Ground up residential and commercial projects
New construction from the first footing, residential, commercial and mixed use, for builders, owners and developers whose lender requires coverage before the first draw.
Course of Construction Insurance in California
Ground up builds, covered in days not weeks. Start a quote in minutes and a licensed California broker shops the construction markets for you.
We shop the market for you, no broker fees
Eight relevant markets are shown for comparison. Availability depends on the risk and location, and a logo does not imply a direct appointment.
Alchemy
New construction builders risk
Green Shield
Ground up construction, residential to $4M
Blitz
E&S builders risk to $5M per location
BTIS
Builders risk marketplace
Builders Mutual
Construction and builders risk programs
Travelers
Course of construction property
Chubb
Construction property
Great American
Builders risk programs
What the course of construction market writes in California
Projects from the modest to the very large
Programs start around a hundred fifty thousand dollars of completed value, with broad paper capacity documented up to roughly sixty five million depending on construction type.
The location decides eligibility
The highest wildfire hazard groups, coastal proximity and over water sites restrict or end eligibility. The broker checks the hazard groups from the project address before quoting.
Soft costs and materials are the difference
Soft costs from a covered loss, theft of building materials with a ten thousand dollar sublimit, vandalism and malicious mischief, and cosmetic renovation allowances mid build.
How it works
10 minute form
A few questions about your business or home.
We shop the market
We compare carriers and read the forms line by line.
Quote and bind
We pick the best policy and get you covered.
The lender's requirement is the easy part
Construction projects begin with drawings, which evolve rapidly during the build process. Every lender requires course of construction coverage before funding; the hard part is a policy that still matches the project at month nine, after the scope changed twice.
The completed value has to be right
Course of construction insures what the building will be worth finished, not what has been spent so far. Undervaluing it is the most common cause of a shortfall at claim time.
Soft costs are the hidden loss
When a covered loss delays the build, interest, rents and re-engineering pile up faster than the frame goes back up. Soft costs coverage is what separates a real policy from a cheap one.
The term has to match the schedule
Ground up terms run to the certificate of occupancy. A standard twelve months with an extension path, matched to the real build schedule, beats a cheap policy that lapses at month ten.
Written for California ground up projects, including:
- Residential new construction
- Commercial and mixed use builds
- Wood frame projects to $10 million
- Larger projects to roughly $65 million by market
- Projects already started, by review
- Modular builds by review
What changes your premium
These details help insurers assess your business and price the coverage. Terms and available options vary by insurer.
- Completed value of the project
- Construction type, stories and square footage
- Wildfire hazard group and coastal distance from the address
- Builder's experience and prior claims
- Protection class and hydrant distance
Questions we get asked
Is course of construction the same as builders risk?
Yes, the two names describe the same coverage: property insurance for a structure while it is being built. Lenders and contracts use the names interchangeably, and this page exists because you searched the other one.
When does coverage start and end?
It starts at first delivery of materials to the site in most programs and ends at the certificate of occupancy or the policy term, whichever comes first.
What are soft costs?
The costs that continue after a covered loss delays the project: construction loan interest, lost rents, re-engineering and permit refiling. They are covered as a scheduled option, not automatically.
Who buys the policy, the owner or the builder?
Either can hold it, and lenders accept both. The builder holding it is the more common placement because their experience rating drives the price.
Are materials on site covered against theft?
Yes, with theft of building materials carried as a sublimit, ten thousand dollars on the standard form, and higher by market.
Can you write this where my business is?
We are currently licensed in California only. Start a quote if the business or risk is in California, and we will confirm eligibility before you spend time on it.
What happens after I start a quote?
Tell us about the coverage you need and complete the application. We use those details to approach suitable markets and may ask follow-up questions. Requesting a quote does not put coverage in force.
Ready to compare your coverage options?
Start your application online, or talk with a licensed broker about your situation.