Home Insurance in Davie FL: 2026 Rate Cuts, Wind Mitigation, and What to Do This Week

On January 12, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis walked onto a stage at Broward College in Davie and announced the largest Florida insurance rate cut in recent memory. Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia stood next to him. Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky read the numbers. The press conference happened two miles from my office.

Here is the headline. Broward County homeowners on Citizens Property Insurance will see an average premium reduction of 14.1% at renewal in spring 2026. That is the biggest drop in South Florida. Bigger than Miami Dade at 14.0%. Bigger than Palm Beach at 11.9%. Bigger than the statewide Citizens average of 8.7%.

If you own a home in Davie, this matters to you in a very specific way. Most of the public coverage focused on the statewide story. This post is about what a Davie homeowner should actually do with this information in the next thirty days to capture the savings.

What DeSantis Actually Announced in Davie

The January 12 announcement covered three things.

One. Citizens Property Insurance, the state owned insurer of last resort, received approval from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to cut rates statewide by an average of 8.7%. Multiperil homeowners drop 8.8% on average. Wind only policies drop 5.5%. Every personal lines policy gets at least a 2% reduction. Source: flgov.com press release, January 12, 2026.

Two. More than 330,000 Florida homeowners will see lower premiums. Over 150,000 of those will see reductions of 10% or more. Citizens has 27,000 policies in Broward County. The average Broward reduction is 14.1%. Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (floir.gov).

Three. The private market is following. Seventeen new homeowners insurance carriers have entered Florida since the 2022 reforms. Eighty three rate decrease filings are scheduled to take effect in 2026. The Governor framed this as proof that the litigation and fraud reforms passed in 2022 and 2023 are finally working their way into premiums.

That is the state level picture. Now the part that applies to your house.

The Carrier by Carrier Rate Breakdown

Here is what the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has on record for the 2026 rate year. Every number below is sourced from official filings or the January 12 announcement. I am not rounding. I am not estimating.

Carrier	2026 Rate Change	Notes
Citizens Property Insurance	8.7% decrease statewide	14.1% average in Broward County
Florida Peninsula Insurance	8.4% decrease statewide	12% decrease on condominium policies. Largest cut in carrier history.
State Farm Florida	10% decrease filed	Filed with OIR late 2025
Security First Insurance	8.0% decrease	Highlighted in the January 12 announcement
Universal Property and Casualty	5.1% decrease	Highlighted in the January 12 announcement
Heritage Property and Casualty	9.6% decrease (Seminole), 7.0% (Osceola)	County specific, not statewide
Patriot Select Insurance	11.3% decrease	Smaller carrier, limited footprint

Sources: flgov.com, floir.gov, citizensfla.com 2026 Rate Kit, Insurance Business Magazine, Insurance Journal.

A few notes a Davie homeowner should actually care about.

Citizens is the relevant carrier for most Davie homes that could not find coverage in the open market over the last three years. If you are with Citizens, the 14.1% reduction applies at your next renewal, not today. You do not have to call anyone. It happens automatically at renewal.

If you are with Florida Peninsula, Security First, or Universal, the percentages above are statewide averages. Your specific reduction depends on your ZIP code, your roof, and your loss history. Call your agent and ask for the 2026 renewal number in writing.

If you are with a carrier that is not on this list, you are probably not getting a decrease. Shop.

Why Broward Is Seeing the Biggest Cut

This part did not get explained well in the press coverage. The 14.1% average in Broward is higher than the statewide number because Citizens had been writing Broward policies at a rate that assumed higher loss frequency and higher litigation costs than what the 2023 and 2024 storm seasons actually produced. When the actuarial data caught up, Broward corrected hardest.

Translation. You were previously paying more than the data justified. The 2026 rate is a correction, not a gift.

That is also why I do not expect this trend to continue past one cycle. Next year is more likely to be flat than another large decrease.

Wind Mitigation Is Still Where the Real Money Is

The DeSantis announcement will save the average Davie Citizens policyholder a few hundred dollars a year. That is meaningful. But it is not the biggest lever you have.

Wind mitigation credits are bigger. A lot bigger.

Here is what the discounts actually look like in Florida. These numbers come from the Florida Department of Financial Services consumer guide on hurricane loss mitigation and carrier filings with OIR.

A hip roof alone can reduce your wind premium by up to 32%. Switching from a gable roof to a hip roof during a replacement can save around 20%. Opening protection meaning impact rated windows and doors on every opening, or shutters rated for every opening, earns a 10% to 25% wind premium credit. A documented roof deck attachment with 8d nails at 6 inches on center earns a credit. Secondary water resistance earns a credit. Roof to wall connections using hurricane clips or straps earn a credit.

Combined, wind mitigation features can reduce the wind portion of your premium by 15% to 50%. For a Davie home that translates to $800 to $2,500 per year in real savings. That is not theoretical. That is what Florida homeowners with fully credited homes actually pay.

