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Insurance Claims Experts - All types! - Expertos en Reclamos al Seguro - Todos tipos! |
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Floridians In Action, FIA Political Action Committee A Community Interest Group "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" CONFUCIUS |
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BULLETIN BOARD
COMMENTS SENT IN VIA E-MAIL BY FLORIDIANS |
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I think that it is the cities and state fault, they should be charging the contractors higher taxes on all the over building they have done and are doing in Florida. If they had to pay a big price for building and destroying the land and enviornment in Florida, they would think before building. We have brand new Condo's in Florida that are empty and have always been empty, some are being torn down, what a waste of the Floridians money. We pay for these idiots greed. They have destroyed the beaches, (the reason people come to Florida). They have destroyed our enviornment, loss of wild life. Now they have destroyed our economy, people can't afford to live in Florida. But.....oh yes, all the crocked politicians and promoters and contactors lined their pockets, laughting all the way to the banks as to how they put it over on all the citizens that live in Florida. Clearwater even manges to do it with a total vote from the public of don't do it! Makes you wonder what good does it do to protest or vote? They all take their leads from President Bush, they have the power, so why not, just do what they want no matter what, they lined their pockets so they can move away from the mess and leave it to someone else to solve. They don't care about the legal citizens or the USA they only care about their bank accounts and how they live while they are here. Make all the politicans have the same benefits the citizens have, live off the same incomes, and make them have to stay in the cities they destroy, maybe then we can get honest people to represent the majority of citizens. Close the gap!!!! -------------- Dear Speaker Rubio, I am so very impressed with you. I have been impressed by your intelligence and since I saw your first speech a few years ago. I want to encourage you to run for President as soon as you can as I believe you are a real problem solver and I believe that is what we need in the Presidency. I realize that there are stepping stones to the Presidency and age is a factor but I can promise you my support always. I hope for the year that you run for Govenor to lead Florida to the highest plateau ever. My prayers are with you and hope that you can convince your peers and everyone that votes that your plan for tax remedies are the soundest ever offered. I look forward also to your leadership regarding the terrible insurance dilema that this industry has put the great state of Florida in. Your great mind and heart will come up with a solution that will help the people of Florida and not just a private enterprise that would leave us after we built up their industry after all these years. Thank you for your leadership and God Bless your parents for giving birth to such a great man. Thank you for caring about Floridians. -------- Quoting the words of the Blessed Mother- with regards to Marco Rubio "Do what ever He tells you." Please reduce our property taxes,let the Floridians that have the "Save our Homes" tax relief keep it when they move, reduce the total yearly percentage paid and increase Homstead allowance. Make it imediate not for the future. Our real Estate market has all but stalled and more peolpe are loosing thier right to the "pursuit of happieness" because of Taxes and Insurance. Please solve the problem that has been created by the insurance industry, with record profits, threats every year of cancellation and non-renewal and not paying on claims made by honest people (myself being one of them). I believe it has become the "New Mafia". It is a private industry and has no regard for for anything but it's profit margin at all cost. Get rid of the profit margin make it non- profit in Florida create a fund and the problem goes away. Just remember Florida has been here longer than Insurance, and will be long after. Help Us, Float Florida !!! -------
What are our elected "public servants" doing to protect us??? Elections will come again.....and we will then NOT vote for the ones who do not protect us. South Florida has not had a MAJOR hurricane since Andrew in August of 1992. Katrina hit specific areas, and it was mainly water damage and wind damage, nothing to completely destroy houses (it was not a direct hit like Andrew in Country Walk, that it was flattened due to the shoddy construction mainly -the roofs were stapled, can you imagine???). In the meantime, the insurance companies had profits for years and years and years.... Is this a governmental plan to have the low and middle class people move out of South Florida and have the rich people come live here (to convert this like Benidorm or the French Riviera???) Is that it? Please ACT on our behalf. We, the silent majority, are the ones who vote and elect the politicians who later side with the lobbyists of the large and powerful insurance companies. Please help us. E.H. THEIR ARE MANY OF US OUT HERE PICKING DUMPSTERS AND ALUM. CANS. GREAT WAY TO END UP CHEATED OUT GOF MY RETIRMENT BY CROOKED MASSACHUSRTTS. BEEN HERE 35 YRS. SINCE BEING DISABLED NOW HANGING ON YO MY HOME BY A THREAD. HOPE YOU HELP. THANKS Please, we are dying here in FL. The home insurance and property taxes are driving people from FL in droves. If this continues, FL will be a state for the affluent and wealthy. I expected a rebate check or some decrease on my home insurance premium. My Citizens renewal came this month and my discount was $1.00!!!!!!!!!!! Please help us Floridians!!!!!!! ------ I am an out of state, property owner in the Keys. I represent a large contingent of out of state owners who drive huge amounts of money into Florida each and every year. We own property, buy goods in the state, buy food, entertainment etc. We are large drivers of the economy. PLEASE, do not DRIVE US AWAY, by continuing unfair tax practices with huge increases which we have no input to. Tax increases need to be rationalized and the government should be accountable to all, not just homesteaders, who we recognize to be important as well. You must do something about tax reform, before the state becomes unaffordable to so many. Thanks. ----------- This is something that really has to be solved!!! ------ Comments0: you must not prolong the financial relief which the citizens of florida desperately need. you must not allow the insurance industry to amend your law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ---------------- Comments:The issues with tax and insurance rates are driving many long time members of our community out of our city. People are selling their homes and moving north. I consider this unfair to all of us who have established our roots in this city for decades simply because the cost of living has become unaffordable. ----- Comments0: It is truly ridiculous that the tax payers have to endure this from the people we put in office. If some of the many assistant programs need to be reduced they need to be reduced. The tax payers pay for them anyway these politicians need to get on the ball and work for us not for their benefit. ------
Comments:Florida, especially South Florida, is
going to become unafordable to live in. Many families are leaving the
state already for this reason. Our government elected officials need to
listen to the struggles so many families are going through by not being
able to afford to pay their taxes, huge insurance bills, without to
say... high gasoline prices, etc. Let's save our state! We love
Florida and want our children to be able to enjoy the same things we
have until now. Please listen!
