Quick Facts About Home Insurance in Collingwood
- Collingwood home insurance is LESS expensive than the Ontario average.
- The average annual cost of home insurance in Collingwood is around $1,075.
Quote data from MyChoice.ca, October 2024
What Risks Affect Homeowners in Collingwood?
Many things can cause home damage. Here are common risks to watch out for as a homeowner in Collingwood:
Crime
While crime levels differ from city to city, there’s always a risk of your home being damaged in criminal acts like vandalism and theft. In fact, Ontario has the highest crime rate in Canada, with a Crime Severity Index of 88.3.
Flooding
Flooding in Ontario is extremely common because so many things can cause it. Some common flood causes include snow melts, heavy rains, and ice jams. Worse still, flash floods can happen with little to no warning. These frequent, sudden floods make flooding the costliest cause of property damage in the province.
Fire
On average, Ontario experiences around 1,000 major forest burns each year. These fires can damage homes and force people to evacuate in extreme cases. Fire departments across the province often issue fire bans that restrict the use of fire pits and other similar items to avoid house fires.
On-property accidents
Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, regardless of how safe your home is. People may hold you liable for slips and falls that happened on your property, which is where home insurance comes in. Home insurance policies can cover numerous costs related to a slip and fall lawsuit.
How Much Does Home Insurance in Collingwood Usually Cost?
Home insurance in Collingwood costs around $1,075 annually. Home insurance premiums are affected by factors like your home’s age, roofing type, proximity to fire hydrants, and more.
Using your home as a place of business may also influence your home insurance rates. Using your home for business means more people coming in and out of your property, increasing your liability and risk of losing belongings.
Quote data from MyChoice.ca, October 2024
Housing Data in Collingwood
Collingwood is a well-known tourist destination thanks to its many year-round outdoor activities. Whether it’s skiing in the winter or exploring limestone caves in the summer, there’s no shortage of things to do in Collingwood.
Collingwood isn’t just a great place to visit, though. It’s also a great place to live in. Census data showed Collingwood had a 13.8% increase in residents between 2016 and 2021, likely owing to the popularity of remote work due to the pandemic. People decided to move to Collingwood thanks to its natural beauty and affordable homes.
The average price for homes in Collingwood is around $50,000 lower than Toronto’s average. Pair that with the cost of living in Collingwood that’s 4% under the national average, then you can live quite affordably if you move to Collingwood.
Are you a current Collingwood resident or planning to live there? You can understand the area’s housing landscape well through census data. Here’s a look at key housing statistics in Collingwood from the 2021 Census of Population:
Type of Occupied Dwelling
Single-detached homes are the most popular dwelling type in Collingwood, with a 56.4% share out of the 11,175 households surveyed. Meanwhile, low-rise apartments take second place at 17.9% and row houses third at 12.3%.
Owner vs Renter Stats/Condo vs Non-Condo Owners
Nearly three-quarters (72.8%) of surveyed households in Collingwood own their homes. The remaining 27.2% rent theirs.
Almost one-quarter (24.6%) of Collingwood residents live in condominiums, with the rest (75.4%) living in non-condo dwellings.
Private Dwellings by Period of Construction: New or Older Homes?
Most Collingwood residents live in relatively old homes, with 21.3% of households living in homes constructed between 1961 and 1980, while 18.5% live in homes built before 1960. However, 13% of Collingwood’s households live in homes built between 2016 and 2021.
Major Repairs or Just Maintenance Needed?
Homes in Collingwood are generally well-maintained, with 94.9% of them only needing minor repairs and regular maintenance. Contrast this with the 5.1% of homes that need major repairs.
Homeownership Rate by Age in Collingwood
It seems that Collingwood isn’t the most affordable place in Ontario for young adults (25-39), with the majority of homeowners being above 40.
