up to hundreds of tons of weight daily.
Strangely, when our feet, ankles, or toes begin to hurt, we do our best to ignore the pain and push through the day. We even give up sports and outdoor activities that we love. Unfortunately, ignoring pain and delaying treatment will further damage your feet and, by proxy, your whole body.
If you're living with foot and ankle pain or have given up on fun activities like hiking and jogging, it's time to change. Why sacrifice a life full of outdoor activities in our beautiful part of the world when you can visit an expert podiatrist in Rancho Bernardo, CA?
Welcome to North County Foot and Ankle - where men and women just like you get new leases on life through some of the most advanced podiatric treatments available in California. With more than 50 years of combined experience treating a wide range of foot and ankle problems, our pioneering doctors have helped hundreds of people reclaim their love of walking, jogging, and life in general.
What makes North County Foot and Ankle stand out from other foot and ankle doctors in Rancho Bernardo? Unlike some foot doctors, our podiatrists work with a client-first mentality. When you walk through our front doors, the time you spend in our office is all about you. We believe in a strong physician-patient relationship fortified by one-on-one attention and honest communication.
Before offering foot pain treatment options, we perform a thorough evaluation, taking into account your individual needs, goals, and preferences. Once that's done, we'll discuss your treatment options in detail and come to a mutual decision regarding the best treatment plan for you.
Whether you have a minor hangnail or need complex surgery, you will receive the same level of compassionate care from our medical team. As board-certified podiatrists in Rancho Bernardo, our doctors are proud to treat you. You can rest easy knowing they will take the time to explain what's causing your foot pain, what treatments are best suited to your problem, and what steps you should take after treatment.
And while our podiatrists are uniquely qualified to perform surgery, we often recommend non-surgical options, using treatments like orthotics to relieve foot, arch, and heel pain. From sports injuries and bunions to gout and blisters, we're here to help you live life to the fullest without nagging, debilitating foot pain.
Patients visit our foot clinic in Rancho Bernardo, CA, for many podiatric problems, including:
If you're dealing with chronic foot pain or are concerned about a long-lasting symptom that affects your daily life, we're here to help. Unsure if you need to call to make an appointment? These symptoms are often signs that you might need to visit our foot and ankle doctors:
Most people over 40 know that strange body aches and pains become more common with age. The same can be said with our feet. As we get older, our feet usually spread out and lose the fatty pads that help cushion our feet. If you're overweight, the ligaments and bones in your feet also take an extra beating. Also, with age, foot abnormalities that you were born with become more pronounced, as the joints in your feet lose flexibility and become rigid. To make matters worse, the skin covering your feet dries out, resulting in more cuts, scrapes, and infections.
It's clear that we endure more foot pain as we get older, but what kind of foot pain should we be most concerned about? It can be hard to tell - pain from what looks like normal bruising may actually be a sign that something more serious is occurring. That's why we're listing some of the most common symptoms of serious foot problems. That way, you're better educated and have a better shot at figuring out whether you need a simple bag of ice or a visit to your podiatrist in Rancho Bernardo, CA.
When you sprain your foot or ankle or suffer an acute injury, it's normal for your foot to swell up. This type of swelling typically goes down after 48 hours have passed. However, if you hurt your foot and the swelling is severe and doesn't go away after a couple of days, it's cause for concern. Persistent swelling often indicates an ankle or foot injury that needs podiatric care.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you notice persistent swelling of any kind on your body, it's wise to see a doctor. Ankle swelling, in particular, could be a warning sign that a blood clot or heart issue is present.
It's normal for your foot or ankle to "smart" after you stub your toe or twist your ankle. However, if you're experiencing ongoing ankle and foot pain, it's probably not normal. The pain doesn't have to be sharp, either - if you have dull pain, tenderness, or weakness that lasts more than two days, a trip to the foot doctor may be in order.
