| Let's face it. Finding affordable Florida home insurance | | | | Wind Pool |
| is always a challenge in most parts of the state. | | | | A specific distance (stated in either feet or miles) that |
| Especially since most national companies no longer | | | | the home must be away from the coast |
| write homeowners insurance policies here. At the | | | | A limit on how old the home can be if coverage is |
| present time only 40 companies out of over 400 | | | | being offered for homes close to the coast |
| companies licensed to write home insurance are still | | | | At the present time, most Florida home insurance |
| writing new business in Florida. | | | | companies are not offering coverage with wind in the |
| If your home is located in a Southern Florida coastal | | | | Citizens Wind Pool - however a very limited number |
| county, it is even harder for you to find coverage. | | | | will if the home is 20 years old or newer. |
| Most southern coastal counties have about 25 | | | | Florida homeowners insurance companies that won't |
| companies on average that are actively writing new | | | | cover homes on the coast currently have restrictions |
| business - and the closer your home is to the water, | | | | that range from 1000 feet all the way to 2 miles or |
| the number of companies that are willing to cover your | | | | greater from the coast. |
| home drops off dramatically. | | | | Given the current availability of home insurance in |
| Many Florida coastal homes end up seeking coverage | | | | Florida, it is still possible for many owners of Florida |
| with Citizens Property Insurance Corporation where | | | | coastal homes to find private homeowners insurance |
| they are subject to higher premiums and special | | | | in Florida - and at an affordable price. |
| assessments. However, just because your home is | | | | Here are some things you can do to give your Florida |
| located in a Florida coastal area doesn't always mean | | | | coastal home the best chance at affordable home |
| you have to pay more for insurance. There are lower | | | | insurance: |
| cost options to insure your Florida coastal home if you | | | | Make sure your home has hurricane shutters. The |
| know where to look. | | | | small group of Florida insurance companies that cover |
| While there are many factors that can affect your | | | | coastal homes will require that your home has shutters. |
| ability to find insurance for your Florida coastal home | | | | When you are shopping for Florida home insurance, it |
| including its age and construction materials, the two | | | | is essential that you work with more than one |
| main considerations are whether your home is located | | | | independent insurance agent - not just one. Why? |
| in the Citizens Wind Pool and the underwriting | | | | Because at this time, out of the 40 Florida home |
| guidelines being used by private Florida home insurance | | | | insurance companies still writing new business, very |
| companies for coastal homes. | | | | few will write coverage in the Citizens Wind Pool or |
| The Citizens Wind Pool refers to the coastal areas | | | | homes close to the coast. Using more than one agent |
| across the State of Florida where homeowners are | | | | will give you your best opportunity to get quotes from |
| eligible to get a policy from Citizens Property Insurance | | | | all of the Florida home insurance companies that are |
| Corporation (the state run insurance company) that | | | | still willing to cover coastal homes. If you miss even |
| specifically covers wind damage. Homeowners | | | | one of these companies you could end up paying |
| located in the Citizen Wind Pool end up with two | | | | thousands more for Florida home insurance. |
| policies covering their home: one from Citizens | | | | If the policy on your Florida coastal home is canceled |
| Insurance that covers wind damage and another from | | | | by an insurance company that only works with captive |
| a private homeowners insurance company that | | | | agents that only represent that company, an |
| covers losses from other risks such as fire. In general, | | | | independent agent will be able to present you with |
| the Citizen Wind Pool includes the areas up to 1000 | | | | more options for covering your home. You should |
| feet inland from the Florida coast in most counties | | | | expect the captive agent to discourage you from |
| along with the barrier islands. It is slightly bigger in Palm | | | | contacting an independent agent in order to get more |
| Beach, Broward, and Dade Counties where it includes | | | | quotes on your coastal home. Don't fall victim to this. |
| the area from the coast all the way inland to Interstate | | | | Seek out an independent insurance agent and exhaust |
| 95. | | | | all of your options before allowing your home to be |
| Florida home insurance companies generally state their | | | | covered by Citizens. |
| restrictions on how close a Florida home can be | | | | If you follow the steps above, you will give yourself the |
| located to the coast based on the following: | | | | most options for saving money on insurance for your |
| Whether or not the home is located in the Citizens | | | | Florida coastal home. |