Floridians - what home insurance company do you use? Help please!

[Gabes_mommy]

DH and I just found out that our homeowner's insurance dropped us because they are pulling out of FL. We have been trying to find a new policy with no luck and now our mortgage company is only giving us 2 weeks to have a new policy in place. Eek!

Help please - has anyone gotten a policy lately? Who did you go with?

Thanks in advance - I am seriously stressing about this.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Sunshine State insurance.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

My car is with GEICO, so I contacted GEICO. They act as agents for Traveller's, so that is the company I use.

And are they actually canceling your existing policy or are they just telling you they will not renew your policy when it come up? If they are canceling I would suggest you contact the State Insurance Office to see if what they are doing is legal. And if they are just not renewing, I think they have to give you at least 60 days notice of non-renewal.

 

[Disney845]

We previously had Vanguard and when they went out of business (or bankrupt, or whatever it was that happened to them) we received a notice from the State of FL saying that they (FL State Gov.) was liquidating Vanguard and had made arrangements with two different insurance companies to cover the people affected. They told us we could keep the insurer they were setting us up with or find our own. We ended up keeping the insurer they provided. They are called Security First. We have never had any claims with them so I can not comment on that, but the premium isn't horrible (I mean it is high, but we live in FL, so what do we expect right? ).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We will have to switch whne our primary property becomes our secondary property. (we are grandfathered in as current owner/primary property, but a few years ago they dropped secondaries and new policies in Florida unless military--USAA).

I consulted and insurance agent so that I would not have to shop myself.

I got a quote for a barrier island that I Felt was more than fair. A shade less than what I am paying now, but lots more coverage involved.

The quote I received is listed as:Gulfstream Property & Casualty Insurance and is $3672 for dwelling, oersonal property and $300K liability.


I used A Professional Insurance Agency in Melbourne Fl on recommendation of a friend who used them when her insurance was dropped to help me find someone who would insure us.

HTH

(My friend is with Citizens, but it seems there are still insurers still insuring within FL. FTW, my area got slammed directly twice in 2004. My home had no damage either time and no wind claims (or any claims) since 1999.)

I highly recommend to just go to an agent on your own who can shop policies for you. I had my quote within several days. You may get it quicker if they know that you are under the gun. FYI--your mortgage company may just want you to act quickly and as long as you are agressive in your search to remedy the situation.

ALSO--I am required to get a home inspection prior to the insurance actually being purchased. I have no idea on what grounds they can rule me out. But I think they are just checking the structure and its ability to withstand hurricanes. I don't actually have the insurance, yet and will not until about May or so.

 

[sorcerormickey]

Tower Hill

 

[Feralpeg]

I have State Farm. They were going to pull out of Florida, but came to an agreement with the state.

 

[ticktock]

We have State Farm though DH says he doesn't think they are accepting any new Fl contracts?

Even before the insurance flight it was difficult to get home owners with State Farm. We had our car insurance through them for a few years and then were accepted for home owners. Might be worth a shot, they've always been very good to us.

 

[Golf4food]

We have State Farm though DH says he doesn't think they are accepting any new Fl contracts?

Even before the insurance flight it was difficult to get home owners with State Farm. We had our car insurance through them for a few years and then were accepted for home owners. Might be worth a shot, they've always been very good to us.

Most of the major insurers will not cover a home in Florida if it was built prior to around 2005 or 2006 - anything older than that and you have to look elsewhere.

 

[RadioNate]

Tower Hill

us too

 

[eeyore65]

We have Pure. We are on a barrier island.

 

[Otimon]

State Farm here.

 

[Seahunt]

Well we had State Farm (Home/Auto/Motorcycle/Golf Cart/Flood/Umbrella policies - whew! Insurance poor ) until they threatened to cancel the state of FL like Feralpeg posted. Then they threatened they were going to raise rates by 40% and that was enough for us - we cancelled all and went to AAA South instead. We have been AAA members forever and received great rates, so hopefully it's all good

 

[ticktock]

Most of the major insurers will not cover a home in Florida if it was built prior to around 2005 or 2006 - anything older than that and you have to look elsewhere.

My house was built in 1928 and we have State Farm.

 

[golfgal]

My car is with GEICO, so I contacted GEICO. They act as agents for Traveller's, so that is the company I use.

And are they actually canceling your existing policy or are they just telling you they will not renew your policy when it come up? If they are canceling I would suggest you contact the State Insurance Office to see if what they are doing is legal. And if they are just not renewing, I think they have to give you at least 60 days notice of non-renewal.

What they are doing is legal and as long as they do it to everyone (pulling out of the state) the non-renewal notices don't apply. Many companies have done this in Florida because of the high claim rates-they can't keep solvent and insure homes in Florida.

 

[ilovefh]

I don't want to hijack but I have an insurance question. I keep hearing the rates are high in Florida. What would be the typical premium for central FL?

 

[Art 1]

State Farm.

 

[Melissa R]

When I lived in FL and our insurance company stopped covering us I was told by someone to find an ad in the yellow pages for an "Independent Insurance Agent." (There's a little logo with an eagle on top of a capital I.)

That agent was not only able to find insurance for me quickly, but also for less than I'd been previously paying.

 

[abdmom]

I don't want to hijack but I have an insurance question. I keep hearing the rates are high in Florida. What would be the typical premium for central FL?

I'd like to know the answer to this too. I'm in FL now and am thinking of moving here eventually.

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't want to hijack but I have an insurance question. I keep hearing the rates are high in Florida. What would be the typical premium for central FL?

My homeowners was about $1500 last year. This is for a 6 year old, 2300 square foot home. I really don't think the rates in Central Florida are that bad. Along the coast, however, they are much higher.