Minor ankle and foot injuries, like sprains, are quite common. When a sprain happens, it's normal to experience some instability or weakness afterward. Chronic instability, however, is a more serious problem. Long-term instability or weakness may signify torn ligaments or something worse. If you've had trouble standing or walking for a long time, it's best to make an appointment at a foot clinic in Rancho Bernardo.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: Podiatric experts like those at North County Foot and Ankle may have a long-term solution to help reclaim your mobility without surgery. Give our office call today to learn more!
Stiffness is a normal symptom that should be expected with sprains, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis. Often, you can alleviate such stiffness with rest, weight loss, stretching, or even new shoes. With that said, if you're experiencing ongoing stiffness, it could be a red flag that something more serious is going on.
When you've been sitting for a long time, you may have noticed a popping sound from your feet when you stand. That sound is perfectly normal. So long as it's painless, you've got nothing to worry about. However, if you feel pain when you hear a popping noise, it could indicate a subluxation or dislocation, which are conditions that require a podiatrist's attention.
If you're not sure whether you should be concerned about a painful foot or ankle symptom, give our clinic in Rancho Bernardo a call ASAP. Our helpful technicians can help answer your questions and set up a time for you to speak with one of our friendly podiatrists.
Here are just a few of the typical foot problems we treat daily.
Do you have intense heel pain that appears when you first stand up, only for it to disappear after a few steps? If so, you could be one of the millions of people in the U.S. suffering from plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is most often caused by an inflamed ligament covering bones on the bottom of your feet. Also called "Policeman's Heel," this painful condition is a common reason for heel pain, but it won't go away on its own.
Almost all cases of plantar fasciitis will get better with easy, non-surgical treatments and lifestyle changes. A good place to start is by refraining from activities or sports that cause pain, like jogging, hiking, running, or aerobic exercises.
Common treatment options at North County Foot and Ankle include:
Orthotic shoe inserts provide you with the arch support that your feet need, especially with shoes like women's flats that don't have much foot support. We also recommend wearing shoes that are appropriate for the activity you're enjoying, like hiking boots on your favorite trail and running shoes on the street or track.
Stretching regularly with gentle exercises can help prevent plantar fasciitis and stop flare-ups. Stretching your calves, specifically, reduces heel pain effectively. After you schedule an appointment at our foot clinic in Rancho Bernardo, one of our doctors can explain the proper exercises in more detail.
Wearing a brace or splint while you sleep will keep your plantar fascia stretched. That way, when you wake up and take your first steps of the day, you shouldn't have as much pain because your plantar fascia won't have a chance to tighten up overnight.
North County Foot and Ankle Pro Tip: If you're still struggling with plantar fasciitis after using orthotics, treatments like orthobiologics, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) may be more effective.
Ingrown toenails are among the most common foot maladies in the United States. Though common, ingrown toenails can be painful, resulting in swelling, bleeding, pus, and more. Various factors cause ingrown toenails, such as heredity, trauma, hygiene, nail conditions, and improper trimming. Thankfully, with the help of an expert, most ingrown toenails can be treated at home or in a podiatrist's office.
Ingrown toenails happen when the corners and sides of your toenails grow and eventually dig into the flesh around your nail. Most often occurring on the big toe, ingrown toenails become a serious concern when they are left untreated or when an infection is involved. To determine whether your ingrown toenail needs an evaluation by a foot doctor in Rancho Bernardo, CA, keep an eye out for initial symptoms and infection symptoms:
To help prevent infection, try cutting your nails in a straight line, and don't cut them too short. Do not cut your nails to match the shape of your toe.
When your toenail becomes ingrown, you need doctors with real expertise in diagnosing and treating foot problems. At North County Foot and Ankle, our doctors are highly qualified to treat the underlying conditions causing your ingrown toenail. That way, you can enjoy long-term relief and also learn the ways to prevent ingrown toenails in the future.
