Property Insurance Fix! Ask Governor to Sign HB 1171
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ATTENTION FLORIDA TAXPAYERS!
The Florida Taxpayers Union Needs for you to say Yes! to insurance competition and NO! to state insurance bailouts…
NO MORE BAILOUTS!
HB 1171 has passed the Legislature. This bill will take positive steps towards addressing Florida’s current insurance nightmare by allowing more private companies to compete with the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and giving Florida consumers an actual choice in the insurance marketplace, but only if the Governor allows it to become law.
YOU NEED TO CALL NOW !!
Tell the Governor to sign HB 1171 TODAY!(850) 488-7146
The Governor’s office is gauging from the phone calls and emails it receives how the citizens of Florida feel about this bill. Your call of support could influence the Governor’s final decision.
Don’t let the special interests control your home insurance!
The Governor’s office will ask you your name and City. You need to tell them that you support HB1171 and ask the Governor to do the same.
This important legislation now rests on Governor Charlie Crist’s desk. If he signs it or does nothing in the next 7 days it will become law automatically. If he proactively vetoes it however, it’s back to the drawing board for lawmakers to fix the State’s insurance system.
HB 1171 allows homeowners to have their home insured by a large, financially-stable private property insurers of THEIR CHOICE.
Tell the Governor to sign HB 1171 TODAY!
1. 62% of Floridians in a recent poll by support insurance free choice.
2. 60% of Florida taxpayers are concerned that smaller insurance companies may not be able to pay their claims according to a survey.
3. The only thing worse than an expensive insurance policy is a worthless one.
Now we need Governor Crist to listen to Florida Taxpayers. Give us a choice!
Sign HB 1171.
Call Governor Crist – (850) 488-7146
EMAIL
I found a great article in the tbt* newspaper that raises the issue of high cost homeowner’s insurance here in Florida. When I speak with clients who purchased a home just a year or two ago, I’ll tell them to check their insurance rates and coverages.
A lot of home owners were stuck having to be insured by Citizen’s Insurance, which is through the State, and much more expensive than other companies.
Bottom Line….call your insurance agent.
Cheaper homes, cheaper insurance ?
Property values have dropped by a third since the pricing peak in summer 2006. So why haven’t homeowner’s insurance premiums free-fallen by a corresponding amount?
They have.
But you’re going to have to give up delusions of grandeur about your home’s real value. The fact is, many of us are now overinsured.
The insurance increases we got socked with in 2006 had manifold causes: hurricane damage, future storm risk, giant insurers leaving the market, home price escalation, frivolous sinkhole lawsuits.
While we’ve still got a hurricane bull’s-eye on our backsides, there’s plenty of give on home prices.
For starters, a home’s value includes the price of the lot. Lot values range from a few thousand dollars in the exurbs to million-dollar waterfront spreads. If your house burns to the ground or collapses in a cyclone, the land probably isn’t going anywhere. So why are you insuring
If your home is flattened, rebuilding costs are lower. Labor accounts for most of the drop, but costs for things like steel should continue sliding this year.
If the thought of reducing insurance coverage leaves you feeling vulnerable, you can do what I did: Split the difference. My home’s value has dropped by $100,000 the past three years, but I compromised and trimmed coverage by $50,000. I’m still shielded from catastrophe but saved $500 a year in premiums.
Insurance agents may disagree with that strategy. Better to insure yourself to the hilt, they’ll say. Values will rise again and you’ ll be underinsured.
But ask yourself one thing: If the real estate industry is deflating, why should property insurance soar like a big fat hot air balloon?
The pin’s in your hand. Pop it.
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James THORNER
tbt* COLUMNIST |
If you are in the market to buy or sell a home give us a call 813 784 7744 or email: realtyrae@yahoo.com
