Recent reports from Zillow show a decline in property values in Vero Beach, Florida for Q3 2025, which has many homeowners wondering: “Will my insurance premium go down too?”
Unfortunately, the answer is probably not—and here’s why.
Market Value vs. Replacement Cost: What Florida Homeowners Need to Know
When it comes to home insurance, what really matters isn’t your home’s market value (what you could sell it for), but rather its replacement cost value—what it would cost to rebuild your home from the ground up in today’s labor and materials market.
Even if Vero Beach home prices are softening, construction costs remain high, driven by inflation, supply chain issues, and a shortage of skilled labor. Insurance carriers use these costs to determine how much coverage your home requires—not what Zillow or the real estate market says your house is worth.
So even if your Zillow estimate is dropping, your insurance premium is based on the cost to rebuild, which could stay the same or even increase.
Why Insurance Premiums Often Stay the Same or Increase
Rising construction costs: Lumber, roofing, and skilled labor remain expensive across Florida.
Storm risk: Vero Beach is a coastal community vulnerable to hurricanes and flooding. These risks are priced into your premium.
Inflation Guard Endorsements: Many home insurance policies include clauses that automatically adjust your dwelling coverage upward each year to account for inflation.
What You Can Do to Take Control
While market values are out of your hands, your insurance policy isn’t. Now is a great time to review your coverage with a trusted local expert.
💬 Are you overinsured, underinsured, or just not sure?
👉 Contact Allie Horblitt, an Independent Insurance Broker servicing Vero Beach, who specializes in:
Homeowner’s Insurance
Flood Insurance
Personal Lines (Auto, Boat, Motorcycle, Umbrella, and more)
Allie works with dozens of top-rated carriers to help local residents get the right coverage at the best price—even in a changing market.
📞 Call Allie today at (772)276-7200, x 6 📧 Or email allie@barefootins.com for a free policy review and quote.
Don’t let headlines or home estimates mislead you—get real answers from a real expert.
Florida is home to more registered boats than any other state—and with good reason. Whether you’re cruising the Gulf, exploring the Keys, or enjoying the Intracoastal Waterway, owning a boat is part of the Florida lifestyle. But the question we hear most often from Florida boaters is: “How much is boat insurance in Florida?”
The Quick Answer: Boat Insurance in Florida Starts at Just $75/Year
At Barefoot Insurance Brokers, we represent Progressive, Ahoy!, GEICO, and American Integrity, which allows us to compare rates and coverages across multiple top-rated insurers. With Progressive, annual boat insurance policies in Florida start at just $75/year, depending on your boat type, location, and desired coverage.
Why Your Zip Code & Boat Type Matter
The cost of your policy can vary based on:
Boat type (fishing boat, pontoon, sailboat, powerboat, personal watercraft, etc.)
Your zip code and where the boat is stored or used
Coverage limits (liability-only vs. full coverage)
Boating experience & claims history
That’s why it’s important to speak with a marine insurance specialist who can shop around on your behalf.
5 Most Populated Coastal Regions in Florida (With Key Zip Codes)
If you’re in one of Florida’s most populated coastal areas, chances are we’ve helped your neighbors secure better marine coverage at the best price.
1. Miami-Dade County
Main Zip Codes: 33139 (Miami Beach), 33133 (Coconut Grove), 33160 (Aventura)
Popular for center consoles, yachts, and sportfishing boats.
2. Tampa Bay Area (Hillsborough & Pinellas Counties)
Main Zip Codes: 33602 (Tampa), 33701 (St. Petersburg), 34698 (Dunedin)
Great for bay boats, deck boats, and sailboats.
3. Fort Lauderdale / Broward County
Main Zip Codes: 33316 (Harbordale), 33004 (Dania Beach), 33062 (Pompano Beach)
Known as the “Yachting Capital of the World.”
4. Jacksonville / Duval County
Main Zip Codes: 32210, 32223, 32207
Popular for bass boats and cruisers in the St. Johns River and Atlantic coast.
5. Palm Beach County
Main Zip Codes: 33480 (Palm Beach), 33410 (Palm Beach Gardens), 33401 (West Palm Beach)
High demand for coverage on center consoles, luxury vessels, and jet skis.
We Shop Rates for You — So You Don’t Have To
Whether you’re storing your boat in Fort Lauderdale, sailing from St. Pete, or trailering to the Keys, Barefoot Insurance Brokers will compare quotes from multiple insurers to find the best protection at the lowest possible cost.
Our team understands that cost is a major concern — and we’re here to help you find coverage that fits your budget without cutting corners on protection.
📞 Call or Email Zack Epstein Today
Zack Epstein is your go-to Florida marine insurance agent and is ready to help you compare policies and get covered fast.
After nearly a decade of financial instability, Florida’s property insurance market is finally posting profits—for the first time in eight years. According to a recent article from PropertyCasualty360, insurers across the state have reported positive net income, reflecting improved underwriting discipline, rate adequacy, and fewer catastrophic losses in recent years.
One particularly eye-catching headline is the reported $21 million salary of Slide Insurance CEO Bruce Lucas in 2024, signaling renewed profitability and confidence among private insurers in Florida’s volatile property insurance landscape.
While increased profitability is a positive sign for the long-term health of the industry, many Florida homeowners and business owners are left wondering: Why aren’t my insurance premiums going down?