If you have a bony bump near the bottom joint of your big toe, chances are it's a bunion. Bunions are deformities on your feet that are formed when your front foot bones become misaligned. When this happens, the misaligned bones cause the top half of your big toe to point inward toward your second toe. From there, your tendons will tighten, which pulls your toe even further inward. Once your toe is pulled more inward, the bottom joint of your big toe will bulge outward. The bulge you see is actually what we refer to as a bunion.
Without treatment, your toe pain can worsen, and the bunion can grow. Painful swelling in the balls of your feet can also cause hammertoe. Hammertoe happens your second toe is bent out of shape by your misaligned big toe.
Luckily, North County Foot and Ankle is California's go-to clinic for bunion treatment in Rancho Bernardo, CA. Our highly-trained doctors can stop these uncomfortable conditions from happening and help prevent worse conditions from developing.
Jason Morris, a board-certified podiatric foot surgeon in Rancho Bernardo, CA, is one of the top podiatrists in the greater San Diego area and has successfully treated patients with bunions for over ten years. He offers advanced treatments for bunion pain, such as:
Our hand-made orthotics, which are worn in your shoes, are molded to fit your foot exactly, correcting bone misalignments and relieving pain much better than cookie-cutter, store-bought options.
Drs. Morris and Redkar performs state-of-the-art triplanar correction surgery using 3-D digital imaging and a minimal incision approach. This procedure is very effective and works by rotating misaligned big toe bones back to the proper position. Once your toe bones are back in position, a metal plate is attached to your bones so that they remain aligned over long-term use.
Drs. Morris and Redkar may recommend both surgery and custom orthotics to keep your foot pain-free and your bunion from growing back.
Request ConsultationIf you’ve been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Escondido help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. Both are highly qualified and recipients of prestigious awards.
Featured in Los Angeles Magazine’s prestigious Top Doctors list of 2021, Dr. Avanti Redkar is a board-certified podiatrist that specializes in foot and ankle pathology. Dr. Redkar earned her undergrad degree in biology at the University of Scranton and her master’s degree in nutrition at SUNY Buffalo. She attended podiatry school at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Her three-year surgical residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York, included foot and rearfoot surgery, wound care, and hyperbaric medicine training. Dr. Redkar also completed a one-year fellowship in sports medicine and ankle reconstruction.
After a rigorous three-year residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Jason Morris, DPM, moved to sunny California to practice podiatric medicine. Once there, Dr. Morris worked as an attending physician at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Since relocating to the Escondido area, he has been a staff physician at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Poway. Dr. Morris is a podiatric foot and ankle specialist with board certification in rearfoot and forefoot reconstructive surgery. Dr. Morris has undergone extensive training in sports medicine, ankle trauma, diabetic limb salvage, and reconstructive surgery.
If you've been enduring foot or ankle pain that affects your mobility and quality of life, why not make a change for the better? At North County Foot & Ankle Specialists, our podiatrists in Rancho Bernardo help patients of all ages. Drs. Morris and Redkar take a patient-first approach with all of our podiatry services. From minor bunion treatments to complex issues like foot fractures, every treatment option we consider is chosen with your best interest in mind.
Our podiatrists are members of several professional organizations, including:
If more conservative treatments are better for your condition, non-surgical solutions like custom orthotics may be the best route. If you need ankle or foot surgery, our podiatrists will complete your procedure with time-tested skill and precision. Because, at the end of the day, our goal is to provide you with the most effective foot and ankle pain solutions with the quickest recovery options available.
Contact us online or via phone today to schedule an appointment at our Rancho Bernardo office. By tomorrow, you'll be one step closer to loving life without foot or ankle pain.
New rules in place for care, sale and disposal of trees within zoneThe recent discovery of citrus trees in Rancho Bernardo’s Westwood neighborhood with the bacterial disease Huanglongbing means a 95-square-mile area in north inland San Diego has been placed under quarantine.The result — drastic changes to how residents throughout Rancho Bernardo, Poway, 4S Ranch and adjacent communities within the quarantine zone can tend to their citrus trees and dispose of clippings. It also impacts the availability to purchase ...
