Florida Home Insurance — cheaper premiums, hurricane-ready.

No — Florida law does not require homeowners insurance for a home the owner has paid off free and clear. However, every mortgage lender in Florida requires the borrower to carry home insurance with dwelling coverage at least equal to the loan amount and the lender listed as loss payee.

In practical terms, anyone with a mortgage must have home insurance. Core 4 also strongly recommends coverage for owned-free-and-clear homes — one uncovered loss can wipe out decades of equity.

Florida has the highest average home insurance rates in the country. A typical Florida homeowners policy runs roughly $3,600 to $6,000 per year, compared to a national average near $1,900.

Coastal zip codes in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Monroe, and Pinellas run higher. Inland counties run lower. Rates depend heavily on roof age, roof material, construction type, distance to coast, flood zone, and wind mitigation features.

Four compounding factors: hurricane exposure, litigation (assignment-of-benefits lawsuits were an outlier problem until 2022 reforms), reinsurance costs, and roof-age claim activity. Several major national carriers have pulled back from Florida entirely, leaving fewer options and pushing rates higher.

Core 4 still works with 120+ carriers that actively write Florida — including specialty, surplus lines, and Citizens Property Insurance — so homeowners have real options even in tough zip codes.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is Florida's state-created insurer of last resort, designed to cover homes that cannot find coverage in the private market — typically older coastal homes, homes with older roofs, or properties in high-risk zones.

Yes — Core 4 is appointed with Citizens and can bind a Citizens policy the same day when a private-market option is not available. Florida law requires Citizens applicants to accept a private-market quote if one comes in within 20% of the Citizens premium.

Yes — standard Florida HO-3 and HO-6 policies cover hurricane damage to the dwelling and personal property, including wind, wind-driven rain, and roof damage from named storms.

However, hurricane claims are subject to a separate hurricane deductible (usually 2%, 5%, or 10% of the dwelling limit). Flood damage — including storm surge during a hurricane — is NOT covered by homeowners insurance and requires a separate flood policy through NFIP or a private flood carrier.

Florida requires every homeowners policy to carry a separate hurricane deductible that applies only to losses from a named hurricane. Options are typically 2%, 5%, or 10% of the dwelling (Coverage A) limit.

A home insured for $400,000 with a 2% hurricane deductible pays the first $8,000 of a hurricane loss out of pocket, versus $20,000 with a 5% deductible. Higher deductible = lower premium, but higher out-of-pocket exposure if a storm hits. Core 4 models the trade-off for each home.

No. Flood damage — storm surge, rising water from rainfall or rivers, groundwater intrusion — is specifically excluded from every standard Florida homeowners policy.

Flood coverage requires a separate flood insurance policy, either through the federal NFIP or a private flood carrier (Neptune, FloodFlash, TypTap). Core 4 quotes both. Nearly 30% of NFIP claims come from homes outside high-risk flood zones.

A 4-point inspection reviews the four major home systems — roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — and is required by most Florida home insurance carriers for homes 30 years old or older.

A licensed inspector typically completes the inspection for $75 to $150. Common issues that affect insurability: Federal Pacific or Zinsco electrical panels, polybutylene plumbing, cast-iron drain lines, and roofs with less than 3 to 5 years of remaining life.

A wind mitigation inspection documents hurricane-resistant features of the home — roof shape, roof-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections (hurricane clips or straps), secondary water resistance, and opening protection (impact-rated windows or shutters).

Florida law requires carriers to offer discounts for these features. Wind mitigation discounts routinely cut 20 to 45 percent off the hurricane portion of the premium — often the single largest savings opportunity on a Florida home policy. Inspection cost: $75–$125. Validity: 5 years.

Florida homeowners policies cover catastrophic ground cover collapse by default, but true sinkhole coverage (for non-collapsing sinkhole activity that still damages the home) is an optional endorsement.

Sinkhole risk is highest in the central Florida corridor from Tampa Bay through Orlando — the so-called Sinkhole Alley covering Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, and parts of Hillsborough counties. Whether to add the endorsement depends on county, soil, and premium cost.

Yes. Condo insurance in Florida is written on the HO-6 policy form, which covers everything inside the unit (walls-in) plus personal property, personal liability, loss of use, and loss assessment coverage for association assessments.

The condo association master policy typically covers the building exterior, roof, and common areas. Core 4 quotes HO-6 from multiple Florida carriers and makes sure the loss assessment limit matches the building's master policy deductible — a frequent and expensive gap.

Sí — todo el equipo de Core 4 es completamente bilingüe. Los clientes pueden obtener cotizaciones de seguro de casa en Florida, entender las deducibles de huracán, revisar las inspecciones de mitigación de viento, y firmar la póliza completamente en español.

Por teléfono, en persona en la oficina de Miramar, o en línea. Llame al (954) 420-1501.