John Tankersley from Assured Partners is here to update us on the insurance world.

Today we’re joined by John Tankersley, an insurance broker from Assured Partners, to learn some key updates from the insurance world.

Lately, it seems that buyers have been having more difficulties getting insurance, where that was once one of the last things they would do when buying a home. According to John, the property insurance market in Florida is generally more challenging because many companies are writing fewer policies, and others are tightening eligibility and underwriting guidelines.

“If your home is older than 10 years, you should really consider having a four-point and a wind-mitigation inspection done.”

If you’re looking to buy a home, there are a few key things you need to know:

1. Be proactive when it comes to trying to finding an insurance quote. As soon as you put a house under contract, you need to start looking for insurance.

2. Expect to pay more for insurance premiums. Generally speaking, insurance rates in Florida have gone up; some companies John represents as a broker have gone up 20% or more, but expect 15% at a minimum. Additionally, some of those companies have taken rate filings, which are increasing premiums by 20% or more.

3. Understand that there are certain things to consider when it comes to the eligibility of an older home. In terms of the affordability and availability of insurance, the ages of your water heaters and AC units were once items that weren’t much of a roadblock to insurance. Now, however, insurance companies are factoring in the ages of those systems.

Whether you’re buying or selling, it’s also good to be aware of two insurance-specific inspections: the four-point inspection and the wind-mitigation inspection. If your home is older than 10 years, you should really consider having these inspections done. If you’re on the listing side and you’re proactive about these inspections, then you can gift them to the buyer’s agent, whose clients can use them to find an insurance quote. For sellers, this can help keep the closing date on track without delays.

If you have any additional questions about insurance, reach out to John Tankersley at (407) 227-0854 or email him at john.tankersley@assuredpartners.com. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to Lakeside Realty with any of your real estate questions or needs. We’d love to help you.