The recent discovery of citrus trees in Rancho Bernardo’s Westwood neighborhood with the bacterial disease Huanglongbing means a 95-square-mile area in north inland San Diego has been placed under quarantine.
The result — drastic changes to how residents throughout Rancho Bernardo, Poway, 4S Ranch and adjacent communities within the quarantine zone can tend to their citrus trees and dispose of clippings. It also impacts the availability to purchase citrus trees for residential yards, according to state agricultural officials.
Huanglongbing — referred to as HLB — was first detected in California in Los Angeles in 2012. Since then it has been found in more than 450 trees throughout the state, mostly in Orange County, according to Victoria Hornbaker, director of the Citrus Pest and Disease Prevention Division with the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
HLB-infected citrus trees were found in Oceanside in 2021 and that area has been under a quarantine ever since. HLB is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid when the insect feeds on citrus trees.
“Trained staff has been looking at citrus trees for symptoms or to collect insects,” Hornbaker said. “These are sent to a lab in Sacramento to analyze for bacteria.”
There will not likely be an end to the HLB quarantine, unlike when one was imposed in the Rancho Bernardo area about 14 years ago due to the presence of the Mediterranean fruit fly. That was based on a limited number of fly life cycles, Hornbaker said. In contrast, there is no way to eradicate HLB once it is present in an area.
She said risk survey teams go door-to-door in communities asking residents if they can check their trees, which is how an infected lime tree was found in the Westwood neighborhood. The case was confirmed on Jan. 25, and since then four more infected trees within a 250-meter radius of the first tree have been confirmed.
“For the most part, folks have been quite accommodating because they understand why citrus is important to California,” Hornbaker said.
The quarantine zone, announced by county officials on Feb. 7, is bordered on the north by the intersection of Interstate 15 and Auto Park Way in Escondido, to the south by Poway Road, to the west by Via de las Flores in Rancho Santa Fe and to the east by Lake Ramona. A map of the zone is viewable at tinyurl.com/citrus-hlb.
While it was discovered in a lime tree, Hornbaker said HLB infects and eventually kills all types of citrus trees, including orange, grapefruit, kumquat, lemon and tangerine.
“There is no cure once infected. The tree will die over time,” she said. “The fruit ends up being inedible and rancid tasting.”
Because the bacteria invades the tree’s vascular system, Hornbaker said it essentially starves the tree. She compared it to a clot in a human vein. If the tree is infected it must be removed in order to limit spread to other trees. If not removed, tree death occurs within two to five years.
HLB is not harmful to people or animals, she said.
Trees not yet infected by HLB but found to have the Asian citrus psyllid on them can be treated with organic and conventional pesticides to kill the insect. These spray treatments can be purchased at local home and garden stores and plant nurseries. Treatments need to be applied every three to six months.
Residents are not to move citrus plants, leaves or foliage into or out of the quarantine area, Hornbaker said. If they have an “unloved” tree — one they no longer want — they are asked to consider removing it, but must follow specific measures, she said.
To dispose of the tree with residential green waste recycling, residents need to first cut the tree up and let the branches dry out in their yard for a few weeks so the insect nymphs die or mature insects leave the tree before disposal. This way the mulch created from the tree will not be contaminated.
If the tree is being thrown out in black trash bins as part of the regular trash collection, branches and leaves need to be bagged in order to contain the nymphs, Hornbaker said.
Symptoms showing that trees are infected with HLB include blotchy yellow spots on leaves, asymmetrical leaves, shoots that are completely yellow and excessive dropped fruit.
All cases of HLB in California have been found on residential trees and not in commercial tree-growing operations largely due to the vigilance used by those growing citrus trees for commercial purposes, Hornbaker said.
The quarantine means home and garden stores and plant nurseries within the zone will no longer be able to sell citrus trees unless they are kept within a screened location, Hornbaker said.
Walter Andersen Nursery on Danielson Court in Poway is just outside the quarantine zone, said Ken Andersen, president and CEO. This means that for now it can continue selling citrus trees, but the company is changing some of its policies.
