Week of February 19
Florida Wind Insurance Reform Not Likely to Pass Legislature
Insurance experts say the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund needs more money and an overhaul before a major storm or series of them strikes the state. Despite the warnings, it doesn't appear the Legislature will act before the end of its annual session March 9 because any fix will cause higher insurance rates — not a popular decision, particularly in an election year. Read More
Week of February 13
Storm Cloud Gathers Over Florida Insurers
State-run entities that expanded over the past decade to provide affordable homeowners insurance in hurricane-threatened Florida are in danger of becoming so big they threaten to wreak havoc on the local economy. Read More
Week of November 21
Florida's Citizen's Plans 19% Hike on High Value Coastal Condos
Florida residents living in high-value condominium buildings insured by the state’s government-run homeowners’ insurer could see their rates increase by 19 percent on average.
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Week of November 14
Florida's largest insurer wants sweeping changes
Florida's largest property insurer wants sweeping changes - including the ability to charge higher rates - in the coming year.
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Week of November 7
Florida's Scott wants recommendations from Citizens by Dec. 6
Gov. Rick Scott wants the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to recommend ways to shore up the troubled insurer.
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Week of October 31
How to choose between Citizens and a no-name insurance
Let's face it, if you own a home or condominium in South Florida, you don't have many options when it comes to property insurance. One of those options, state-backed Citizens Property Insurance, could soon become less attractive. It's raising premiums by up to 10 percent a year and Gov. Rick Scott, many legislators and the insurer's new board want the state-backed insurer of last resort to have fewer policies.
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Week of October 24
What should Florida do to fix Citizens? Read the Reaction
Insurance Journal ponders whether the state should do something about Citizen's Property Insurance. Check out what people had to say.
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9.28.11
South Florida home prices inch up in July
During its 2012 pre-legislative conference in August, the Florida Insurance Council (FIC) worked with other insurance trades and its business community partners to lay out the major insurance and business issues for next year’s session and to develop lobbying and communications strategy.
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9.19.11
Florida Insurance Council Sets 2012 Legislative Agenda
During its 2012 pre-legislative conference in August, the Florida Insurance Council (FIC) worked with other insurance trades and its business community partners to lay out the major insurance and business issues for next year’s session and to develop lobbying and communications strategy.
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9.13.11
Citizen's agrees to phase in hefty rate hike
Florida's largest insurer of homes and businesses has agreed to lower a proposed rate hike for sinkhole coverage that would take effect next year.
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9.12.11
Florida Supreme Court hears arguments in public adjuster case
The fate of a state law restricting the ability of public adjusters to contact property owners after a disaster is the hands of the Florida Supreme Court after oral arguments Friday.
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9.09.11
Citizens to hold special meeting on rate hikes Monday
Citizens Property Insurance announced today that it will hold a meeting Monday to determine whether to recommend regulators phase in its request for a statewide rate hike of rate hike of 429 percent for the sinkhole portion of its rates.
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9.08.11
Carlos Lacasa to lead Citizens Property Insurance Board
Florida CFO Jeff Atwater has named Carlos Lacasa the chairman of the board of governors for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Lacasa, from Miami, is a former state representative and has more than 20 years of experience as an attorney with expertise in the insurance industry.
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9.01.11
Earthquake, hurricane are insurance reminders for small business owers
The earthquake and hurricane along the East Coast are reminders to small business owners across the country: You need to buy adequate insurance for your company.
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8.29.11
Hurricane Irene's effect on Florida insurance rates thought minimal
When the Atlantic Coast and Northeast are cleaned up and insurance claims settled from Hurricane Irene, Florida homeowners could see a bump in insurance rates.
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8.25.11
Irene on path to test coffers of state-run insurers
Hurricane Irene could be a major test of "insurers of last resort" created by U.S. states to protect homeowners marooned by private insurers.
Read More

