condo dues vs homeowners/hurricane/flood insurance? (Tampa, Clearwater: HOA fees, homeowners insurance)

[shellcoy]

I am considering a move to Tampa/Clearwater area. It seems that condo dues are pretty high, but how do they compare to a single family home of the same price? I know this is going to be very general, but can anyone give me some idea of how those compare?
In WA State, homeowner's insurance is labout than $600/year for a $400,000 home (mine). No flood insurance here at 2000 feet above sea level!
I would guess that homeowners insurance with hurricane and flood coverage is significantly more in the Tampa area. Is it really much less than condo dues?
Thanks for any information/opinions you can provide!

[BucFan]

Often the insurance is rolled into the condo fees - at least the condos that I've looked at. Makes the monthy fees pretty high - you also see sewer, h20, lawn maintenance, sometimes security, roof maintenance as part of the fees.

There are a lot of threads on single home insurance - especially over the last year. Recommend using the search to find them.

[Occifer]

Insurance varies a lot depending on where the home is, how old it is, how it is built, and the coverages you select (among other things). You could probably get insurance on a $400,000 home not in a flood zone and of newer construction for under $2,000, but that depends on a lot of things. Flood insurance could double your premiums.

While most condo association fees include insurance on the structure, you still should purchase condo insurance to cover your property, personal liability, and the interior of the condo (such as the drywall, flooring, cabinetry, etc.). Usually condo insurance isn't that expensive, but it could cost you a couple hundred dollars a year or more. Your condo fees are going to vary greatly depending on other things like the amenities and quality of the common elements. More amenities and nicer buildings and landscaping means that it's more expensive to maintain.

If you're looking for single family residences, also keep in mind that many subdivisions have mandatory HOA and CDD fees. Again, the HOA fees depend a lot on the amenities of the neighborhood and can be minuscule or substantial. CDD fees are paid yearly with the taxes and also vary. Not all neighborhoods have these fees.