Age Group | Homeownership Rate |
---|---|
15 to 24 | 35.5% |
25 to 39 | 55.1% |
40 to 54 | 71.5% |
55 to 74 | 79.7% |
75 and over | 75.2% |
Average Home Price in Collingwood by Dwelling Type
The average price of a single detached price in Collingwood is way above the Ontario average of $800,000.
Type of Dwelling | Average Value |
---|---|
Detached | $980,000 |
Semi-Detached | $834,000 |
Freehold Townhouse | $537,500 |
Collingwood Population Growth
Collingwood population grew 5.83% between the years of 2016 and 2021.
What Is Not Included in a Typical Home Insurance Policy?
Even if you’ve opted for a highly comprehensive home insurance policy, there are some risks that insurers explicitly don’t include as a covered peril. These are called “exclusions” by home insurers.
Here are the most common home insurance exclusions:
Criminal activities:
If your home was damaged due to criminal activity, it won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
Damage from tenants
Generally, home insurance companies require specific coverage for homeowners/landlords who plan to rent out their properties. A standard home insurance policy won’t include coverage if you rent your home out and the tenant causes damage.
Earthquakes
Most policies exclude this risk, but you can cover earthquake losses and damage as an add-on to a standard policy.
Failure to maintain your home
Damage or losses caused by poor home upkeep (e.g., clogged storm drains, broken bannisters) won’t be covered, as your insurer deems it your responsibility to manage wear and tear.
Flood damage
Flooding is typically not covered by a standard policy, but it may be included as an add-on.
Home business activities
Home businesses will need separate home-based business insurance to cover home or equipment damage.
Insect damage
Because this is considered a preventable risk, most insurers don’t cover insect damage.
Mortgage or property taxes
These are separate expenses handled by policy owners as they’re unrelated to your home insurance policy.
Mould
Mould caused by poor home maintenance is typically excluded by home insurance policies. Note that this is separate from mould caused by an insured peril, which will be covered by your policy.
Vacant dwelling risks
Many insurers may void your insurance if you leave your home vacant for a prolonged period.
This is by no means an exclusive list of risks typically excluded from a home insurance policy in Collingwood. Talk to your home insurance provider to see what’s covered by your policy in case of loss or damage.
Why Do I Need Home Insurance in Collingwood?
There are many risks to your Collingwood home. From flooding due to heavy rain to fires, unforeseen incidents can damage your home or its attached structures severely, which can take a lot of money to repair. Somebody can even get into an accident on your property, which might result in hefty legal and medical fees.
Unexpected expenses due to these incidents can stretch your finances thin. The good news is that home insurance can help. A home insurance policy can foot your home repair bills if a covered peril damages it. Additionally, it pays for the many costs associated with personal injury lawsuits.
With the many options for home insurance, which one is right for you? There’s no one “best” home insurance policy for everybody, so you need to learn more about home insurance in Collingwood to make the right decisions.
Home insurance isn’t legally required in Collingwood. That said, having a policy is still a good idea. Home insurance protects you from unforeseen events that cause costly damages. Instead of paying to fix it out of pocket, your policy can lighten the financial load. Here’s a quick look at the reasons why you should get home insurance in Collingwood:
Liability protection
Accidents happen; when you do, you want to be protected. Unforeseen events can damage your property or get somebody injured on your property. Home insurance policies foot the liability costs of these incidents, meaning you don’t have to shell out as much for legal fees, medical expenses, and other costs you must pay.
Coverage for loss or damage
Your home is at risk of suffering expensive damage or loss due to natural disasters or other perils like theft and vandalism. A home insurance policy can keep you from becoming house-poor if you need to rebuild your home or find a new one. It can even cover the cost of temporary housing as your home is repaired.
Mortgage terms
Lenders and financial institutions like banks may require you to get a home insurance policy as a condition for getting a mortgage loan.
How You Can Get Cheap Home Insurance in Collingwood
Looking to save money on home insurance in Collingwood, visit our Ontario page for practical tips.