8.24.11
Top 5 companies in the casualty and property insurance industry
Here are the top five companies in the Property & Casualty Insurance industry as measured by relative performance. This analysis was compiled based on recent trading activity as we search for stocks that have the potential to outperform.
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8.22.11
Hurricane Irene could prompt higher premiums
Hurricane Irene, threatening to become the first hurricane to hit the United States in three years, could be the catalyst the insurance industry has been seeking in its quest for across-the-board premium increases after years of weakness.
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8.17.11
Citizens property insurance board shaping up
Appointments have been made to fill most of Citizens Property Insurance's board seats. All eight seats were left empty when board members' terms expired Aug. 1.
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8.15.11
Big attendance planned for Citizens rate hike hearing
After A group formed by Merlin Group — a Tampa Bay law firm that fights insurance companies on behalf of policyholders — plans to protest against a proposed rate increase by Citizens Property Insurance Co. for sinkhole coverage.
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8.12.11
Policyholders protest sinkhole rates
After A group formed by Merlin Group — a Tampa Bay law firm that fights insurance companies on behalf of policyholders — plans to protest against a proposed rate increase by Citizens Property Insurance Co. for sinkhole coverage.
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8.11.11
Insurance rates may go down with new FEMA flood maps
After Florida’s largest property insurance company, Citizens Property Insurance Group, proposed an average increase of nearly 430 percent, state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, called the rate hike a “kick in the gut” to citizens and called for statewide hearings.
Read More
8.10.11
Follow these property insurance tips for hurricanes
After Florida’s largest property insurance company, Citizens Property Insurance Group, proposed an average increase of nearly 430 percent, state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, called the rate hike a “kick in the gut” to citizens and called for statewide hearings.
Read More
7.29.11
State senator wants hearings on sinkhole insurance hike
After Florida’s largest property insurance company, Citizens Property Insurance Group, proposed an average increase of nearly 430 percent, state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, called the rate hike a “kick in the gut” to citizens and called for statewide hearings.
Read More

7.28.11
Citizens Property Insurance wants 8.8 percent increase
Florida's largest property insurance company on Wednesday proposed an average increase of 8.8 percent, effective in 2012.
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7.25.11
Fraud investigators see spike in suspicious home fires
Two affiliates of Allstate Insurance Company want to raise their property insurance rates in Florida more than 30 percent.
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7.21.11
Property insurer seeks rate hike
Two affiliates of Allstate Insurance Company want to raise their property insurance rates in Florida more than 30 percent.
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7.20.11
Allstate's Florida insurers grilled on rate hikes
Allstate's Castle Key insurance companies fielded questions from regulators and a consumer advocate Tuesday on their proposed 31 percent and 36 percent average statewide rate hikes.
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7.19.11
Florida Governor Scott likes the idea privatizing Citizens Insurance
Florida Gov. Rick Scott quickly embraced a suggestion this week by the board chairman of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to consider privatizing Florida’s largest insurer of business and homes.
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7.15.11
Editorial: Insurance needs painful changes
Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida's largest property insurer, is overexposed, and adding thousands of policies a week. That needs to change before a catastrophic hurricane overwhelms its reserves and forces the Florida taxpayer to bail out the state-backed insurer.
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7.14.11
CEO ponders privatizing state-backed Citizens property insurance
The CEO of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. wants to look at the possibility of privatizing the state's largest insurer of business and homes.
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7.13.11
If Citizens isn't earning enough, why did it earn $7.4 billion in five years?
Insurance industry representatives blame the growth of state-run Citizens Property Insurance partly on the fact that the insurer doesn’t charge enough to pay for potential losses.
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7.8.11
Florida has highest occurrence of sinkholes
Florida has the highest occurrence of sinkholes in the country according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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7.6.11
South Florida's economy gets better grades than last year, but numbers still weak
In a report card on the region, the economy can boast of better grades than a year ago — but the numbers still look weak and wobbly.
Read More