The answer lies in the larger economic context. Several factors are currently keeping property insurance costs elevated in 2025:
📦 Trade tariffs and global economic uncertainty are driving up the cost of building materials.
🧱 Labor shortages and inflation are impacting repair and replacement costs.
🔍 Insurers continue to account for litigation risk and reinsurance expenses, especially in coastal markets like Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, and Margate.
These pressures are keeping premiums from dropping—even as carriers improve their bottom lines.
What Can Florida Policyholders Do?
At Barefoot Insurance Brokers, we understand how confusing and frustrating the current insurance environment can be. That’s why our licensed agents work with clients across Brevard County, Broward County, and the Treasure Coast to help navigate:
📄 Property insurance policy sublimits and exclusions
🌊 The difference between water damage and flood coverage
📊 Premium comparisons across multiple carriers
🛠️ Coverage options that align with local construction and replacement costs
Whether you’re in Cocoa, Port St. John, Margate, Coral Springs, or Hutchinson Island, we’re here to help you make sense of your policy and identify opportunities to optimize your coverage and costs.
📞 Contact Us for a Personalized Policy Review
If you’re concerned about rising insurance premiums or want to better understand what your current policy covers, reach out to Laurel Schwartz at laurel@barefootins.com. We’re happy to offer a no-obligation review of your Florida homeowners or property insurance policy.
In the state of Florida, Progressive Insurance generally follows standard auto insurance practices when it comes to temporary substitute vehicles and coverage transfers, but it’s important to review your specific policy for exact terms. Here’s a general breakdown of what is typically considered a temporary vehicle and how liability coverage may transfer:
✅ Definition of a Temporary Vehicle
A temporary substitute vehicle is usually defined as:
“A vehicle you do not own, which is used temporarily in place of your covered vehicle when your vehicle is out of normal use because of breakdown, repair, servicing, loss, or destruction.” For the sake of this post, lets consider that you rented a car from a major rental car agency like Enterprise, Avis or Thrifty, for example and fully paid out of pocket for the rental car.
📌 Requirements for Liability Coverage to Transfer
For Progressive to transfer liability coverage to a temporary vehicle in Florida, the following conditions usually must be met:
You must have an active auto policy with Progressive.
The temporary vehicle is:
Not owned by you or a resident of your household.
Being used as a replacement while your covered vehicle is disabled or unavailable.
The use must be temporary (short-term use).
The replacement must be similar in use to your insured vehicle (e.g., replacing a private passenger car with another private passenger car, not a commercial vehicle).
🚫 When Coverage May Not Transfer
If the temporary vehicle is rented or leased for an extended period.
If you’re using a friend’s or relative’s car not as a replacement, but just for convenience.
If the vehicle is used for business or commercial purposes, unless your policy includes such use.
🛑 Important Caveat:
Progressive (like other insurers) may differ slightly in their policy wording, especially for commercial policies or if you have endorsements added to your plan.
🔍 Best Practice:
To be 100% sure, it’s always best to:
Review your declarations page and policy wording under the section “Temporary Substitute Vehicle” or “Other Vehicles.”
Or, call Progressive Customer Service or your local Progressive insurance agent to confirm how your liability coverage would apply in a specific situation.
Are you seeking a local Progressive Insurance Agent? Look no farther than Barefoot Insurance Brokers in Margate, FL, servicing Progressive Insurance clients in Margate, Coral Springs, Tamarac, Coconut Creek and Parkland. Call us today at 954-368-0060 and dial x 1 for new quotes.
Florida’s Space Coast—with its stunning beaches, vibrant communities, and space-age history—is a beautiful place to live. But for homeowners in Brevard County, especially in areas like Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach, owning property along the coast also comes with unique risks that make specialized coastal property insurance not just a recommendation—but a necessity.
Coastal Living = Coastal Risk
Living near the water has its perks, but it also means exposure to:
🌪️ Hurricanes and tropical storms
🌊 Storm surge and coastal flooding
🏚️ Saltwater corrosion that can damage building materials and infrastructure
🔥 Limited evacuation routes and emergency services during major storms
Barrier islands like Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach are particularly vulnerable because they sit between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon—making them prime targets for high winds, rising tides, and storm-driven water intrusion.
Why You Need Specialized Coastal Property Insurance
Standard homeowner’s insurance may not be enough to cover the unique exposures of owning a home near the shoreline. Ryan Sintay, an experienced Florida-licensed Property & Casualty Insurance Agent, works directly with top carriers that understand the Florida coast and offer tailored policies to protect high-value and waterfront properties.
Ryan helps you:
Identify hazard and flood risk exposures
Compare policies with custom coverage limits
Understand windstorm and hurricane deductibles
Ensure compliance with lender and FEMA flood insurance requirements
Prepare for future rate changes and insurance reform in coastal zones
Space Coast Expertise You Can Trust
With over a decade of experience insuring coastal homes across Florida, Ryan focuses on helping residents of the Space Coast, including Satellite Beach, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne Beach, and beyond. Whether you’re new to the area or reviewing your current policy, Ryan offers free insurance reviews and personalized quotes designed to meet the needs of Florida’s waterfront homeowners.
📞 Call Zack Epstein today at 321-218-3880 📧 Or email zack@barefootins.com for your free coastal property insurance quote.
Don’t wait until the next storm is on the radar—protect your home now with a tailored coastal insurance strategy.
