Homeowners Insurance in St. Cloud, Florida

St. Cloud, Florida, just south of Orlando, is close enough to the theme parks to live in their wake but far enough out of the shadow to maintain its small-town feel. The city is the second-largest in Osceola County and is experiencing notable growth.

Homeowners in the city should protect their valued properties with the right insurance coverage. The guide below underlines what you need to know to find the best homeowners insurance in St. Cloud, including notable cost factors and average rates from several companies.

On average, St. Cloud home insurance costs about $3,391 annually. The average cost of home insurance in this Florida city is about 16% above the average rate in the state of $2,924 annually. 

Homeowners insurance rates vary from city to city and even house to house, as insurers consider many factors about properties and policyholders to calculate premiums. Thus, average premiums vary based on each insurer, too. 

Let’s take a look at average home insurance premiums in St. Cloud by company. 

Insurers typically determine home value by a building’s replacement cost, which is how much it would cost to rebuild a home entirely, accounting for materials and labor. It normally isn’t the same as the selling price of a home, which would be the market value. Property value is one of many variables that can cause your premiums to deviate from the averages listed above.

Other important factors influencing rates are home age and existing wind mitigation features. Older houses generally have higher rates than newer ones because 1) older construction isn’t as resistant to storm damage, and 2) wear and tear on the home can lead to insurance claims more quickly (think outdated roofs, leaking pipes, etc.).

Wind mitigation involves outfitting your home with certain features that reduce the likelihood of storm damage, such as roof attachments and hurricane doors and windows. Homeowners who implement wind mitigation on their homes are legally obliged to receive lower insurance premiums. Homeowners in St. Cloud may even be eligible for a free roof replacement through Osceola County, upon meeting certain criteria.

Heritage has some of the cheapest homeowners insurance in St. Cloud, according to our analysis. Rates were generally competitive among carriers other than American Platinum and TypTap. However, you may be able to find cheap homeowners insurance in St. Cloud from any company depending on your home and personal details, as many factors influence rates.

You can increase your chances of finding a good deal on home insurance by shopping around for coverage. Compare quotes from several providers before picking a policy to verify you’re getting a good deal.

Policies are typically active for one year before your provider reevaluates your coverage and potentially changes your premiums for the next term. The time around your policy renewal is a good time to shop around for coverage again to see if you can save by switching carriers.

While rates vary by company, the coverages in policies typically remain the same. The most common type of homeowners insurance policy is called the HO-3 form, which contains the following coverage areas:

Coverage A, or dwelling coverage, covers the structure and components of your home, including the roof, walls, windows, flooring, foundation, water heater, pipes, and more.

Coverage B, or other structures coverage, guards features on your property not attached to your home, such as sheds, carports, fences, and more.

Coverage C, or personal property coverage, financially protects your belongings, including furniture, electronics, clothing, jewelry, tools, and more.

Coverage D, or loss of use coverage, comes into play if your home has been rendered unlivable by a covered loss, such as a fire or hurricane. Your insurance company can cover lodging, gas, groceries, and other necessities while you’re displaced.

Coverage E, or liability coverage, kicks in if you’re found liable for someone’s injury or property damage after a lawsuit. Your insurer can cover medical bills, legal fees, and more.

Coverage F, or medical payments coverage, is designed to cover minor injuries someone suffers, regardless of fault.

To get the best homeowners insurance in St. Cloud, you should know your coverage needs to find the best policy for your circumstances. Then, compare providers to find the best deal.

You set your policy limits when getting homeowners insurance. Knowing how much insurance you need to select the proper limits is crucial. Conduct a home inventory to value your belongings and determine the amount of personal property coverage you need. 

Raise or lower your liability limits depending on your financial situation and potential risks. For instance, owning large dogs or attractive nuisances can raise your chances of a liability claim, and it may be wise to increase your liability limits.

You should note how your policy covers damage. Plans usually cover items in one of two ways: actual cash value and replacement cost.

Having actual cash value coverage for personal property and some structures is common, indicating that your insurer will subtract depreciation before reimbursing you during a claim. The older an item is, the less you’ll get for it, meaning you’ll never be reimbursed what you paid for an item unless it was brand new.

Replacement cost coverage, however, provides fair market value or what you paid for an item regardless of age after it was lost or damaged. Replacement cost coverage gives higher payouts but is also the more expensive option. You may have the choice of one or the other when getting your policy, so consider the one that’s the most cost-effective for you.

You should also note that some items are subject to sub-limits in your policy. For example, valuable possessions like jewelry, art, and memorabilia are usually only covered up to $2,500 or $5,000, regardless of their price tag. To fully cover valuables, you may want to look into scheduled personal property coverage.

The homeowners insurance market can be tricky in Florida. The state has one of the highest average home insurance costs in the country. Shopping around is the most proven way to save money on coverage. 

While the insurance crisis plaguing the state may be showing signs of stabilization as of mid-2024, recent data shows premiums across Central Florida counties have continued to increase throughout the year. 

When shopping around, note customer service and user experience in addition to rate differences. Some representatives may be friendlier, or company websites may be easier to navigate than others.

Homeowners insurance protects your property from a variety of possible damage sources, from theft to fire to hurricanes. But, policies never cover flood damage. If you’re looking for flood protection, you should consider a separate flood insurance policy.

Flash flooding is a concern for St. Cloud residents, evidenced by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Additionally, properties near the shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga and other waterways in the city may be in federally designated flood zones.

Floods are the most common and costly natural disasters in the country. Look into flood insurance for complete protection for your property. Flood insurance covers mudslides, coastal erosion, storm surges, flash flooding, and more.

Insurance companies examine many variables to determine premiums. Normally, houses that are riskier to cover, meaning more likely to generate an insurance claim, have higher premiums. Several factors, like home age, construction style, and claims history, determine property risk.

Older houses generally have higher rates than newer houses because they’re more susceptible to damage. Older roofs, for instance, are a major sticking point for Florida insurers. Additionally, outdated wiring, HVAC, siding, and more can raise rates.

Alternatively, newer houses don’t have general wear and tear and are built up to the latest safety codes. They tend to withstand severe weather better. 

Insurers will also note the materials with which your house was built. Masonry homes, made of brick or concrete, withstand wind and fire damage better than wooden frame homes, which can lead to lower insurance rates. Also, homes with unique features can have higher replacement costs and premiums. Also, having attractive nuisances at your house, such as pools or trampolines, increases your liability risk and can raise the average homeowners insurance in St. Cloud.

The law doesn’t mandate homeowners insurance in St. Cloud, but mortgage lenders can. If you have a mortgage on your home, your lender will require you to maintain coverage for the life of the loan.

Lenders put notable amounts of money down when they help you buy a house with a mortgage. To protect their investment, they make homeowners insurance a condition of their loans. If the house gets destroyed, you and your lender can recover the money invested in the property through the insurance plan.

If you don’t have a mortgage, no one will require you to have a St. Cloud home insurance policy. But, it’s always a good idea to have coverage, or else you risk paying for all property damage out of pocket.

It’s essential to compare multiple carriers when getting homeowners insurance quotes in St. Cloud. At Clovered, we aim to make this easy. We’re an independent insurance agency that can help you weigh your coverage options quickly and easily.

Clovered was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in South Florida. We’re very familiar with the difficulties of finding coverage in the state, and we want to help you find the coverage you need at the price you want.

You can use our online quoting tool to compare policies from the top home insurance companies in St. Cloud. You can also quote with the help of a licensed agent by calling us at 833-255-4117 during business hours. We’re happy to assist. You can also email us at agent@clovered.com with any questions.