7.5.11
Does bankruptcy absolve your mortgage debt?
No. While a bankruptcy will relieve you of the liability to repay your lender, the mortgage lien still remains valid.
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7.1.11
Is a national catastrophe fund overdue?
A national catastrophic reinsurance fund would help spread risk across state lines, stockpile capital and keep insurance affordable.
Read More
6.29.11
Florida again rates an "F" for home insurance
Florida ranks among the worst states for consumers purchasing home insurance for the second year in a row, according to an annual report released by the free-market think tank The Heartland Institute.
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6.28.11
Uptick in homeowner insurance is "only the beginning"
Last year, state insurance regulators approved about $718 million in rate increases affecting 4 million Floridians, The Associated Press reported. No totals are available for increases approved in 2011, but they are all starting to kick in this summer.
Read More
6.27.11
Citizens has cash for all but biggest storm
State officials have quietly pulled the plug on a consumer-friendly website that was the sole resource for homeowners comparison shopping for the best property insurance rates.
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6.24.11
Gov. Rick Scott kills insurance rate comparison Website
State officials have quietly pulled the plug on a consumer-friendly website that was the sole resource for homeowners comparison shopping for the best property insurance rates.
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6.23.11
FPL customers can apply for solar rebates next week
South Florida home sales remained strong in May, capping a robust spring buying season.
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6.22.11
Home sales in Broward, Palm prices drop
South Florida home sales remained strong in May, capping a robust spring buying season.
Read More
6.21.11
Some tile roofs aren't getting insurance discounts
Many South Floridians think tile roofs are one of the strongest against hurricanes. For years, insurance companies gave homeowners discounts on their premiums for installing them.
Read More
6.16.11
Large hurricane could hit premiums
Florida homeowners covered by Citizens Property Insurance could face higher premiums in the form of emergency assessments if a powerful storm strikes the state, company officials explained Thursday.
Read More

6.15.11
Florida homeowners with tainted drywall get $55 million
Hundreds of Florida homeowners suffering with tainted Chinese drywall will share $55 million in a deal that also accuses a global drywall maker of lying about the product's safety, according to court documents. Read More

6.14.11
Home Insurers Request Rate Hikes
Seven home insurers have asked for statewide rate hikes since Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping property insurance bill into law on May 17.
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6.13.11
Storm study sees widespread damage
With the 2011 hurricane season almost two weeks old, a study that insurance companies use to determine homeowner premiums has predicted that if Florida is hit, widespread damage to the interior part of the state could be greater than ever realized.
Read More
6.10.11
P/C industries wins, losses in Scotts first session
It is axiomatic in Florida that when it comes to the legislature and insurance issues, the power brokers play for the last 72 hours.
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6.09.11
Insurance Rates Climb on Disaster Costs
Natural disasters costing insurers almost $100 billion are beginning to lift some commercial insurance rates after a seven-year decline.
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6.08.11
Florida’s two largest private home insurers deemed week at the start of hurricane season
Weiss Ratings, which rates the financial health of companies, reported last week that the state’s two largest private insurers – State Farm Florida and Universal Property & Casualty – are in poor financial shape. Read More
6.07.11
Harvard Housing Report Unflattering to Florida
The comprehensive report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University concludes that housing remains a seriously troubled sector, though there is hope that an economic recovery will boost home sales and, eventually, prices.
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6.06.11
South Florida cities find real estate news less bad than before
Miami-Dade and Broward leaders breathed a sign of relief last week when the latest figures showed that this year’s slide in property values was the smallest since 2008.
Read More
6.02.11
11 Ways to Avoid Hurricane Costs
It's hard to protect a home from a monster Category 5 hurricane, but many readily available products can reduce or minimize the impact and save homeowners big bucks in repairs and insurance premiums.
Read more
6.01.11
Five reasons that Florida homeowners insurance is still getting more expensive
Florida's annual, high-stakes game of hurricane lotto — will we be hit by a major storm this year or not? — kicks off with the start of hurricane season today.
Read More
5.31.11
Florida homeowners help pay for insurers' losses in distant disasters
What homeowners in the Sunshine State may not realize is that the cost from the recent spate of U.S. tornadoes, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the catastrophes in New Zealand and Australia could affect their own insurance bill.
Read More
5.27.11
Sunny skies and winning teams (Go Heat!) help the economy, UM study says
A new University of Miami study concludes that good weather softens the blow of economic declines, in part because people feel better when it’s sunny outside. The study says it accounted for weather factors known to influence the economy, such as a harsh winter hurting home construction.
Read More
5.26.11
Poll: Floridians want more property insurance regulation, not less
Most Floridians want more property insurance regulation, not less, and they report it's getting more expensive, according to a poll released by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
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5.24.11
Pockets of strength for South Florida home builders
New home sales rose 7.3 percent in April, the Commerce Department said Tuesday, but home-building nationally remains subdued as the housing market searches for a bottom.
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5.24.11
Insurers Set Up Shop After Tornado, the Latest Stop in Challenging Year
Major home and commercial insurers were trying to move mobile offices and extra staff Monday into Joplin, Mo., and other Midwestern communities devastated by the latest tornadoes. Claims from the disaster were expected to cement 2011 as one of the industry's worst-ever for storm damage.
Read More >

