[TootsieWootsie]

A year ago when I was on this board some of the members were complaining that they were having problems getting any insurance company to sell them home/auto insurance. Is this a problem still in Florida? And what area is this a problem in?
I know Gainesville should be safe, but what about your coastal cities like Naples, Sarasota, Vero Beach, Miami, etc.? Are they still having problems buying homeowners insurance?

[annerk]

As long as you have a clean record there has never been an auto insurance problem.

Homeowners is different. In some areas, Citizens is still the only place to get coverage. The further inland and north you are and the newer your home, the easier it seems to get coverage. We have insurance with one carrier right now, but are getting ready to switch to another because they offer coverages we want that the one we are with now doesn't have. We could probably choose from a dozen different insurers.

[TootsieWootsie]

annerk, where are you located?
Do you know what area you can only get Citizens insurance????? That really was my original question's bottom line.

[ACTS Mom]

Citizens is primarily used in coastal areas where no other insurer is available. Also Citizens insures lots of mobile homes, even in inland areas.

BTW, State Farm is pulling out of Florida as far as homeowner's go. We'd had them for about a hundred years or so....but as soon as the word was out, I started looking and found insurance through our mortgage company. As a result of that, we're also saving about $300 a year. But we're almost in the very middle of the state -- few to no ins. companies insure those in more hurricane prone areas. Citizens is the only option.

Maybe some information here will help you: https://www.citizensfla.com/

[TootsieWootsie]

Thanks, ACTS Mom. State Farm and Farmers both pulled out of Texas in 2001 after they scammed so many by not paying them what their loss of property was worth, and I was one of them. Don't know if they are there are not now, but I know I will NEVER purchase scam artists State Farm Insurance again ever.
My Grandpa was in insurance, and said State Farm didn't pay off--and this was over 50 years ago! Long time scammers!!!! You have been warned.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by ACTS Mom

Citizens is primarily used in coastal areas where no other insurer is available. Also Citizens insures lots of mobile homes, even in inland areas.

BTW, State Farm is pulling out of Florida as far as homeowner's go. We'd had them for about a hundred years or so....but as soon as the word was out, I started looking and found insurance through our mortgage company. As a result of that, we're also saving about $300 a year. But we're almost in the very middle of the state -- few to no ins. companies insure those in more hurricane prone areas. Citizens is the only option.

Maybe some information here will help you: https://www.citizensfla.com/

A couple simple facts to note about Citizens.
1) If a good sized hurricane hits, they just don't have the cash on hand to pay their projected claims and will have to try to raise cash FAST to pay claims. This likely means that you could wind up waiting MONTHS AND MONTHS before they pay you.

2) When a big hurricane hits they will level assessments to recover money. What this means is that if you are insured with say...Allstate, your insurance bill will likely go up 10% for a couple years to help fund Citizens.

3) Citizens admits their rates are inadequate but won't raise them due to political pressures. (Now re-read point #2 and realize that yes, you are helping to subsidize the costs of people living on the coasts etc.)