“Company-wide all sales are now final because if (customers) are in the zone they can’t bring (the trees) back,” Andersen said.
The trees also need to be planted within 48 hours so they permanently stay at a location.
Cuttings cannot be brought to the store anymore, he said. In the past, customers could bring in a branch cutting to show staff what is happening with their tree in order to get advice on how to best care for it. Now, they can only bring in detailed photos.
The nursery’s trees come from growers who treat their trees prior to shipment. Andersen said his stores in Poway and the Midway District of San Diego will still be able to deliver trees because the company has an enclosed vehicle.
If the quarantine zone is expanded to include the area where the nursery is located, Andersen said his company will need to consider the increased cost to continue selling citrus trees.
“We do not have a screened facility at this time, so if in the zone, what does it cost to invest in one versus the loss we will have by not selling citrus trees,” Andersen said. “Is it worth the investment?”
Citrus trees are popular year-round and sales skyrocketed during the pandemic because people wanted to grow fruit in their yards, he said. That led to the supply of trees running out, something that is just now returning to pre-pandemic levels.
“When you run out of your crop of citrus it takes years to recover,” Andersen said, noting it takes several years to grow a tree to the size appropriate for sale.
Hornbaker said commercial growers who supply citrus to local farmers markets, such as those at Old Poway Park and Bernardo Winery, will be allowed to continue selling the fruit if they take precautions. These include transporting only the fruit, with stems and leaves removed at the site where grown, and cleaning the fruit before bringing to market.
“Those at farmers markets are working with our team and have a compliance agreement,” Hornbaker said. “The fruit itself will not spread the bacteria. It is the insects. So clean fruit is OK.”
The same standards will apply for those collecting citrus for area food banks.
Jane Radatz, who oversees the Backyard Produce Project, said the organization’s tree picking teams have been cleared by state agriculture officials to continue collecting fruit from trees within the quarantine zone because the volunteers will follow protocols. However, the group can no longer accept donations of citrus fruit from residents who harvest it themselves because it will not be known what procedures have been followed.
“We’re really trying to continue accommodating them even when there is a quarantine,” Hornbaker said.
Radatz said the Backyard Produce Project, established in 2009, contributes fresh fruits and vegetables to around 20 food distribution sites for low-income families and seniors within the Poway Unified School District boundaries.
The quarantine will not impact the project’s volunteer-tended 6,000-square-foot garden at Poway Gardens Senior Living on Monte Vista Road because it only has non-citrus fruit trees. These include apples, pears and plums, which are not affected by the Asian citrus psyllid.
According to Radatz, the garden does not have citrus trees because they are very popular among residents in the Poway and Rancho Bernardo area, so donations of citrus have always been plentiful.
Anyone wanting to donate homegrown fruits harvested from their trees by volunteers can request a picking team come to their home. Contact Linda Bouchard at 858-722-2179 or sboucha1@san.rr.com.
Those with citrus trees in their yards are asked to report trees that seem to be sick or dying by contacting the San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures at 760-752-4700 or visit sdcawm.org.
Residents can also call CDFA’s toll free Pest Hotline at 800-491-1899 or visit cdfa.ca.gov/plant/acp.
More information on pests, disease and how to protect citrus trees can also be found at CaliforniaCitrusThreat.org.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is declaring a citrus quarantine in a 95-square-mile area to try and save San Diego’s citrus crop.SAN DIEGO — A plant disease that kills citrus trees has been discovered in Rancho Bernardo. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is declaring a citrus quarantine in a 95-square-mile area to try and save San Die...
The California Department of Food and Agriculture is declaring a citrus quarantine in a 95-square-mile area to try and save San Diego’s citrus crop.
SAN DIEGO — A plant disease that kills citrus trees has been discovered in Rancho Bernardo. The California Department of Food and Agriculture is declaring a citrus quarantine in a 95-square-mile area to try and save San Diego’s citrus crop.
