Florida Homeowners Are Still Waiting for Insurance Relief — And Some Are Ready to Leave
For more than a year, Floridians have been promised that homeowners’ insurance relief is coming — but for thousands of residents, the opposite seems true. Premiums continue creeping upward, pushing long‑time homeowners to question whether they can afford to stay in the state they love.
WPTV News Channel 5 has been closely tracking Florida’s shifting insurance market. And while state leaders insist improvements are underway, many homeowners say their lived reality tells a very different story. Explore the full report at WPTV News Channel 5.
A Homeowner’s Breaking Point
In Coral Springs, longtime homeowner Lisa Riggi has reached the point of frustration. After seeing a WPTV story claiming insurance conditions were improving statewide, she reached out to share her experience — and it wasn’t good news.
“The year prior, it went up 30%, and then this year I don’t know the percentage, but it went up another $170.”
Riggi has owned her home for 26 years. Yet despite claims of statewide stabilization, her premiums have continued to rise year after year.
If Rates Are Going Down, Why Are Premiums Going Up?
Executives at major insurance groups — including Windward Risk Managers, which oversees Florida Peninsula, Edison, and Ovation — say they’ve actually filed rate decreases or held steady for several years.
But decreasing rates don’t automatically mean decreasing premiums.
As the market shifts, property values rise, and inflation affects materials and labor, the amount needed to insure a home increases. That means even with a lower “rate,” the total premium may still climb.
Tap to Explore: Why Premiums Rise Even When Rates Fall
• Higher property valuations
• Inflation in construction materials
• Updated replacement‑cost calculations
• Expanded coverage requirements
This is often confusing for homeowners — and it’s why many Floridians feel they aren’t seeing the relief they were promised.
State Leaders Say the Market Is Strengthening
Florida’s insurance commissioner, Michael Yaworsky, insists the state is experiencing its strongest insurance market in more than a decade. Lawsuits have dropped dramatically, 17 new companies have entered the market, and elected officials cite renewed confidence among insurers.
“We are the strongest from a solvency‑capitalization perspective that we’ve been in well over a decade,” Yaworsky told WPTV.
But that’s cold comfort to homeowners like Riggi, who feel the financial pressure more intensely each renewal cycle.
“We’re Looking at Moving”
For some families, rising premiums have pushed them toward life‑changing decisions.
“We’re not sure if we’ll stay in state or out of state, but we’re looking at moving; it’s not affordable for us to stay here anymore.”
State leaders hope a quiet 2025 hurricane season will bring additional relief in 2026 — but homeowners are asking whether they can afford to wait that long.
Why This Matters for Real Estate and Insurance Professionals
Insurance premiums don’t just affect homeowners — they directly impact real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, appraisers, and insurance agents. Understanding these shifts is essential as clients increasingly request guidance on affordability, relocation, and long‑term planning.
At Cameron Academy, we keep aspiring and seasoned professionals informed about evolving market forces while helping them earn or upgrade licenses in real estate, mortgage, insurance, and more. When markets change, knowledge becomes your most valuable asset.
For more insights like this — and to explore licensing programs across Florida and all 50 states — visit Cameron Academy.
More Articles
Getting licensed or staying ahead in your career can be a journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, take a moment to relax, and browse through our articles. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your expertise, we’ve got tips, insights, and advice to keep you moving forward. Here’s to your success—one sip and one step at a time!
A Leon County judge has ordered Florida’s administrative courts to restart arbitration on more than 400 stalled Citizens Insurance cases, reigniting a legal showdown over whether the state’s insurer of last resort can force policyholders out of traditional courtrooms. The ruling directly conflicts with a separate Hillsborough County injunction that called Citizens’ arbitration system “likely unconstitutional,” setting up a rare judicial clash that could reshape how Floridians fight denied or underpaid property claims.
Inhabit has launched a powerful new suite of AI‑driven tools designed to modernize leasing, strengthen fraud prevention, and simplify compliance for property managers nationwide. From advanced leasing assistants and NYC‑specific regulatory AI to instant income verification and upcoming identity‑screening tech, these innovations aim to solve some of the industry’s toughest challenges. Real estate professionals—especially in multifamily—can expect faster operations, stronger safeguards, and a more efficient workflow as these technologies roll out.
A growing body of demographic research suggests that today’s housing shortage may give way to a future surplus as millions of Baby Boomer–owned homes return to the market over the next two decades. With affordability at historic lows and inventory still tight, this long‑term shift could eventually cool prices and transform the landscape for real estate professionals. The analysis draws parallels to aging populations abroad and highlights why understanding demographic cycles is becoming essential knowledge for agents, brokers, and mortgage professionals preparing for the next era of the housing market.
Griffin Funding has appointed John Jones as Senior Vice President of Growth and EOS Integrator, a move aimed at accelerating the lender’s push toward $3 billion in annual non‑QM loan volume by 2030. Jones, previously the company’s fractional integrator and COO, will lead expansion strategies, operational optimization, and leadership development as the lender strengthens its position in the increasingly competitive non‑QM market.
A new report shows Tampa outperforming the national real estate slowdown with a 6.5 percent annualized multifamily return, nearly 20 percent higher than the U.S. average. While many metros face oversupply or regulatory drag, Tampa’s balanced development pipeline, strong population growth, and investor confidence continue to fuel resilient performance heading into 2026.
A new Colliers outlook reveals that global capital is picking up momentum again, with investors shifting toward more active, hands‑on strategies. Data centers are surging, offices are rebounding, and value‑add plays like adaptive reuse are defining the next wave of opportunity. Regional markets—from the U.S. to APAC—are seeing renewed demand as fundraising spreads across continents and investors seek speed, control, and scale. This snapshot helps today’s real estate and finance professionals stay aligned with where global money is moving next.
