Question 1

Are Orlando home insurance rates actually coming down in 2026?

Accepted Answer

The direction changed, with the usual lag. Florida's insurance regulator said in May 2026 it has received more than 190 residential filings for rate decreases or no increase since the 2022 and 2023 reforms, and 20 new insurers have entered the state. Citizens' first average rate cut since 2015 took effect July 1, 2026, about 8.8 percent on homeowners multiperil policies statewide reaching each policy at its renewal, and its approved change for Orange County HO-3 policies averages a 3.5 percent decrease. But filings only reach you when your own carrier's approved rates hit your renewal date, and your premium also reflects your home, roof, and history. A market can turn while your renewal still arrives higher, which is exactly why it's worth reviewing rather than assuming.

Question 2

Why is my premium still high if Orlando is inland?

Accepted Answer

Inland pricing is real but relative. Florida's regulator puts Orange County's average charged premium at $3,585 a year including wind, versus $6,220 in Broward, $6,412 in Palm Beach, and $7,829 in Monroe. At the same time, Insurify's 2026 Orlando figure for a $300,000 home is $4,968 a year, well below its $6,060 Florida benchmark but far above its $2,868 national one. The statewide cost drivers, reinsurance, past litigation, and your home's own age and roof, still apply in Orlando. A review figures out which drivers are actually yours and which a different carrier would price differently.

Question 3

Why does Orlando-specific context matter?

Accepted Answer

Florida's policy rules are statewide, but the inputs are specific to the home: build year, roof type, inspection reports, wind-mitigation features, and the rates carriers file for the area. This review uses Orange County premium context and Orlando housing checkpoints to make those details easier to understand. You can verify Truscott's Florida license (L136441) on the DFS Licensee Search, and your information stays with one agency instead of being resold to other agents.

Question 4

My home was built in the 1990s. Why do carriers care so much?

Accepted Answer

Because the checkpoints are age-based, and 1990s homes are crossing them now. Around 20 years, many carriers ask for a four-point inspection covering the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC; that's Citizens' own threshold. Citizens also asks for proof of remaining useful life on shingle roofs 25 years and older. And Florida Statute 627.7011 sets the roof rules: under 15 years, age alone can't disqualify your roof, and at 15 or older an inspection showing 5 or more years of useful life keeps age off the table. A wind mitigation inspection can also document credit-eligible features; Florida law requires insurers to offer those credits. Handled in the right order, inspections usually work for you, not against you.

Question 5

Do I need flood insurance in Orlando?

Accepted Answer

Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, and Ian proved inland Orlando can flood: it dropped 13.2 inches of rain at Orlando International in 2022, and homes in Orlo Vista took on nearly two feet of water when the area's retention ponds merged. Orange County has since completed a mitigation project there, but the broader point stands: flood coverage is a separate policy, through the NFIP or a private flood carrier, and inland zones are not exempt. Whether it makes sense for your home depends on your zone, your lender, and your tolerance for risk, which is a conversation your agent can have with you honestly.

Question 6

What's a hurricane deductible, and does it apply inland?

Accepted Answer

It applies statewide, Orlando included. Florida law requires insurers to offer hurricane deductible options of $500, 2 percent, 5 percent, or 10 percent of your dwelling coverage, and the deductible applies to losses from the moment a hurricane warning is issued until 72 hours after the last watch or warning ends. You also pay at most one hurricane deductible per calendar year with the same insurer group. Wind reaches Orlando: Milton gusted to 87 mph at Orlando International in 2024 and Charley gusted to 105 mph there in 2004. On a $400,000 dwelling, a 2 percent deductible is $8,000 out of pocket; part of any good review is knowing your number in dollars, not percentages.

Question 7

I'm still with Citizens. Is this page for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and your timing matters. Citizens' Orange County count has fallen from 50,188 policies in September 2023 to 3,928 as of June 30, 2026 as private carriers absorbed most of the local book, and takeout rounds continue through fall 2026. If you've received a takeout letter, our letter-review page at truscott.insure/citizens-takeout is purpose-built for it, deadline, 20% rule and all. If you haven't, you don't need a letter to shop: a licensed agent can quote multiple Florida carriers for your home now.

Question 8

When should I start a review?

Accepted Answer

About 30 to 60 days before your renewal date. Carriers typically mail renewal notices ahead of the date, and starting early leaves time to line the renewal up against your current policy, get quotes from other Florida carriers, and bind a replacement if you choose one. Date already passed? You're generally not locked in for the year: homeowners policies can typically be cancelled mid-term with unearned premium refunded, as long as the replacement policy is bound first so there's no gap.

Question 9

Can I switch if my mortgage pays through escrow?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your servicer pays whichever carrier your declarations page names. When you switch, the new policy's declarations page goes to your servicer so it pays the new carrier instead, and unearned premium from the old carrier is typically refunded. Your agent coordinates the handoff, and it's worth confirming with your servicer that the right carrier and amount are on file so nothing is double-paid or missed.

Question 10

Do you only work with Orlando homeowners?

Accepted Answer

No. We're licensed across Florida and work with homeowners statewide by phone and email. This page is tailored to Orlando and Orange County homeowners, from the area's premium context to the different insurance checkpoints for a College Park bungalow, a 1990s suburban home, or a newer Lake Nona build.

Question 11

Is this really free?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the review is free with no credit card required. We're an independent insurance agency: if you later choose to get quotes or buy a policy through us, we're paid a commission by the carrier, like any agency.

Question 12

What happens to my data?

Accepted Answer

Your policy documents are encrypted in transit and at rest, and we never sell your personal information. You can ask us to delete your files at any time, no account required.

A clearer home insurance review for Orlando homeowners. Reviewed by a Florida-licensed agent, free.

Tell Ava about your Orlando home

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The Orlando rate picture, decoded

Inland pricing is real

The market turned in 2026

Orlando homes are hitting age checkpoints

Inland doesn't mean exempt

See what your report looks like

Premium Context

Coverage Changes

Home-Age Checkpoints

Your Market Options

What you'll get

Your Rate in Orlando Context

What Changed at Renewal

A Home-Age Game Plan

Quotes From Multiple Carriers

How it works

Tell us about your home

Add your current policy if you have it

A Florida-licensed agent reviews and shops

We quote College Park differently than Lake Nona

The bungalow belt

The '80s and '90s suburbs

The new builds

One quote is not the market.

Different situation?

Got a Citizens takeout letter?

Nonrenewed over your roof?

Home insurance reviews in other Florida markets

Who it's for

Your privacy matters

Frequently asked questions

Your home isn't an average. Don't insure it like one.