For the first time, residential citrus trees in Rancho Bernardo tested positive for an incurable plant disease called Huanglongbing or HLB, that infects and kills all citrus trees.
This isn’t is the first time the deadly plant disease has been detected in San Diego County, but it is the first detection within the City of San Diego.
HLB was first confirmed in San Diego County in 2021 in Oceanside.
HLB can be spread by a small pest called the Asian citrus psyllid. It feeds on leaves and stems of citrus trees and spreads the bacteria from tree to tree. HLB is not harmful to humans or animals, but once a tree is infected, it will die and must be removed.
To limit the spread of HLB, a citrus plant quarantine is currently in place throughout portions of San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties.
The Rancho Bernardo detections created a new HLB quarantine area, including parts of Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Peñasquitos, Black Market Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Poway and Escondido.
Credit: CBS 8
If you live within the quarantine area:
The HLB citrus plant quarantine prohibits the transport and movement of citrus plants and material to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
The manager at Armstrong Nursery off Carmel Mountain Road told CBS 8 that crews came in and removed all its citrus trees.
Another local nursery, about a mile outside the quarantine area says the new discovery changes the way it does business. It can no longer warranty citrus trees.
In fact, the nursery owner says if someone wants a citrus tree on their property, they need to get it now because citrus trees will become harder to get as the quarantine sets in.
The first Asian Citrus Psyllid was found in California in San Diego in 2008.
WATCH RELATED: Decaying trees were reported but ignored before recent parade of strong winds (Jan. 2023).
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THE California Department of Food and Agriculture has declared a new citrus quarantine in a 95 square-mile area of Rancho Bernardo after detecting a potentially threatening citrus tree disease during routine inspections.The bacterial disease, known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a major threat to San Diego’s $115 million annual citrus crop. Trees infected with HLB can produce mishappen, bitter fruit and the disease can eventually kill the tree.This new quarantine comes after HLB was found in a residential lime tree in the are...
THE California Department of Food and Agriculture has declared a new citrus quarantine in a 95 square-mile area of Rancho Bernardo after detecting a potentially threatening citrus tree disease during routine inspections.
The bacterial disease, known as Huanglongbing (HLB), is a major threat to San Diego’s $115 million annual citrus crop. Trees infected with HLB can produce mishappen, bitter fruit and the disease can eventually kill the tree.
This new quarantine comes after HLB was found in a residential lime tree in the area and is in addition to the existing HLB quarantine in the city of Oceanside. It covers the area bordered on the north by the intersection of I-15 and Auto Park Way; to the south by Poway Road; to the west by Via De Las Flores; and to the east by Lake Ramona. The maps for this HLB quarantine are available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/citrus/pests_diseases/hlb/regulation.html.
The intent of the quarantine is to protect the region’s food supply and support the agricultural economy and environmental sustainability by restricting people and businesses from moving citrus nursery stock, plant parts and fruit outside the quarantine boundaries and off their properties. The only exception is for agricultural businesses that must adhere to specific requirements for treatment, cleaning, and packing commercial fruit prior to movement.
HLB is not harmful to people or animals but could be devastating to the county’s citrus industry. The disease is spread by the Asian citrus psyllids, tiny insects that can carry the bacterium when they feed on citrus trees.
“Unfortunately, Huanglongbing is fatal to citrus,” said San Diego Agricultural Commissioner Ha Dang. “Our goal is to prevent this disease from spreading any further. By working together, we can all protect our food supply, local agriculture, and environment from this devasting disease.”
The County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures is partnering with state and federal regulators to limit the impact on the public and help prevent the spread of the disease. County and state officials will work with residents in the affected area to arrange for treatment of citrus trees as a protective measure against the disease.
County officials are also proactively notifying local citrus growers, plant nurseries and other related businesses.
Samples from trees on the affected property and the surrounding area are undergoing tests for HLB. If HLB is detected in additional citrus trees in the quarantine area, state agricultural officials will follow up with treatment and removal of the infected trees.
