Homeowners Insurance in Jensen Beach, Florida

Jensen Beach is a small, residential Florida town in Martin County, just north of Stuart, where hurricanes have struck in the recent past. If you bypass home insurance there, you’re making a tremendous gamble, as even a relatively minor tropical storm can cause thousands in damage.

We don’t want anyone to risk their livelihoods without the proper coverage. We break down the information you should know about homeowners insurance in Jensen Beach below, including tips on finding the best coverage at the best price.

The average cost of homeowners insurance in Jensen Beach is about $6,041 annually on a $150,000 home, $10,937 on a $300,000 home, and $15,692 on a $450,000 home. However, the exact premium you’ll pay may differ based on your property and policy details.

Homeowners insurance rates in Florida are among the highest in the nation, largely due to the annual threat of hurricanes and high property values. Coastal regions experience the brunt of these costly premiums due to their increased likelihood of direct hurricane impact.

Rates around Jensen Beach are about 81% above the state average. While this sounds intimidating, you shouldn’t worry until you read some more specific numbers below. The home insurance market is complex, and many factors affecting rates can reduce your premiums.

Listed below are average rates from six typical home insurance carriers in Jensen Beach for houses at three different price points.

Insurance rates vary by company because carriers have different ways of underwriting to determine their premiums. Underwriting is the risk analysis process where companies weigh the risk factors associated with a property to determine appropriate rates. 

Insurers weigh factors differently, and they also need to consider their business needs, such as raising rates to make up for losses or lowering rates to increase their number of policyholders. 

These strategies cause price differences that you can take advantage of as a consumer as long as you shop around when looking for home insurance to find the most affordable carrier.

One of the main determinants of home insurance rates is your home’s replacement cost. Replacement cost is the cost to rebuild or repair your property based on construction and labor expenses. In the table above, you’ll notice that average premiums always rise as home value rises because larger, more costly homes always cost more to rebuild and have higher replacement costs. 

Two more factors affecting premiums are your home’s age and wind mitigation features, explained below.

The premiums displayed in this article were obtained by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. They represent the most recent rate filings from the state’s largest insurers and can be utilized as an average of what Floridians can expect to pay for homeowners insurance each year. The example premiums are based on a policy for a Florida masonry home with a $500 non-hurricane deductible, a 2% hurricane deductible and no claims in the past three years.

For a nuanced look at home insurance rates in Jensen Beach, we break down average premiums accounting for the effects of these variables in the following tables, starting with $150,000 houses.

Wind mitigation can save you substantial money in Florida, especially on older homes. Wind mitigation features reduced rates on $150,000 houses in Jensen Beach built before 2001 by over $5,000 annually.

Wind mitigation is critical in Florida, especially in coastal areas, due to the possibility of hurricanes. These storms are major concerns for insurance companies, as even a minor strike can cause hundreds of claims and millions in payouts. 

Wind mitigation lessens your chances of wind damage from hurricanes, reducing your odds of filing a claim and lowering your financial risk to the insurer, thus lowering your premiums.

Wind mitigation savings continue on $300,000 homes, cutting insurance rates in Jensen Beach by 59% on average. Newly built homes have similarly low premiums as all new construction in South Florida has some wind mitigation built in by default. 

Also, new homes are free of wear and tear and possible pre-existing issues that can contribute to insurance claims in older houses. Florida remains a hot housing market despite its high insurance rates and general risk of hurricane damage, so new home construction is also prevalent throughout the state.

The final table below lists premiums on $450,000 houses in Jensen Beach.

State Farm generally had the cheapest homeowners insurance in Jensen Beach. While this average is useful to know, be aware that the most affordable choice will vary by person. Many factors affect rates, and every policyholder has different needs influencing insurance costs.

State Farm is a group of insurance companies originally founded in 1922 that serves as one of the most recognizable insurance brands in the country. It’s the largest insurer in the United States and offers policies in all 50 states.

State Farm may be a good company to start your insurance search with, but you should always compare rates among multiple providers to find the cheapest home insurance in Jensen Beach. Company needs and rating factors at different carriers contribute to price variations, and you won’t know your best option without shopping around.

Mobile and manufactured homeowners in Jensen Beach and surrounding areas may need to look extra hard for coverage, as not every insurer covers manufactured homes. While mobile and manufactured houses technically need a different type of home insurance plan than traditional homes, the policies still contain many similar coverages and are experiencing similar rate increases.

