A decades-old case against Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in favor of the insurer has been settled by the Florida Supreme Court in a decision that, although expected, may have far-reaching implications on Florida’s real estate market. The case concerned a first-party breach of contract lawsuit where the insured property tried to regain extra-contractual, consequential damages…Continued
An appeals court in Florida has affirmed the ability of policyholders to assign employees a right to receive benefits from an insurance settlement, rejecting decisions of the trial court in favor of insurers. In December, the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled that by including the assignment of benefits limitation in the contract for…Continued
Here is a scenario that may seem quite familiar if you live in South Florida or if you’ve been reading our blog for some time. You’re at home when a stranger knocks on the door introducing themselves as a repairman or someone well-versed in insurance, eager to help you repair the damage to your home.…Continued
Tropical Storm Eta has arrived and left significant levels of flooding and some degree of wind damage in its wake. While this may have been expected, what homeowners may not be prepared for is the strong possibility of an insurance rate hike, even if they choose not to file a claim as a result of…Continued
The steep increases in homeowners’ insurance loom ever closer. According to a Sun-Sentinel article, homeowners may face rate hikes as 40% higher than what they are currently paying. Insurers have long warned that the fusion of court cases, assignment of benefits, and much more active storm seasons would lead to steep increases. The article shows…Continued
For only the second time in history, a whopping five named were active in the Atlantic Ocean. One of them, Hurricane Sally, is currently on its way to the Gulf Coast of Florida while Tropical Storm Teddy is also predicted to become a hurricane. With the amount of potentially dangerous storms looming, homeowners should be…Continued
The roof is a large part of the foundation of your house, and it greatly affects how the house can withstand a major storm or how hot it will get during seasons like summer. This further highlights the value of carefully evaluating whether the roof can merely be patched, or whether it needs to be…Continued
As recently reinforced by Hurricane Isaias, Florida is frequently susceptible to tropical cyclones. Since hurricane season will stick around until the end of November, homeowners may wish to use this time to ensure that their roof is in good shape. Whether your roof is freshly installed or if it has endured the effects of Mother…Continued
With hurricane season having arrived, it is crucial to always be prepared. Securing your home for natural disasters is always at the top of one’s list. What about securing your business? For most business owners, preparing their business for a hurricane means securing their location. Making sure your work space is fortified is necessary, but…Continued
Are you among the many homeowners that also happen to be a Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policyholder? If so, heads up. According to an Insurance Journal article, the last resort insurer is gearing up to resume its cancellations and nonrenewals after they were temporarily put on hold back in March following the COVID-19 outbreak. Customers…Continued
Homeowners insurance, like every other form of insurance policy, has a multitude of components involved. There are multiple factors to take into account when selecting your policy that go far beyond simply knowing what you’re going to be paying every month or year for the premium. If you’re seeking an insurance policy for your home,…Continued
Even as states like Florida look to return to a degree of normalcy in the age of COVID-19, the pandemic is still a threat and social distancing remains an effective way of preventing the spread. With hurricane season looming, there is always the possibility of a storm wreaking havoc on a property. One insurance company…Continued
Florida homeowners already pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country. If Florida carriers have their way, however, they may find themselves paying even more. According to an Insurance Journal article, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is evaluating current filings with “substantial increases” of anywhere between twenty to forty percent. Insurers…Continued
It’s often stressed how important it is to take a close look at your insurance policy to find out what it does and doesn’t cover. Many homeowners may find that they aren’t covered as well as they think they are. This may also be due to persistent insurance myths, a few of which we’re here…Continued
A New Year brings plenty of opportunities to start fresh or make some changes in regards to the finances. With the arrival of 2020, consider a few tips to better control your finances and potentially have some money available in case of a rainy day. Make a fund for repairs. A homeowner can spend about…Continued
After shedding policies for several years, last-resort Florida insurer Citizens’ Property Insurance may be downsizing once again. Its board is again bringing in an external evaluator at the behest of a state legislator to help the insurer determine whether and how to further trim their policyholder base. Currently, the company holds over 400,000+ policies. A…Continued
If your property is part of a homeowner’s or condo owners association, you may find that its insurance coverage is highly complex. The fine print that exists in an insurance policy may result in delays or denials in financial recovery should a claim be submitted by the HOA, simply because it’s simpler and less expensive…Continued
Flooding can quickly damage your home and belongings and since we’re still in hurricane season, it’s worth reminding and reinforcing to homeowners that floods are typically not covered in most insurance policies. Though some homeowners’ insurance policies will provide coverage if, for example, a pipe were to burst inside of the home, flooding due…Continued
While many of us view pets are four-legged members of the family, it’s worth remembering that these are animals which, if scared or agitated, can become aggressive and possibly bite someone. With the holiday season just around the corner, you’re probably going to have more people over; make sure you’re protecting yourself from…Continued
Hurricane Dorian has come and gone, yet some recent news reveals something potentially alarming. According to an analysis, over thirty percent of homeowners in the storm’s path had chosen to cancel their flood insurance policy. Had the storm continued on its original path, this may have resulted in tens of thousands of people along the…Continued
With Florida’s subtropical climate, it is always susceptible to the possibility of tropical cyclones. With hurricane season in full swing, homeowners should be extra careful about making sure their roofs are being properly maintained. No matter if your roof is brand new or if it’s older, there are steps you can take to keep it…Continued
The summer season begins this Friday, which means many of us will be probably venturing off to another part of the country or the world to make the most of the season. Instead of constantly worrying about your home, some simple tips can give you some degree of peace of mind and help keep the…Continued
The positive momentum generated from AOB reform may be extending to the insurance industry. State Farm is making headlines after announcing it has reduced homeowners insurance rates by just over fourteen percent for Florida homeowners. The news comes as a refreshing change of pace where it had become common for homeowners to see their rates…Continued
After several years of efforts that ultimately went nowhere, Florida legislators have finally given the green light to a bill aimed at reforming property insurance and tackling the longtime issue of assignment of benefits (AOB). AOB has been cited on more than one occasion as a major reason for the massive spike in insurance…Continued
In another example of assignment of benefits (AOB) abuse, the owner of a Florida restoration contracting company was placed under arrest after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from consumers that had signed over their AOB benefits to him. The owner and his staff are being accused of allegedly forging customer signatures on construction documents and…Continued
Last year, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. made headlines when it implemented a change that would cap coverage of non-weather-related water damage at $10,000 for policyholders who decide not to use the insurance company’s managed repair contractor network. This network consists of handpicked contractors that Citizens hopes will stem the common practice of contractors coercing policyholders…Continued
Living in South Florida, the last thing you would expect is to be dealing with a tornado, and yet that’s exactly what happened. Depending on where you live in South Florida, you may have received an emergency warning on your phone earlier this week. A severe thunderstorm resulted in the possibility of a tornado and…Continued
Happy New Year! With the arrival of 2019, a host of new Florida laws have gone into effect this week. For our purposes, we’re concerned about homeowners insurance and sure enough, a new law makes a highly important stipulation worth being aware of. HB 1011 is now law and it makes a crucial note when…Continued
The importance of hurricane preparedness has been stressed time and time again yet a recent study suggests more than half of Florida’s homeowners have yet to take the recommended steps to protect their homes against the potentially catastrophic impact of a storm. The survey asked Florida residents how they go about preparing their homes should…Continued
Are you a Citizens Property Insurance Corp. policyholder who filed a claim related to Hurricane Irma? If so, you may be interested in knowing that the last resort insurer recently decided to reopen more than thirty percent of its claims, according to a recent Insurance Journal article. The reason behind Citizens reopening its formerly closed…Continued