Residents in the quarantine area are urged to take the following steps:
Residents can also call CDFA’s toll free Pest Hotline at (800) 491-1899 or visit cdfa.ca.gov/plant/acp.
(Katie Cadiao/County of San Diego Communications Office) n
Eighteen state senators from across California are urging the Department of Insurance to provide a lifeline to a growing number of condominium homeowners associations struggling to find affordable property insurance due to wildfire risk.The lawmakers, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, co-signed a letter on Feb. 6 calling for Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to use his executive authority to boost the California FAIR Plan commercial coverage limits from $8.4 million to $20 million. The increase aims to pr...
Eighteen state senators from across California are urging the Department of Insurance to provide a lifeline to a growing number of condominium homeowners associations struggling to find affordable property insurance due to wildfire risk.
The lawmakers, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, co-signed a letter on Feb. 6 calling for Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara to use his executive authority to boost the California FAIR Plan commercial coverage limits from $8.4 million to $20 million. The increase aims to provide relief for some condominium HOAs near canyons or open spaces that have seen rising insurance premiums for less coverage.
“Constituents have reported special assessments of thousands of dollars per year, and in some cases, premiums of nearly $1,000 per unit, per month just to maintain the master policy of their housing development,” wrote the legislators. “This is an untenable situation, potentially affecting millions of California homeowners.”
The FAIR Plan is a pooled risk program backed by all state-licensed property insurers. Its goal is to provide a temporary safety net of basic fire coverage when regular insurance becomes hard to find in the marketplace.
Jan. 5, 2023
That is increasingly the case for suburban condominium complexes that have been deemed vulnerable to wildfires — including several in San Diego County.
In January, Farmers Insurance declined to renew the property policy for Morada, a 338-unit condo community in Rancho Bernardo. Under last year’s policy, the HOA bought $73 million in coverage for $133,000.
When the association shopped for a replacement policy this year, the best it could cobble together was $10 million in coverage on the secondary insurance market for $885,000 a year.
Morada’s HOA has explored bringing its coverage level up to $80 million — roughly equivalent to last year’s policy given increased construction costs. The premium price tag would be $2.68 million.
That would require a special assessment on average of $8,000 per unit for Morada’s homeowners — many of whom are young families or seniors living on fixed incomes, according to a letter that an HOA board member posted on the Morada’s online chat site.
“Obviously, we are in a bad position unless we can find some other way” to secure insurance, said Sam Spooner, 85, a resident at Morada for more than a decade who is not on the HOA board. “Eight thousand dollars per unit. That is a stab in the gut right there.”
The HOA has yet to decide on whether to increase its coverage amount. But there are potential downsides to being underinsured, including making it more difficult for homeowners to sell. Lenders may balk at approving mortgages for potential buyers unless they purchase expensive, additional coverage on their own.
Morada isn’t alone. Last year, Farmers declined to renew property coverage for Canyon Park Villas, a 240-condo community in Mira Mesa, because of wildfire concerns. Its HOA was unable to find a replacement policy from state-sanctioned insurers — such as Farmers, State Farm, Travelers, AllState and Nationwide, among others. So, the HOA sought out coverage on the secondary or surplus market, which has much higher premiums.
Feb. 9, 2023
The result: Canyon Park Villas annual insurance bill went from $47,000 for $50 million in coverage under Farmers to $600,000 for $10 million in coverage from Lloyds of London and Axis — a 13-fold increase.
To pay for the insurance hike, the HOA enacted a $2,500 emergency special assessment in October on condo owners.
Villa Monterey in Tierrasanta also has been impacted, according to CBS 8. And a 220-unit condominium HOA in the San Marcos area, whose president asked not to be identified for privacy concerns after consulting with legal counsel, said his community also wasn’t renewed by its state-licensed insurer and had to find coverage on the secondary market — boosting its annual premiums from about $40,000 to $900,000.
