Empty Nesters in Hays County? How to Right-Size Your Insurance When You Downsize Your Home

December 10, 2025

How to Right-Size Your Insurance When You Downsize Your Home

White house with red trim, small porch, picket fence, fall leaves, trees.

For years, your life in Hays County has revolved around your family. You might have moved to a home in Kyle or Buda for the great schools, spent countless weekends at Five Mile Dam or cheering on the Rattlers, and navigated the I-35 commute to provide for it all.

Now, you’ve done it. The kids have graduated (maybe even from Texas State, right down the road!) and have officially moved out. Your sprawling four-bedroom house suddenly feels very... empty.

Congratulations, you're an empty nester!

This new chapter is exciting. For many, it's a time to "right-size"—perhaps by downsizing to a smaller, low-maintenance home in Wimberley, a condo in San Marcos, or simply staying put and enjoying the newfound peace. As your life changes, your insurance needs to change right along with it.

At San Marcos Insurance Agency, we help families navigate every stage of life. Here’s how to make sure your insurance is working for you, not the life you used to have.

1. Don't Just "Lower" Your Coverage

Your first instinct might be to just call and "lower" your insurance to save money. Be careful. You don't necessarily need less coverage; you need different coverage.

Downsizing to a Home/Condo? If you move to a smaller home, your Dwelling Coverage (the part that rebuilds the house) will likely go down. But if you move into a condo, you'll need a special "walls-in" (HO-6) policy, which is very different from a homeowners policy.
Staying Put? You still need enough coverage to rebuild your home at today's labor and material costs, which have risen dramatically.

2. Your "Stuff" Is Probably Worth More, Not Less

Think about the last 20+ years. You've upgraded from starter furniture. You've collected art, antiques, or jewelry. You have better tools and nicer electronics.

While your kids may have taken their old bedroom furniture, the total value of your personal property is likely at its peak. This is the time to review your Personal Property limits to make sure you have enough coverage for all the valuables you've spent a lifetime acquiring. If you have specific high-value items, like jewelry or fine art, they may need to be "scheduled" with a separate rider.

3. The Best News: Saving on Auto Insurance

Here's where you'll see the biggest and most immediate savings. Removing your teen or college-age drivers from your auto policy is a financial game-changer. Your rates will almost certainly go down, sometimes dramatically.

This is also a great time to re-evaluate your commute. Are you still driving to Austin every day, or are you working from home or retired? A change in your "annual mileage" can lead to even more savings.

4. Re-evaluating Your Life Insurance

That 20- or 30-year term life policy you bought when your kids were born might be expiring soon. Back then, its purpose was "income replacement"—to pay off the mortgage and fund college if the worst happened.

Now, your goals are different. You may not need to replace your income, but you might want:

A smaller, permanent policy: To cover final expenses (funerals, medical bills) so your children aren't burdened.
A policy for estate planning: To leave a tax-free inheritance or equalize inheritances if you have complex assets.

Don't let your old policy lapse without a plan. Let's review what you have and what you still need.

5. Your Umbrella Policy is More Important Than Ever

Now that you're an empty nester, you are likely at the peak of your asset accumulation. You have significant home equity, a healthy retirement account, and other investments.

You have more to protect now than ever before.

A single, major lawsuit (like a bad car accident) could wipe out everything you've worked for. An Umbrella Policy provides an extra $1 million+ in liability protection over your home and auto policies. It is the single best way to shield your nest egg from a lawsuit.

Let's Adjust Your Plan

Your life is entering a new, exciting phase. Your insurance should, too. As your local independent agency, we can help you review all your policies to ensure they fit your new lifestyle, protect your assets, and save you money wherever possible.

Contact San Marcos Insurance Agency today for a free, no-obligation "empty nester" policy review.

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Boat dashboard with wooden steering wheel, seat, and water in background.

Beyond the Commute: Insuring Your Boat, RV, and Motorcycle in Central Texas

December 3, 2025

Living in Central Texas isn't just about the great communities and proximity to Austin and San Antonio. For many of us, it's about the weekends. It’s about getting out and enjoying the incredible landscape that surrounds us. It's about launching the boat at Canyon Lake, taking a scenic motorcycle ride through the twists and turns of the Hill Country, or parking the RV for a long weekend getaway. Your "toys" are your ticket to freedom, but they also represent a significant investment and a major liability. A common and costly mistake is assuming your auto or home insurance policy automatically covers them. It doesn't. At San Marcos Insurance Agency, we help our clients protect their fun. Here’s what you need to know about insuring your recreational vehicles. 1. Boats on Canyon Lake & The Guadalupe Here’s the hard truth: Your homeowners insurance provides little to no meaningful coverage for your boat. It might cover a small canoe or kayak for liability on your property, but the moment you put a motor on it or take it to a lake, you're exposed. A dedicated boat policy is essential and covers: • Physical Damage: Protects the boat, motor, and trailer from theft, fire, or damage, whether it's on the water or in your driveway. • Liability: This is critical. It covers you if you cause an accident that injures another boater or damages their property (docks, other boats). • On-Water Towing: If you're stranded in the middle of Canyon Lake with a dead engine, this coverage is a lifesaver, paying for the tow back to the marina. • Wreckage Removal: If your boat sinks, you are legally responsible for the cost of removing it. This coverage handles that expense. 2. Motorcycle Rides in the Hill Country A motorcycle isn't just a smaller car; it carries entirely different risks. The winding roads around Wimberley and Dripping Springs are beautiful but demand respect. Standard auto insurance isn't enough. A motorcycle policy needs to include: • Guest Passenger Liability: Does your policy cover a passenger riding with you? Many don't unless you specifically add it. • Custom Parts & Equipment (CPE): You've spent money on custom pipes, a new seat, and chrome. Your basic policy won't cover those upgrades unless you add CPE coverage. • Higher Medical Payments: With a higher risk of injury, increasing your own medical payments coverage is a smart move. 3. RVs & Travel Trailers: A Vehicle or a Home? The answer is: it's both. And it needs to be insured that way. Your auto policy only provides basic liability when the trailer is hitched to your truck, and your home policy doesn't cover it at all. You need a dedicated RV or travel trailer policy, which combines the best of auto and home insurance: • Total Loss Replacement: If your new RV is totaled, this can help you get a brand new, comparable model, not just the depreciated cash value. • Vacation Liability: Covers you for injuries or property damage that happen at your campsite—for instance, if a guest trips over your awning. • Personal Effects: Covers all the stuff you keep inside your camper (grills, TVs, clothes, camping gear) that aren't part of the vehicle itself. • Full-Timer's Liability: If you live in your RV for months at a time, this provides broader liability protection that acts more like a homeowners policy. 4. The Bundle is Your Best Friend Here's the good news. Insuring your "toys" doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Most carriers we work with offer significant discounts for "bundling." When you insure your boat, motorcycle, or RV with the same company that writes your home and auto policies, you not only simplify your life with one agent and one bill, but you can also unlock multi-policy discounts that save you serious money. Get Your Fun Covered Before you hook up the trailer or roll out the bike for your next adventure, let's talk. A quick 15-minute call with us can ensure your weekend fun is properly protected. Contact San Marcos Insurance Agency today for a free, no-obligation quote on your recreational vehicles.