----- Comments:Need to do something quick. I'm very concern about the So Fl economy. This is killing the R/E market and must do something about it. It has been going on for toooooo loooong. Some one is getting very fat at our expense. ---- Comments:The Insurance and Property Taxes issues need to resolved. People are leaving the state because we cant afford to live here anymore. I support the increase in the sales tax proposal, except on grocery items. People Buy things every single day. Why shouldn't we eliminate property taxes completely? Remember, we wouldn't be the only ones that pay taxes here. Everyone visiting our state for whatever reason, Business or pleasure would be adding to our State's purse. Why put the burden on the ones who live here year after year? As for the Insurance company's, they need to get real with how much money they should be charging us for insurance. What they are charging us is Highway robbery. They make profits beyond comprehension nationwide and claim they lose money here in Florida. Also, when something does happen they insult us by undercutting what it really takes to repair the damages to our homes. Such as they did after Wilma! I still feel like I was short changed and forced to agree to a settlement because they aggravate you to the point that you don't want to deal with them any more. Allowing Insurance companies such as, All State, Prudential, State Farm, Etc, to stop selling Home policies in Florida was a big mistake. They still sell Auto and life here don't they? I think its fair to demand that if they DON'T sell Home policies, and at a fair price, then they shouldn't be allowed to sell ANY kinds insurance or do business in any way here in the sate of Florida Period! Not even through a subsidiary. I would go as far as preventing them from Advertising at all in Florida. ------ Comments0:I am disabled and cannot pay my high property insurance. My last two years of taxes have been sold and I now have to pay 18% to get them back. Just filed bankruptcy and these ammounts are placed on my new payment. My original taxes were roughly 8k and now I have to pay back 12k. And I still have to pay 2007 taxes. Florida is not for the middle class families if this continues!!!! ------- Comments0: Floridians need all the help they can get regarding insurance. It's unbelievable that people are having to refinance their homes so they can pay their insurance. What has happened to this country. So much greed -------- Comments: We need only your attention & priority on these issues, but, we need a real and substantial tax property reduction for all floridians. God Bless you. ------- Comments0: Please help us. We may have to move out of Florida because of the property taxes and the homeowners insurance. We are trying to hang in there, but it is tough. Thank you. ------- Comments:Something needs to be done ASAP....people can not live here anymore. And the salaries are the same as 5 years ago....Taxes and insurance need to be lowered. Or a mandatory cost of living increase mandated in the state of Florida. It is so bad, I can not ever afford to contribute anything.....Government officials need to take action. Just remember you are elected officias, you can be out just as easily as you get voted in. ------ I am the only one that works in my house. My wife is disabled and we have three children. We cannot afford to pay these high taxes. ------- Comments: A roll back to 2005-2006 is pure smoke and mirrors. That was the peak of the boom and woould probably raise taxes. Nothing less than a rollback to 2002-2003 is acceptable. Both myself, and MANY of my friends & associates will be watching to see how you vote. Then we will decide how we vote! ------- Comments: by the way is time to start thinking about electoral reforms to stop the lobbist excesive influence on goverment in favor of corporations SEPARATE CORPORATE AND GOVERMENT TOO!. --- Dear Governor, I love the place where I live but can no longer afford to live here. I could probably move to a smaller house but it would cost me the same. What can we do: we can't move,we can't downsize, we can no longer live the state, no one will buy our house. From the time you have been in office, I have seen how hard you have worked for Floridians. I did not vote for you but I applaud what you are doing and serious you think this issue is. You understand it better than your predecessor. Please help us stay here in South Florida. I am a realtor and there is no business. Nobody wants to come here anymore. The government needs to make it more affordable. It has become more affordable to live in Silicon Valley than in South Florida. Signed, A concerned citizen ---- The huge inceases in property taxes and insurance have been a terrible burden. I am afraid if something isn't done about it soon, I will have to sell my home of 36 years and move out of the state of Florida. I have faithfully paid my taxes, homeowners, flood and windstorm insurance all these years without one major claim, yet I and other Florida residents are being penalized by an increase every year. It is totally unfair. It seems that our legislators care more about