All homeowners insurance policies include the same coverage areas for your property and liability. Policies protect these areas from damage sources called perils. Common covered perils include hurricanes, fires, theft, water damage, and lawsuits. We outlined the major coverage areas below.

The best homeowners insurance in Jensen Beach will sufficiently cover your property and liability at a price you can afford. What constitutes this coverage will vary by person, so it’s crucial you adjust your policy to suit your needs and shop around for the best price.

You can adjust your coverage limits when getting a policy to tailor your plan to your circumstances. For example, you should make a home inventory to determine the exact amount of personal property coverage you need. You should also ensure that your liability limits are high enough to cover all your assets. We usually recommend between $300,000 and $500,000 in liability coverage for most people.

You should also recognize when and how your policy covers you. Policies cover many perils by default, but some risks and items are excluded under standard coverage. You can purchase endorsements for additional protection if you see fit.

You should also note when your policy covers you at actual cash value or replacement cost. Actual cash value coverage factors in depreciation before reimbursing you. Replacement cost coverage doesn’t consider depreciation and is the superior option if you have the choice between the two, but it costs more.

The best way to save money on home insurance in Jensen Beach is by shopping around. Comparing quotes from multiple providers ensures you find the best rates. 

While shopping, you can also compare the different discounts companies offer, and you may qualify for more discounts at one carrier over another. Common discounts include those for:

You can also raise your deductible to lower your premiums. Your deductible is the amount of money you must pay when filing a home insurance claim. Increasing your deductible lowers the insurer’s potential payout and your odds of filing in the first place, thus reducing your financial risk to your provider. This lessened risk lowers your premiums.

While home insurance does cover water damage, we feel it’s important to point out that flood damage is a different peril and is excluded from most policies. Rain, storm surges, and coastal erosion typically cause floods.

Any property in Florida can flood. In Jensen Beach, where there is much water and low-lying terrain, you should consider a flood insurance policy for full home protection. Properties on the St. Lucie River, the Indian River Lagoon, and Hutchinson Island can be located in high-risk flood zones. 

You can get flood insurance in Jensen Beach from select private flood insurance companies or the National Flood Insurance Program, where certain city residents may be eligible for up to a 25% discount thanks to Martin County’s participation in the Community Rating System.

The factors influencing home insurance costs in Jensen Beach typically relate to your property or policy. Additionally, some personal factors can affect your rates. Some of the most important variables insurers are concerned with include:

Aspects that make your home more likely to suffer damage, such as dated components or a dilapidated roof, will raise your rates. Also, insurers may ask if you have a pool, trampoline, or playground equipment. These are known as attractive nuisances, and they increase your liability risk and often up your premiums.

Some home insurance companies are also wary of historically aggressive dog breeds, such as pit bulls and rottweilers. Owning these can increase your rates.

Newer homes often have lower premiums because they’re built up to the latest building codes that emphasize integrity during hurricanes. They also lack potentially compromising wear and tear. New roofs typically lower rates, also. Homes inhabited year-round normally have lower premiums than second or vacation homes.

The only entity that can require homeowners insurance in Jensen Beach is a mortgage lender. Lenders require all borrowers to maintain a home insurance policy for the life of their loan.

Lenders mandate home insurance to protect their investments. If your house got destroyed, the insurance company would reimburse you and your lender, alleviating possible financial ruin. If you don’t maintain your own policy during your mortgage, your lender will force place insurance on you.

No law requires homeowners insurance in Jensen Beach. If you bought your house with cash or paid off your mortgage, you won’t be mandated to have a policy. However, we never recommend bypassing coverage.

 Consulting an independent insurance agency like Clovered is one of the best ways to get homeowners insurance quotes in Jensen Beach.

We can help you find a policy with one of our many partners in Florida. Our team is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, so you’ll be speaking with a fellow state resident familiar with how difficult the Florida market can be.

Contact one of our licensed agents at 833-255-4117 during business hours for help getting a Jensen Beach homeowners insurance quote over the phone. You can also compare rates and potentially bind a policy online with our proprietary quoting platform.

You can also email us with any questions at [email protected]. We’re happy to help you in any way we can.