5.23.11
Republican Hurricane Season
The Atlantic hurricane season starts in less than two weeks, and Floridians might want to keep an even closer eye on the skies than usual. Not only has the state been spared a big storm for five consecutive years, but the politicians in Tallahassee just gambled that their socialized insurance industry can cover any potential losses if a Category 5 does make landfall. Floridians better hope their Sunshine State lives up to its name.
Read More >

5.20.11
Property insurance remains iffy for Florida policyholders with hurricane season at hand
Florida hasn't been hit by a hurricane since the disastrous years of 2004 and 2005 — but the state's property insurance companies say they are still losing money despite collecting billions in premiums.
Read More >

5.19.11
Commentary - Get ready for another soaking
The sweeping property insurance bill Gov. Rick Scott signed this week not only fails to provide relief for Florida’s beleaguered ratepayers — it may make matters worse for them. He should have vetoed it and demanded that lawmakers send him a bill that can stabilize the market without soaking consumers.
Read More >

5.18.11
Scott signs property insurance bill into law
The insurance industry celebrated Tuesday after Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping property insurance bill into law.
Read More >
5.17.11
Side Battles Over Insurance Bill
With a sweeping property insurance reform bill awaiting Gov. Rick Scott’s signature, supporters and opponents of the proposal continue to battle.
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5.16.11
Governor Veto This Bill – Commentary
The legislative session just came to an end, and on many fronts I and a few of my like-minded colleagues fought off bad legislation that would have hurt seniors, families and consumers across the state. Property insurance was a big priority during the session and unfortunately insurance companies, not policyholders, could be the big winners this year.
Read more >
5.13.11
Tornadoes, floods and blizzards... U.S. is hit by a record FIVE billion-dollar weather disasters in 2011 (and it's only May)
The U.S. has suffered five billion dollars in weather related damage in 2011 so far - the highest ever recorded for a half year.
Read more >

5.12.11
Some Florida home insurance premiums could double in five years under bill
Homeowners, some already hit with double-digit property insurance rate hikes in recent years, could see premiums more than double in five years. They also could lose their right to file claims for late-surfacing damage or suffer more home damage while they save up to make repairs.
Read More >
5.11.11
Home insurance changes draw fire and praise
Sweeping legislation to allow insurers to raise premiums for certain costs and shorten the time policyholders have to file claims drew praise and criticism after it was approved by lawmakers last week.
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5.10.11
Time to review homeowner's insurance as floods and tornadoes devastate, hurricane season nears
Seven Southern states continue the clean up after tornadoes killed hundreds and leveled entire communities. It was the country's worst natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina. While such concerns are fresh in your mind, it's a good time to evaluate homeowner's insurance coverage and preparedness plans.
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5.09.11
Property insurance measure heads to Florida Gov
A property insurance overhaul aimed at generating more competition and reducing fraudulent sinkhole claims headed Thursday to Gov. Rick Scott after narrowly escaping the Florida Senate.
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4.29.11
Florida Senate passes property insurance overhaul
The Florida Senate is on the verge of voting on a property insurance overhaul designed to create more competition for commercial insurers and also cut down on fraudulent sinkhole claims.
Read More >

