We have Florida Peninsula for wind insurance. They got a lot of press a couple of years ago because they were able to siphon a bunch of policies from Citizens (like ours) and then charged outrageously high rates in 2006-07 thanks to a loophole in the state law. Once the loophole was closed the rates went way down. We pay about a third now of what we paid at the peak. :roll:
I have absolutely no idea if they will provide decent service when/if a storm damages our home. That is the concern. I have thought about looking around but the rate is pretty good, and to be honest there is no telling which if any of these newer or smaller companies would do a decent job, and no one else is available to us other than Citizens.
When we first bought our home we had Citizens. We had damages from Ivan and it took four months -- FOUR MONTHS! -- for them to send someone out because they were so overwhelmed. We obviously had to get the repairs done before anyone from the insurance company could come out. They did pay, but it was a nightmare. The kind where you call every other day and then after months go by, have an absolute meltdown on the phone and THEN you get attention. My advice: Have your meltdown early.
All of the above is for wind coverage, by the way. Hazard insurance and flood are often separate for homes in SoWal. I have ASI for hazard and think it's just fine.
