What affects home insurance prices on the Treasure Coast

1. Roof age and condition

Many insurance companies look closely at older roofs, and a newer roof can open up more options. Florida law gives you some protection. An insurer may not refuse to write or renew your policy solely because your roof is less than 15 years old.

If your roof is 15 years or older, the insurer must let you get a roof inspection, at your cost, before requiring a replacement. It may not refuse to write or renew your policy solely because of roof age if the inspection shows at least 5 years of useful life left.

What you can do: Keep your roof permit or receipt handy. If your roof is 15 years or older, a roof inspection shows how much life it has left.

2. The year your home was built

Florida's building standards have changed a lot. The Florida Building Code took effect in March 2002, and the state's wind mitigation form asks whether a home was built to it.

For older homes, many companies ask for a 4-point inspection of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems. Updates to those systems can make an older home easier to insure.

What you can do: Gather the dates of any roof, electrical, plumbing and AC updates. Our guide to wind mitigation vs. 4-point vs. roof inspections explains what each report covers.

3. Wind mitigation features

Florida law requires insurers to include discounts or credits in their rates for features that reduce wind damage. A wind mitigation inspection documents those features on the state's Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802).

The form looks at things like roof shape, how the roof deck is attached, how the roof is tied to the walls, secondary water barriers, and protection on windows and doors. A completed form is valid for up to five years if nothing material changes. A revised version of the form took effect April 1, 2026.

What you can do: If you do not have a current wind mitigation report, ask us whether one makes sense for your home before you shop.

4. Where your home sits

Homes near the ocean, the Indian River Lagoon, the St. Lucie River or the Loxahatchee River generally face more wind and flood exposure than homes farther inland. Companies also look at the flood zone and at how close the home is to a fire station and a fire hydrant.

Homes on the river, the lagoon or a canal often need extra review for wind, flood and docks. See high-value and waterfront home insurance.

What you can do: Tell us about docks, seawalls and detached structures up front, so the quote matches your property.

5. What it would cost to rebuild

Your dwelling coverage should reflect what it would cost to rebuild your home, not its market value or what you paid for it. Rebuild cost depends on square footage, construction type and finishes.

More dwelling coverage means a higher premium, but too little can leave you short after a major loss. A higher dwelling limit also raises a percentage-based hurricane deductible.

What you can do: List upgrades such as impact windows, a remodeled kitchen or an addition, so the rebuild estimate is accurate.

6. Your hurricane deductible

Florida home policies have a separate hurricane deductible. Insurers must generally offer $500, 2%, 5% or 10% of your dwelling coverage, with some exceptions based on the coverage amount. For example, the $500 option is not required when dwelling coverage is $250,000 or more.

With the same insurer, the hurricane deductible applies once per calendar year, not once per storm. A higher deductible usually lowers your premium but means you pay more after a storm. On a home with $400,000 in dwelling coverage, a 2% deductible is $8,000. Your deductible for other claims, such as a kitchen fire or a burst pipe, affects the price too.

What you can do: Look at the dollar amount, not just the percentage. The Florida Department of Financial Services explains the rules in its hurricane deductible guide.

7. Coverage choices and add-ons

Higher liability limits, replacement cost coverage for your belongings, and add-ons such as water backup or screen enclosure coverage all add to the price. Leaving out coverage you need to save money can cost you more after a claim.

What you can do: Ask which coverages are optional and which ones matter most for your home.

8. Claims history

Most insurance companies look at prior claims on the home and on you. Recent claims can limit your options or raise the price.

What you can do: Tell us about past claims up front. A claim that turns up later can change a quote.

9. Credit-based insurance score

Florida law lets insurers use credit information when pricing homeowners policies, within limits. An insurer cannot make an adverse decision based only on credit. You can ask for an exception if your credit was affected by divorce, the death of a spouse or a temporary loss of work.

What you can do: If your credit has improved, you can ask your insurer to review it again.

10. Which companies are writing homes like yours

The Florida market changes often. Companies open and close to new business by area, home age and roof type, and the price for the same home can differ a lot from one company to the next.

Citizens Property Insurance, the state-backed insurer, is meant as a last resort. If a private company offers comparable coverage within 20% of your Citizens renewal premium, you are not eligible to stay with Citizens.

What you can do: Work with an agency that can check more than one company. We are appointed with more than 40 insurance companies, so we can look at the ones writing homes like yours right now.