To capture these credits you need a wind mitigation inspection. It costs $75 to $150. It is valid for five years. Any licensed Florida home inspector or engineer can issue the standardized OIR B1 1802 form. You give the form to your agent. The credits apply at your next renewal.

If you have never had a wind mitigation inspection, that is the single highest return action you can take on your insurance this year. Not shopping. Not switching. Inspection first.

The My Safe Florida Home Program

If your home is missing wind mitigation features, the state will pay for most of the upgrade. This is not a tax credit or a rebate. It is a direct grant program administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Here is how it works in 2026.

The Florida Legislature appropriated $280 million for the My Safe Florida Home Program for fiscal year 2025 to 2026. The program provides a free wind mitigation inspection. It then funds up to $10,000 in qualifying improvements on a 2 to 1 match. You pay $1, the state pays $2, up to the $10,000 cap. Qualifying improvements include hurricane rated windows, hurricane rated doors, roof to wall connections, roof deck attachment upgrades, and secondary water resistance.

Homeowners at or below 80% of area median income do not have to match at all. They get the full grant.

Program link: mysafefloridahomeprogram.org.

Two things to know. First, the program opens and closes based on funding availability. When the appropriation runs out, applications pause until the next cycle. Apply early in the fiscal year. Second, the inspection is the entry point. You cannot get the grant without the inspection, so even if you think you do not qualify, run the inspection and see what it says.

Combining the My Safe Florida Home grant with a wind mitigation credit at renewal is how Davie homeowners stack the biggest savings. State pays for the upgrade. Carrier lowers your premium because of the upgrade. You paid a third of the cost and took an annual premium reduction that will pay back the remaining third within two years.

Flood Insurance. The Part Most Davie Homeowners Get Wrong

Your home insurance policy does not cover flooding. Not from hurricane storm surge. Not from a broken levee. Not from Tropical Storm Eta dropping 15 inches on a Tuesday afternoon. If water enters your home from the ground up, you need flood insurance.

Davie is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program through FEMA. The town manages flood plain compliance through davie-fl.gov.

Here is the local data as of the current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps that went into effect July 31, 2024. Davie has roughly 7,890 active NFIP policies. The average flood premium in Davie is $418 per year. Broward County average is $430. Approximately 1,934 parcels in Davie were added to the Special Flood Hazard Area in the 2024 map revision, meaning more homes now require flood insurance as a condition of a federally backed mortgage.

If you bought your home before July 31, 2024, your flood zone may have changed. Check it. Davie provides a parcel specific flood zone lookup at davie-fl.gov. Broward County provides a map at broward.org/Environment/FloodZoneMaps. The federal source is the FEMA Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov.

Two points that matter for a Davie homeowner.

First, if your home is not in a Special Flood Hazard Area, you can still buy flood insurance. Preferred Risk Policies outside the high hazard zones cost significantly less. For many Davie homes that run $250 to $450 per year. That is cheap insurance against a real risk in a flat South Florida town with canal access.

Second, private flood insurance has grown in Florida since 2022. Companies like Neptune, Wright, and TypTap now write Florida flood in the private market, sometimes with higher coverage limits and faster quoting than NFIP. Get a quote from both sides before you commit.

The Hurricane Deductible Catch

Florida homeowners policies use a percentage deductible for named storms, not a flat dollar deductible. That is different from how deductibles work for a kitchen fire or a burst pipe.

Your hurricane deductible is usually 2%, 5%, or 10% of your dwelling coverage amount. On a Davie home insured for $650,000, a 2% deductible is $13,000. A 5% deductible is $32,500. A 10% deductible is $65,000.

A higher deductible lowers your premium. It also means you are self insuring the first tier of damage. Before you select a 10% deductible to chase a premium discount, look at your emergency fund and ask if you could actually write that check after a storm.

Most Davie homeowners I talk to do not know what their hurricane deductible is until they need it. Check yours this week.

Action Plan. What a Davie Homeowner Should Do in the Next Seven Days

This is the part most insurance articles skip. Here is the order of operations.

One. Pull out your current homeowners policy declarations page. Find three numbers. The dwelling coverage amount, the named storm deductible percentage, and the carrier name. Write them down.

Two. If you are a Citizens policyholder, note your current renewal date. The 14.1% Broward reduction applies automatically at the next renewal after June 1, 2026. You do not need to call. But you should verify the new rate when the renewal packet arrives.

Three. If you are not with Citizens, call your agent. Ask for the 2026 rate filing status for your specific carrier. Get it in writing. If the answer is a rate increase while Florida Peninsula, Security First, and Universal are all cutting, that is your signal to shop.

Four. Schedule a wind mitigation inspection. $75 to $150. The inspector will tell you which credits you already qualify for and which upgrades would earn more.