Though they’re residential, condominiums are typically covered with commercial insurance. Increasing the FAIR Plan commercial coverage limit to $20 million could help some condo HOAs during the current market turmoil, though not the larger communities. The step is not considered a permanent fix, according to the letter that lawmakers sent to the insurance commissioner.
“We recognize that this is a partial and temporary solution that must be paired with continued statewide efforts to mitigate wildfire risk and improve the availability of insurance in the traditional marketplace,” wrote the lawmakers, including Sen. Steve Padilla, D-Chula Vista. “However, this action is urgently needed to prevent further displacement and protect homeowners throughout the state.”
In a statement and Twitter post, Lara said he appreciates the Legislature’s support for his continued efforts to modernize the FAIR Plan to meet new challenges.
“Insurance is about safety and, hearing from homeowners and businesses, we are creating lasting solutions to protect Californians from climate change,” said Lara. “Expanded coverage options for HOAs and community associations, including a stronger FAIR Plan, is a top priority for my new term. We have to hold insurance companies accountable to covering Californians. We want them to be part of the solution, not the problem, and work with us to protect homeowners and businesses.”
Condo residents said their policy was not renewed in 2023 due to wildfire risk.SAN DIEGO — More condo owners are coming forward to report Farmers Insurance has not renewed their property insurance due to wildfire risk.Residents in the 338-unit Morada condo complex may now be looking at thousands of dollars in special assessments to get insurance on the secondary market.CBS 8 spoke to a Morada resident who did not want to be id...
Condo residents said their policy was not renewed in 2023 due to wildfire risk.
SAN DIEGO — More condo owners are coming forward to report Farmers Insurance has not renewed their property insurance due to wildfire risk.
Residents in the 338-unit Morada condo complex may now be looking at thousands of dollars in special assessments to get insurance on the secondary market.
CBS 8 spoke to a Morada resident who did not want to be identified because he feared retaliation from Farmers Insurance.
“My wife and I have been here for more than a decade,” he said.
Because the condos are connected, the complex needs a single master property insurance policy of about $80 million.
Farmers canceled the policy for the entire complex, including coverage for wildfire damage.
“They have prepared some proprietary wildfire maps of their own, which they don't disclose. And it indicates that many of these condominium complexes are in extreme wildfire risk zones,” said the Morada resident.
The owner said the complex’s HOA found a temporary policy on the secondary market for the first quarter of 2023, but residents are worried the special assessment could be about $2,500; that’s on top of the $500 per month each condo owner pays in HOA fees.
“Right now, we have a policy because we have a mortgage. It's essential that we have a master policy in place that's going to cover wildfire damage, and the bank insists on that to have collateral for their mortgage,” said the resident.
Condo owners started contacting CBS 8 last month about Farmers Insurance canceling policies, including 320 condos in Tierrasanta, 240 condos in Rancho Penasquitos, and perhaps hundreds more across the state.
Because cancellations raise insurance costs, the price of housing also increases.
“So, this problem will, in my mind, create homelessness in the not-too-distant future,” the Morada resident said.
It’s a scary prospect for the resident and his wife, who are in their 80s and on a fixed income.
“We'll survive this year. But suppose it goes on and something is not done to resolve it. In that case, it's going to be a huge crisis throughout California that will result not only in the personal loss of units but, in the end, the failure of condominium communities themselves,” said the resident.
CBS 8 reached out to Farmers Insurance on more than one occasion but did not get a response.
State Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, who represents Rancho Bernardo, emailed CBS 8 the following statement:
“I hear the concerns of the community and share their frustrations. In a wildfire prone area like San Diego, having the security of property insurance is critical. I am actively working with the Insurance Commissioner’s office to find a solution that gives property owners peace of mind. In the meantime, I encourage those who have been affected to reach out to their Associations to express their concerns and file a complaint with the Department of Insurance.”
WATCH RELATED: Farmers Insurance cancels policies for 300+ homes in Tierrasanta
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