4.28.11
Florida senate to vote on property insurance bill
The Florida Senate is on the verge of voting on a property insurance overhaul designed to create more competition for commercial insurers and also cut down on fraudulent sinkhole claims.
Read More >
4.27.11
FL gov wants state-backed insurer smaller, solvent
Florida Gov. Rick Scott says there is no plan to eliminate the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Read More >
4.25.11
Paper says Scott plotting to close Citizens Property Insurance
Florida Gov. Rick Scott has been secretly pushing to eliminate the state-run Citizens Property Insurance, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported Monday.
Read More >

4.21.11
South Florida Insurance Rates Rise as Citizens Recalculates Costs
Citizens Property Insurance is calculating the costs of rebuilding homes in a new way, and it's driving up some policyholders' premiums.
Read more >

4.20.11
(Commentary) Reform Citizens Insurance? Once More With Feeling
You are underwriting insurance for 500 beachfront mansions worth a combined $2.6 billion. If a big hurricane hits Florida and blows them down, you will be taxed to put them back together. This is because the owners buy insurance from state-owned Citizens Property Insurance.
Read More >
4.20.11
For storm season, check insurance
When it comes to protecting condos and homes from storms, Fla law may not require as much insurance as you may think.
Read More >
4.14.11
Three Ways the Florida Legislature Can Raise Your Property Insurance
Lawmakers in Tallahassee are considering three bills that could raise your property insurance premiums.
Read More >
4.13.11
Florida Agent Group Backs Last-Resort Insurance Reform
Florida’s insurance agents are among those within the industry looking to lawmakers to reform the insurance market in the Sunshine State during this year’s legislative session.
Read More >
4.12.11
Real Estate Bust Hasn’t Dimmed Americans’ Faith in Real Estate
Despite an extended slump in real-estate prices, most Americans still believe homes are the best investment, according to this a survey released today by the Pew Research Center.
Read More >
4.11.11
Florida approves 18 percent rate hike for State Farm
Regulators have approved an average rate hike of 18.8 percent for Florida homeowners covered by State Farm.
Read More >
4.7.11
Options Sought for Aluminum Wiring
The Florida Building Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to send a letter to Citizens Property Insurance Corp. recommending that Citizens accept all of the alternate methods allowed by the national electrical code for the remediation of aluminum wiring.
Read More >
4.6.11
Property Insurance Bill Gains Steam
Sweeping property insurance reform bills that critics deride as a gift to the industry are getting blessed by Florida lawmakers.
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4.5.11
Public Insurance Adjusters are the People's Good Guys
In heated legislative battles, it’s common for one industry to be painted as the “villain.” I find it curious that in current debates regarding insurance issues, the villain role is somehow being projected upon those who advocate for you, the people of Florida.
Read More >

4.4.11
Legislature, Governor Seem Intent on Giving Property Insurance Industry Almost Every Favor
The Legislature held its annual Prayer Day last week in Tallahassee. How fitting. If you buy property insurance in Florida, you don't have a prayer.
Read More >

4.1.11
Protest in Miami Against Home Insurance Rate Hikes
A couple of Miami public insurance adjusters are organizing a protest Saturday against legislation this year that would raise rates and create new restrictions for policyholders filing claims.
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3.30.11
Citizen’s Bill to Raise Premiums Clears First Hurdle in Senate
A proposal to shrink Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by raising premiums and limiting the types of policies the state-run insurer can issue passed its first Senate hurdle Tuesday but not before intense debate over what has become Florida’s largest single property insurer with nearly 1.3 million policies.
Read More >
3.29.11
Vacant Homes in South Florida Nearly Double in Last 10 Years
The number of vacant homes in Broward and Palm Beach counties nearly doubled during the past decade, as the devastating housing collapse led to record foreclosures.
Read More >

