If you own a four-bedroom free standing home in Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086, you're sitting in one of Sydney's Northern Beaches' most sought-after pockets — a leafy, hilly suburb that blends suburban comfort with bushland character. But that natural setting comes with its own insurance considerations. This article breaks down a real building-only insurance quote for a property in this suburb, comparing it against local, state, and national benchmarks to help you understand whether you're getting a fair deal.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $2,018 per year (or $198/month) for building-only cover on a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom free standing home with a sum insured of $810,000 and a building excess of $2,000.
Our rating? Cheap — well below average.
To put that in perspective: the average home insurance premium across Frenchs Forest sits at $3,698 per year, and the suburb median is $3,532 per year. This quote lands a remarkable $1,680 below the suburb average — that's a saving of roughly 45% compared to what most homeowners in the area are paying.
Even against the 25th percentile for the suburb (meaning only 25% of quotes are cheaper), this premium of $2,018 is $913 below that threshold of $2,931. In other words, this quote is cheaper than the cheapest quarter of quotes we've seen in Frenchs Forest. That's a genuinely strong result.
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How Frenchs Forest Compares
To understand just how competitive this quote is, it helps to zoom out and look at the broader picture.
| Benchmark | Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $2,018 |
| Frenchs Forest 25th Percentile | $2,931 |
| Frenchs Forest Median | $3,532 |
| Frenchs Forest Average | $3,698 |
| Frenchs Forest 75th Percentile | $4,162 |
| NSW Average | $3,801 |
| NSW Median | $3,410 |
| National Average | $2,965 |
| National Median | $2,716 |
| Northern Beaches LGA Average | $4,149 |
What stands out immediately is that Frenchs Forest premiums — and Northern Beaches premiums more broadly — run significantly higher than the national average. The LGA average of $4,149 is nearly 40% above the national average of $2,965, which reflects the elevated rebuild costs, bushfire proximity, and property values typical of this coastal-fringe region.
Interestingly, this particular quote even undercuts the national median of $2,716, which is quite rare for a Northern Beaches property. You can explore suburb-level data on our Frenchs Forest insurance stats page, compare it to the NSW state overview, or check out national home insurance benchmarks for broader context.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Every property is different, and insurers weigh up a range of factors when calculating your premium. Here's how the specific characteristics of this home likely influence the price:
Brick Veneer Walls
Brick veneer is generally viewed favourably by insurers. While it's not as robust as full double-brick construction, it's far more fire-resistant than timber weatherboard and holds up well in most weather events. This is a positive factor for premium pricing.
Concrete Tile Roof
Concrete roofs are durable and resistant to wind and fire — two key risk factors in bushland-adjacent suburbs like Frenchs Forest. A concrete roof typically attracts a lower premium than Colorbond or, especially, older tile types that may be more fragile or prone to leakage.
Elevated on Poles (At Least 1m)
This is one of the more nuanced features. Homes elevated by at least a metre on poles — a construction style common in hillside NSW suburbs — can actually work in your favour when it comes to flood and stormwater risk, as water is less likely to inundate the living areas. However, elevated homes can also face higher wind exposure and may have more complex repair requirements. On balance, elevation on poles is broadly neutral-to-positive for premiums in non-cyclone zones.
Timber and Laminate Flooring
Flooring type matters more than many homeowners realise. Timber and laminate floors can be more susceptible to water damage than tiles, which may slightly increase the cost of a claim — but with building-only cover (no contents), this is less of a factor here.
Construction Era (1960)
Older homes built around 1960 can attract higher premiums due to the age of plumbing, electrical systems, and structural components. Insurers may factor in a higher likelihood of maintenance-related claims. That said, a 1960s brick veneer home with a concrete roof is a reasonably solid proposition compared to older timber constructions.
Standard Fittings, No Pool, No Solar
Standard fittings keep rebuild costs predictable and premiums lower. The absence of a pool and solar panels also removes two common sources of additional liability and replacement cost, which helps keep the premium lean.
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Tips for Homeowners in Frenchs Forest
Whether you're reviewing an existing policy or shopping for the first time, here are some practical steps to make sure you're getting the best value:
- Don't over-insure — but don't under-insure either. A sum insured of $810,000 for a 235 sqm home in this area is a meaningful figure. Use a building cost calculator to verify your sum insured reflects current construction costs, not just your purchase price or land value. Under-insurance is one of the most common and costly mistakes Australian homeowners make.
- Review your excess settings. This quote carries a $2,000 building excess. Opting for a higher excess is one of the simplest ways to reduce your annual premium — but make sure you could comfortably cover that excess out of pocket if you needed to make a claim.
- Check your bushfire risk rating. Frenchs Forest borders bushland reserves, and some streets carry a higher Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating than others. If your property has been assessed at a higher BAL, make sure your insurer is aware — and that your policy covers bushfire damage adequately.
- Compare at renewal, not just at purchase. The insurance market shifts constantly, and the cheapest insurer this year may not be the cheapest next year. Set a reminder to compare quotes at least 30 days before your renewal date so you have time to switch without a gap in cover.
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Ready to See What You Could Pay?
This quote is a great example of how much variation exists in the home insurance market — even within a single suburb. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive quotes in Frenchs Forest spans over $1,200 per year. That's money that could stay in your pocket with a bit of comparison shopping.
Get a home insurance quote for your Frenchs Forest property at CoverClub and see how your premium stacks up against the suburb, state, and national benchmarks — in minutes, for free.