Home Buyers - Brace Yourself for the Shocking Cost of Home Insurance!

From 2017 to 2019 the Florida domestic home insurance companies have taken premium increases every year. The cumulative impact of these increases is staggering.  If you were paying $2,000 per year for home insurance in 2017 it would not be unusual for you to have paid $2,600 for that same policy in 2019. But wait, in 2020 all the Florida domestic home insurance companies have been increasing premiums from 15% to as much as 40%. That means the $2,600 premium in 2019 would rise to as much as $3,600 in 2020. 
 
When loan officers are qualifying a home buyer for a mortgage amount one of the components is the cost of home insurance. However, in almost every instance this year we see loan officers using outdated values when they are estimating the cost of insurance. If a loan officer were to use the $2,600 value from last year but the actual cost this year comes in at $3,600, you just added $83 per month to the estimated house payment. Additionally, home buyers are waiting until late in the process to shop for insurance. What they find is there are fewer insurance companies writing new business in South Florida and those that are have significantly increased premiums and added restrictions. For example, many of the remaining insurance companies writing new business in South Florida will not issue a policy on a home built before 2002 and with a replacement cost value less than $350,000. Many will not take a flat roof more than 10 years old or a title roof more than 20 years old. Others have added restrictions based on the age of the air conditioning, water heater, and the plumbing.
 
We recommend that once you have identified a home you want to purchase you call an independent agent to get a free estimate on what the insurance cost will be. This will give you an early indication of what insurance will cost or if you cannot secure insurance for the property based on age or other underwriting criteria.  Additionally, you should consult with your real estate agent about the opportunity to write a clause allowing you to cancel the purchase contract if you cannot secure home insurance at an affordable price. 
 
Teal Insurance Management specializes in home insurance and is located in South Florida. You can request a no obligation free quote by Clicking Here. You can also give us a call at (954) 678-2658 or email us at service@JustAskTIM.com.