3.28.11
State Insurers Graded on How They Handle Claims
An unpublished state report card grading property insurers for how they handle claims shows more than 2.2 million Florida homeowners — one-third of the market — are insured by carriers that received the lowest grades.
Read More >

3.25.11
Florida’s Homewise, First Home Insurance Companies to Merge
Homewise Insurance Co. and First Home Insurance Co. are planning to merge sometime in the second quarter pending regulatory approval. The combined companies will retain the Homewise name.
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3.24.11
Fla. Industry To Focus On Property Insurance Reform Bill Changes
This year’s massive Florida property insurance reform bill has made its way through the Senate Budget Committee, but changes to the bill irk industry representatives.
Read More >
3.23.11
Bills would raise property insurance rates, make claims harder
It is a series of bills desperately needed to treat Florida's chronically ill property insurance market, the industry says. Or it is "some of the most anti-consumer legislation ever filed," a local state senator insists.
Read More >
3.22.11
South Florida home sales trends continue; Broward sees increase in prices
Sales of existing homes rose in South Florida again in February, led by strong condo sales in Miami-Dade County. There were mixed results on prices, surging in Broward but sliding in Miami-Dade.
Read more >
3.20.11
Florida Residential Deregulation, PIP Litigation Bills Advance
One of several insurance-related bills being mulled by Florida lawmakers would institute flex rating for some insurance lines.
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3.18.11
What Should Florida Do About Its Property Insurance Problem?
Commentary: Florida — every one of us — must get out of property insurance business; allow insurers to sell across state lines
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3.16.11
Insurance Industry Well-Shielded From Quake
Japan’s massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster is likely to be the costliest natural catastrophe on record but the impact on the private insurance industry probably will not surpass that of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Read More >3.15.11
Homeowners dodge total rewire as Citizens Insurance approves much cheaper fix for aluminum wiring
The state-owned Citizens Property Insurance Corp. on Monday approved two alternative methods to make aluminum branch wiring safe and insurable.
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3.14.11
Homeowners Get Insurance Shock Over Aluminum Wiring
Like thousands of homes in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Helland's 1970s-era home has aluminum branch wiring, which Florida insurance companies consider a potential fire hazard. Because of this, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the government-established insurer of last resort, said last year it would not write future policies for homes with general purpose aluminum branch wiring.
Read More >
3.12.11
Some Florida Lawmakers Aim to Reduce Citizen’s Role
Florida's state-backed property insurer should be prohibited from selling policies to cover new construction or remodeling of existing homes in environmentally sensitive and high-risk coastal areas, a state lawmaker said Friday.
Read More >
3.11.11
Property Insurance Bill Passes Senate Subcommittee
A Senate bill that would revamp Florida's property insurance laws in an effort to attract more competition to the state passed unanimously through the budget subcommittee on general government appropriations this morning.
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3.10.11
Florida Lawmaker Unveils Bill to Shrink Citizens
Republican lawmakers in Florida have introduced legislation that would return Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to its original mandate as an insurer of last resort and allow the state-run company to hike rates up to 25% annually.
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3.09.11
Florida Lawmakers Aim to Shrink State Insurer Citizens
Florida lawmakers are looking to cut the state’s largest property insurer down in size. The plan is to reduce the number of properties insured by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. by allowing it to raise its rates by as much as 25 percent a year while also reducing the value of homes it can insurer.
Read More >
3.08.11
Florida Legislature to Consider New Real Estate Laws
Florida lawmakers, handicapped by a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, will take their best shot at solving some of the most pressing housing problems during this year's legislative session, which kicks off on Tuesday in Tallahassee.
Read More >
3.05.11
How Florida’s Economy is Impacting the Insurance Industry
A move to trim Florida’s budget could produce significant opportunities for the business community at large — and the insurance industry in particular — in terms of passing legislation relating to issues such as tort reform, an impossible feat in previous years.
Read More >

