Florida Strategic Insurance

02/24/2026

With 96 days until the start of hurricane season, it's time to think about your coverages, especially flood insurance. We're preparing our homes now to be protected both physically and through our policies. The FEMA substantial damage rule can be confusing, so here's a breakdown:

FEMA Substantial Damage Rule:
Pinellas County enforces the Substantial Damage Rule, also known as the FEMA 50% Rule, in regulated flood hazard areas. If the cost to repair damage to a home reaches 49% or more of the structure’s pre-damage value (excluding land), the structure is considered "Substantially Damaged". This means the home must be either elevated, relocated, rebuilt to current standards, or removed entirely.

Make sure your home is ready for next storm season, give us a call and discuss your coverages.

Call now to connect with business.

02/23/2026

02/19/2026

Hurricane season may not be for a few more months, but the best time to prepare is now. Taking a few simple steps early can make a major difference if a storm approaches.

Preparation doesn’t have to happen all at once. Starting early helps ensure you’re ready long before watches and warnings begin.

02/17/2026

Effective July 1, 2026, FL HB 815 prevents insurers from refusing or non-renewing coverage based strictly on roof age.

Roofs under 15 years: Cannot be denied coverage based on age alone.

Roofs over 15 years: Eligible for coverage if an authorized inspection confirms at least 5 years of useful life remaining.

Current Trend: Although the mandate is a couple months away, some insurers are already tightening guidelines and requiring inspections for roofs in the 12–15 year range.

02/02/2026

We are incredibly proud to be recognized as one of the trusted agencies within this esteemed group. Our unwavering commitment extends to delivering nothing short of top-notch customer service, ensuring that we consistently provide the highest possible value to all our clients and partners.

Congratulations to our 2026 Diamond Performers!

The Diamond designation is earned by agency partners whose commitment to excellence, consistency, and partnership sets them apart.

Reaching this status is no small feat. It requires focus, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to our shared standards. We are incredibly grateful for the confidence you place in American Integrity and for trusting us to help protect your customers with one of their most important assets.

We’re proud to honor these agents for epitomizing insurance excellence.

Westwood Insurance Agency
Goosehead Insurance
Pulte Homes
We Insure Group
Fudge Insurance - Home, Auto, Commercial
The Baldwin Group Personal & Health Insurance
Erb and Young Insurance Pensacola
Way Better Insurance
Ricci Insurance Group
Shepherd Insurance
Swafford Insurance Group, Inc.
American Option Insurance
LGI Homes
American Insurance Point
Florida Strategic Insurance
Moody D'Avirro and Associates

01/14/2026

Major Rate Relief for Citizens Policyholders
On January 12, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a substantial statewide rate reduction for customers of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.

8.7% Average Reduction: Most policyholders will see an average premium decrease of 8.7% starting in Spring 2026 at the time of policy renewal.

Deepest Cuts in South Florida: Homeowners in high-cost areas are expected to see even larger average declines, including:

Broward County: 14.1%

Miami-Dade County: 14.0%

Palm Beach County: 11.9%

Monroe County: 11.3%

Significant Impact: Over 330,000 policyholders are projected to benefit, with approximately 150,000 seeing reductions of 10% or more.

Private Market Stabilization
The private market is also showing signs of a turnaround as state reforms continue to take hold.

New Competitors: To date, 17 new insurers have entered the Florida market since the 2022–2023 reforms, which is helping to drive down costs through increased competition.

Rate Filings: As of January 2026, private insurers have submitted 83 filings for rate decreases and 100 filings for no increase.

Specific Reductions: Several major carriers are waiting for approval or have already filed for notable drops:

Patriot Select Insurance: 11.3% planned reduction.

Florida Peninsula: Proposed average drop of 8.4%.

Heritage Property: Some policyholders, especially in Central Florida (Orange, Seminole, Osceola), could see changes as early as next month.

Legislative and Market Context
Lower Litigation: State officials attribute these shifts to tort reforms that have significantly lowered legal system abuse and litigation costs.

Depopulation Success: Citizens has reduced its policy count to roughly 395,000, its lowest level in 14 years, signaling that more risks are being absorbed by private carriers.

2026 Legislative Focus: While the market is improving, property insurance remains a top priority in the 2026 session, with lawmakers also debating property tax relief and further insurance compacts to maintain affordability.

12/25/2025

12/19/2025

For the final day of our Holiday Spirit Week, we celebrated "Flannel & Fleece Friday"! Although it wasn't the coldest day, everyone was cozy and warm in their favorite winter attire. We had a great time embracing the festive spirit.
Strategic Roofing LLC's sales team sponsored lunch for the building to spread the love with an delicious Italian meal.

12/18/2025

Day 4 of our Holiday Spirit Week was all about embracing the delightfully tacky with our "Ugly Christmas Sweater" theme! To make it extra memorable, we threw an "Ugly Sweater Awkward Photoshoot." We channeled our inner 80s & 90s siblings, complete with the signature awkward smiles and holiday cheer, just like those classic JCPenney Christmas card photos from our past. It was a blast!

12/17/2025

Holiday Spirit Week is in full swing! Today, we celebrated Favorite Holiday Character Day, and it was wonderful to see everyone's creative costumes and holiday spirit. To make the day even more special, we organized a fun cookie/sweet treat exchange where everyone could share their favorite holiday baked goods, and we set up a cozy hot chocolate bar for everyone to enjoy, truly making it a festive and heartwarming celebration!

12/16/2025

Holiday Spirit week continues! Today is Christmas Accessory Day, and we're thrilled to see how our team is embracing the holiday spirit. From subtle twinkles in their eyes to festive antler headbands, we're finding a delightful spark of cheerfulness throughout the office. It's all about spreading some holiday joy, and we love seeing everyone participate and get into the festive mood!