Five. Apply to the My Safe Florida Home Program at mysafefloridahomeprogram.org. Even if you think you are not eligible, the free inspection alone is worth it.

Six. Check your flood zone status at davie-fl.gov. If you do not carry flood insurance, get a quote from NFIP through floodsmart.gov and from at least one private carrier.

Seven. Look at your hurricane deductible. Make sure the dollar amount is one you could actually cover from savings. If not, talk to your agent about lowering the percentage, even at a higher premium.

That is the whole playbook. Seven steps. Most can be done in an afternoon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will my home insurance actually go down in Davie in 2026?

If you are a Citizens policyholder in Broward County, your average premium reduction is 14.1% at your next renewal, per the January 12, 2026 announcement from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. If you are with Florida Peninsula, Security First, or Universal Property and Casualty, expect a decrease in the 5% to 9% range, depending on your specific policy.

When does the Citizens rate cut take effect?

Citizens implements the approved 2026 rate at renewal. New policies written on or after the effective date receive the new rate immediately. Existing policies receive it at their next scheduled renewal in spring and summer 2026.

Should I switch from Citizens to a private carrier now?

Not automatically. Citizens is cutting rates for the first time in years. Before switching, compare your Citizens renewal quote to at least two private quotes. If a private carrier beats Citizens by more than 10% and offers equal coverage, switching may make sense. If Citizens is within 10%, the state backed option is often the safer play.

What is the My Safe Florida Home Program and how do I apply?

The My Safe Florida Home Program is a state funded wind mitigation grant. It provides a free home inspection and up to $10,000 in matching grant funds on a 2 to 1 ratio for hurricane hardening improvements. Apply at mysafefloridahomeprogram.org. Low income applicants do not need to match.

How much can wind mitigation credits save me?

Wind mitigation credits typically reduce the wind portion of a Florida home insurance premium by 15% to 50%. In real dollars that is $800 to $2,500 per year for most Davie homes. A hip roof alone can save up to 32%. Impact windows can save 10% to 25%.

Is Davie a FEMA flood zone?

Parts of Davie are inside Special Flood Hazard Areas and parts are outside. The current FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps went into effect July 31, 2024. Approximately 1,934 parcels in Davie were added to the high hazard zone in that revision. Check your specific parcel at davie-fl.gov or msc.fema.gov.

Do I need flood insurance if my home is not in a flood zone?

Legally no, if you do not have a federally backed mortgage requiring it. Practically yes. Most flood losses in Florida happen outside the high hazard zones. Preferred Risk Policies for homes outside the Special Flood Hazard Area cost $250 to $450 per year in most of Davie.

How does a Florida hurricane deductible work?

It is a percentage of your dwelling coverage, not a flat dollar amount. Common options are 2%, 5%, and 10%. On a home insured for $650,000, a 2% deductible is $13,000 out of pocket before the carrier pays anything on a named storm claim. Choose a percentage you could actually cover from savings.

What caused Florida insurance rates to finally go down in 2026?

The 2022 and 2023 property insurance reforms passed by the Florida Legislature addressed assignment of benefits abuse, one way attorney fee statutes, and reinsurance capacity. Combined with two moderate hurricane seasons, those reforms reduced loss costs enough that carriers could file for decreases. Seventeen new carriers have entered the Florida market since the reforms. Source: flgov.com January 12, 2026.

Who should I call first if I want to lower my insurance this year?

Call a wind mitigation inspector before you call your insurance agent. The inspection tells you which credits you already qualify for. Then call your agent with the form in hand. That is the order that produces the biggest savings.

Sources and Primary Research

• Executive Office of the Governor press release, January 12, 2026. flgov.com.
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announcement, January 13, 2026. floir.gov.
• Florida Chief Financial Officer press release, January 12, 2026. myfloridacfo.com.
• Citizens Property Insurance 2026 Rate Kit. citizensfla.com.
• CBS Miami coverage of the January 12 Davie press conference. cbsnews.com/miami.
• CBS12 coverage of the Governor’s announcement. cbs12.com.
• Fox 35 Orlando coverage of the Davie press conference. fox35orlando.com.
• Florida Peninsula Insurance 2026 rate filing. insurancebusinessmag.com.
• Florida Department of Financial Services, Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation consumer guide. myfloridacfo.com.
• My Safe Florida Home Program. mysafefloridahomeprogram.org.
• Town of Davie Flood Insurance page. davie-fl.gov.
• Broward County Flood Zone Maps. broward.org.
• FEMA Flood Map Service Center. msc.fema.gov.

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If you are buying or selling in Davie this year, your insurance quote is now part of the negotiation. Ask for the wind mitigation form as part of the seller disclosure package. A home with a credited roof and opening protection is worth more than an identical home without those credits. The spread can exceed $2,000 per year in carrying costs. Price it into your offer.

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