3.03.11
Cash Home Sales Dominate Market
About 54 percent of home purchases in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties were cash buys in the final quarter of 2010.
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3.02.11
Insurance Groups Hustle Their Slate of Reform Bills
A group of insurers is hoping to move a series of bills through the Legislature this year that tackle some of their industry’s toughest problems in Florida.
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3.01.11
Shifting ground may be partly responsible for rise in sinkhole claims
When some Florida home insurers make the case for higher premiums, they give one key reason: Homeowners are claiming sinkhole damage at unprecedented rates, often to make a fast buck.
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2.28.11
Legislation Reform Claims Process
Florida property insurers might soon have fewer justifications for frequent rate increases.
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2.26.11
Are Sinkholes Just Big Business?
We have a sinkhole claims crisis that has created a cottage industry that now threatens Florida consumers.
Read This Commentary >

2.25.11
Are Insurance Companies Sweet on Rick Scott?
How else to explain not one but two pictures of Florida’s new governor on the front page of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America web site?
Read This Commentary >

2.24.11
Broward Home Sales Rise in January
In Broward County, condominium sales increased 17 percent from 1,192 last month compared to 1,233 in January 2010, and 132 percent compared to January 2009, according to the 25,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS and the Southeast Florida Multiple Listing Service (SEFMLS).
Read More >
2.23.11
Sweeping Property Insurance Bill Clears First Hurdle
A broad property insurance bill allowing certain rate increases and eliminating a requirement that insurers offer full sinkhole coverage cleared its first legislative committee Tuesday after three hearings and intense debate.
Read More >
2.22.11
High auto insurance premiums blamed on staged accidents
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Florida told reporters they want the state to do more to investigate fraud complaints and eliminate incentives for crooks to stage accidents to collect claims payments from personal injury protection insurance.
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2.21.11
Florida Bill Would Affect All Property Owner Claims
According to legislators supporting the bill, SB 408 is aimed at creating more competitive pricing in the private insurance marketplace, making homeowners' insurance policies more affordable. Supporters say that premiums would be lowered because insurers would be able to lower their costs and pass on those savings to their policyholders.
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2.19.11
Sinkhole Insurance Reform Could Benefit Residents Too
Insurance industry leaders blame an increase in sinkhole claims on a "330 percent increase in the number of public adjusters" — licensed and extensively trained insurance experts who represent homeowners, often in negotiating settlements with Allstate, Progressive and State Farm.
Read More >
2.17.11
Consumer Advocate Grills State Farm on Rate Hike
Regulators grilled State Farm Florida, the state's largest private insurer of homes, on Tuesday about its proposed 28 percent statewide average rate hike.
Read More >

