Florida Home Owners Insurance

[Bustoff]

If you live in Florida, could you please advise what you pay for home owners insurance ?

We hope to move to Florida and have been investigating various locales there for the past couple of years.
The Florida real estate agents have an answer for everything until you ask what homeowners insurance would run. All of a sudden they become clueless, even though most of them live in the immediate area, and some of them live in that sub-division.

[l2ridehd]

Insurance in Florida is based on how close you are to the coast and hurricane prone. I have homes in The Villages which is inland 45 minutes and insurance is very reasonable. Average $800 a year for a $300K home. On the coast the same home would be $2500 to $3000 a year. So there is a lot of variance depending on proximity to the ocean. If you have selected an area, call a few agents and ask for rates in that location.

[midareff]

make it easy on yourself..... Citizens is the state pool carrier. Call them for a quote. I recently used (not this agency) Citizens for my (on the coast) condo and saved about $500 a year vs. Liberty Mutual. I have no connection or interest in the company below.

STEPHEN COPELAND
SOUTHERN FINANCIAL INSURANCE GROUP, LLC
2255 KILLEARN CENTER BLVD
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32309
(866) 388-6691

[soaring]

Call Geico and you can get a quick quote or refusal if too near the coast. I am insured with http://www.SecurityFirstFlorida.com but thru Geico not direct for about $700 @ $200K coverage.
If you are considering coastal living probably call Citizens as they are insurer of last resort...and most expensive, I think.

[englishgirl]

Yes, it is SO variable, based on proximity to the coast, age of house, what hurricane measures you have in place, etc. As I live in a 1954 house very close to the water, I don't have the proper measures such as roof tie-downs in place, and not every door/window has a Miami-Dade code approved shutter (most do, but I have 2 lower-rated shutters, and one door has a little half-moon window in it that's not up to code). So mine is probably a worst case scenario. BUT, it is a very well built house, with Dade county pine roof planking, and I was not about to mess with the roof to put the tie downs in place. At some point, I'll put hurricane resistant windows in place, and then maybe I'll be able to save SOME money on the insurance.

I haven't received my Citizen's (windstorm only) renewal notice yet, but last year it was about $2500, if I recall correctly.
Homeowner's (no windstorm) is $837.
Flood is $354.

[Sam I Am]

We have been with Traveler's for the last nine years, though every year another friend or neighbor gets cut.

We pay $2300 for dwelling valued at $373k (way, way too high). $200 of premium is for sinkhole coverage, as some have appeared in an adjacent subdivision. Hurricane deductible is $7460, sinkhole $37,300.

We live on Florida's west coast, inland side of Tampa Bay. No flood danger, or storm surge issues.

Our home is fortified as best we can with Miami-Dade rated windows, reinforced garage door. Our sun-room has too much glass for hurricane-rated windows, but we do have heavy grade 3M Solar Film that should help with wind-blown debris and keeps room cooler in the summer.

We have many oak trees on our lot, and that is a worry, but we enjoy the shade, and keep them trimmed within reason.

Sam I Am

[Taz]

Ours is roughly $2300 a year. It is pricey, even if you are not in a hurricane area (we live 14 miles as the crow flies from the coast). Throw in a swimming pool & screen enclosure .... One thing you can do is have the house specifically inspected so that all hurricane/structural features are documented.

I will say that USAA is not the cheapest but the one I have the most confidence in.

FWIW, recent changes have increased our FL insurance by about 10% -- just for state mandated fees/assessments that the insurance company pays into a general state insurance pot.

[rotorhead]

Some good responses to your question here. There was a thread just recently on this subject. Here is link to my comment at the time:

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=106745#p1556573

Florida is a large state, with a lot of variety; and whatever your likes are, you can find the appropriate area to live in. There is a world of difference between the Keys and the Panhandle. We are happy in Palm Beach County, not far from the ocean.

Don't let the fear of insurance costs govern your decision.

[Bustoff]

Some good responses to your question here. There was a thread just recently on this subject. Here is link to my comment at the time:

http://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=106745#p1556573

Florida is a large state, with a lot of variety; and whatever your likes are, you can find the appropriate area to live in. There is a world of difference between the Keys and the Panhandle. We are happy in Palm Beach County, not far from the ocean.

Don't let the fear of insurance costs govern your decision.

Yes, there are some good responses, including yours. Thank you all !