2.16.11
Adjuster Group Says Florida Bill Would Harm Consumers
A national association serving public adjusters opposes a Florida legislative bill that would significantly dilute consumer protections if passed in its current form.
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2.15.11
State Farm Seeks Rate Hike
State Farm Insurance is asking the state for a rate increase for homeowners insurance that would average 27.7 percent, citing the rising costs of sinkholes.
Read More >
2.10.11
Letters from Washington - Out of the Storm
When, and how, is it good too regulate insurance?
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2.09.11
New Florida Study: Solutions for Restoring Florida’s Property Insurance Market
The new paper, a James Madison Institute Backgrounder, examines Florida’s property and casualty insurance environment and its unique challenges and makes several recommendations for how Gov. Rick Scott and the new Florida legislature can change Florida’s current insurance policies to solve the state’s growing insurance problems.
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2.08.11
Action Delayed on Florida Property Insurance Bill
A Florida Senate committee delayed voting Monday on a proposed property insurance bill designed to crack down on fraudulent or excessive sinkhole claims.
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2.05.11
Property-insurance reform package could harm consumers
To sell the public on its property-insurance reform package, which amounts to a great big gift to the companies that write your policies, legislators are — big surprise — telling homeowners how it's a present for them. (Editorial)
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2.04.11
10 Hidden Home Insurance Credits Worth Using
Property and casualty companies have a variety of other lesser-known credits available that can shave your homeowner’s insurance premium by up to 25 percent.
Read more >
2.03.11
Seniors find dark side to reverse mortgages
Thousands of older homeowners in Florida who tapped the equity in their paid-off homes to boost their income now face the possibility of foreclosure as the number of defaults on such "reverse mortgages" skyrockets.           
Read More >
2.02.11
Florida’s real estate outlook perks up in several areas
Optimism has increased slowly but steadily in Florida real estate markets through the fourth quarter of 2010.
Read More >
2.01.11
Florida Property Insurance Redo
Florida hasn't felt the fury of hurricane-force winds for five years, yet our state's property-insurance market remains broken and a real threat to job creation and economic recovery.
Read More >
1.29.11
State Farm wants to raise average rates by 28 percent
State Farm Florida Insurance, the state's largest private property insurer, wants to raise rates by a statewide average of 28 percent.
Read More >
1.28.11
Sinkhole Costs Key to Property Insurance Bill
A bill that would create new restrictions for policyholders filing property-insurance claims and allow some rate hikes continues to gather support in the state Senate.
Read More >
1.25.11
Leadership Change Means Florida’s Windstorm Insurance Market May Shrink
In Florida, the state with the greatest level of windstorm risk, the state run insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has continued to grow and efforts to depopulate the residual market by placing policies into smaller subsidized private companies have seen mixed results.
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1.21.11
Florida Court Rejects Appeal from Texas Insurer
Dallas National Insurance Co., which also has accused Commissioner Kevin McCarty of conducting a personal vendetta against the firm, lost its appeal Thursday.
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1.20.11
Time Bomb of Rising Bills Awaits Floridians
Big hikes in long-suppressed property insurance and electric rates, as well as in business taxes to replenish benefits for the state's unemployed, are just around the corner.
Read More >1.19.11
More Homeowners with Chinese Drywall Lose Insurance Coverage
Property Insurance, like many private insurers, is dropping some policies on homes with damage from Chinese drywall.
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1.17.11
Plan for Citizens Property Insurance Requires Rate Hike
Florida Gov. Rick Scott wants to raise rates at Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to make them ``actuarially sound,'' but doing so would require homeowners covered by the state-run insurer of last resort to absorb a whopping 55 percent rate increase.
Read More >12.20.10
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
Visit the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for answers to a multitude of questions regarding insuring your property, whether a primary home, a vacation home or a business.
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07.27.10
Insurance adjusters: Don't panic after a hurricane
The prime months for hurricane activity in Florida tend to be August and September. In the event that a hurricane hits, it is our business to help families recover the basic necessities of life - food, shelter and clothing. After all, that is the purpose of a homeowners insurance policy.
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07.26.10
US government expects above-normal activity heading into peak of Atlantic hurricane season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration slightly lowered the outlook it released in May, but an above-normal season was still expected, said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center in Washington.
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06.14.10
State-backed Citizens Property Insurance grows by 107,000 policies
In the past four months, Citizens Property Insurance took on 107,511 new policies. That's a growth of 10.5 percent, from 1,026,597 policies on Jan. 31 to 1,134,108 policies on June 11. It's considered the largest growth in several years for state-backed Citizens, Florida's largest property insurer. The growth is largely due to the recent demise of two insurers that removed more than 100,000 Citizens policies in recent years: Magnolia Insurance in Coconut Grove and Northern Capital Insurance in Miami and its former subsidiary Landmark One Insurance. The companies have been liquidated by the state.
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