the insurance companies and big business than they do about the Florida
residents. ----- What's needed is more than a cursory financial nod, but a true, radical change in the way revenue is generated. Without this reform the real estate industry will continue to be dead-locked, we who are long time residents will remain unable to upsize or downsize, and home values will rise at an agonizingly slow rate. For me and my family to remain in Florida, something radical must be done - quickly! Comments:Here's a reprint of an E-Mail I recently sent to: Marco Rubio, Ken Pruitt, and Ron Reagan: Hello Honorable Public Representatives: I am writing for my Dad. He is a retired 82 year old M.D. His name is Eugenio Silva and he resides at
xxxxxxxxxxxx, Miami, FL. My Dad owns and lives in a modest 2 bedroom Townhouse. When he and my Mom downsized and bought the Townhouse in 2002, their Homeowners Policy cost them $1,050 per year. That cost has been steadily rising with an Exponential Profile. Last year the cost was $2,200. He just received his renewal offer from Federated Assurance Company in the amount of $3,400. Is Federated not bound to follow the Laws limiting Homeowner’s insurance increases enacted by the Florida Legislature earlier this year? He simply cannot afford this new cost, living on a fixed income of $1,500 per month from his Social Security check. Please, DO THE RIGHT THING, and stand by your constituents, the honest hard-working people of the State of Florida. Stand firm against the Moguls in the Insurance industry, and tell them: “ENOUGH!! You in the Insurance Industry can make an honest living charging your customers 40, 50, 60 percent less.” I thank you for taking your time to listen to us. Best Regards, Hector Lopez - Math Teacher Miami Edison Sr.
High School ----------------------- The taxes and Insurance prices are outrageous, the only people that are benefeting from this are the insurance companies that are doing whatever they want to do and nobody is stoping them. As a floridian I feel lonely in this problem and our politicians that are supposed to be checking and fighting for our rights are doing nothing because this issue is not affecting them as much as it is affecting us, the working people that do not make a lot of money to cover all these charges and have families to support. The american dream that once we bragged about has disappeared in South Florida, and you guys are doing nothing to solve this problem. If you would like to answer me my e-mail is xxxxxxxxxxx Sincerely, A very disapointed Floridian. ----------------------- I strongly believe that everyone should go out and demonstrate that insurances companies and the raises of taxes should go lower for everyone no exceptions should be made for the whole state of Florida why Dade, Broward and Monroe should paid for the whole State of Florida. ------------------THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION. HOWEVER, I CANNOT GET TO SWEETWATER, AND THEREFORE WOULD LIKE TO SEND MY PERSONAL PROTEST TO THIS INSURANCE CHARADE. JUST ARRIVING HOME FROM A HARD DAY'S WORK, AND ALREADY FEELING EACH DAY MY CLOSER APPROACH TO LOOSING MY HOME TO FORECLOSURE; HANGING ON AS LONG AS I CAN TO GET BETTER RESULTS ABOUT HIGH COST OF INSURANCE, FRANKLY I AM VERY SCARED TO LEAVE MY HOME OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS FOR UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES! I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS UNCANNY EVENT APPROACHING EACH DAY. AND AS IF THIS IS NOT ENOUGH PUNISHMENT FOR BEING HOMEOWNERS, I CHALLENGE THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO COME UP WITH A MORE DRASTIC SCENARIO. I AGREE IT IS BEYOND RIDICULOUS TO PUT A NOOSE AROUND OUR NECKS; TIE OUR HANDS BEHIND OUR BACKS, AND PUT OUR HANDS TO THE FIRE TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE! AND WHAT ABOUT A NIGHTMARE ALTERNATIVE TO SELL OUT TO A LOW-BIDDING MARKET, OR GO INTO FORECLOSURE? THE INJUSTICE SERVED ON FAITHFUL HOMEOWNERS, WHO PAY WITH THEIR LIVES TO KEEP THEIR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION FOR FAMILY IS NOTHING SHORT OF OUTRAGEOUS. ALL THIS POSTURING ABOUT WHAT PERCENTAGE IF ANY, AND JUGGLING HOMEOWNERS AROUND TO FIND NEW INSURANCE, DUE TO THOUSANDS BEING DROPPED POSES NEW SETS OF PROBLEMS! ADDED TO THIS THE REQUIREMENTS TO ADD CERTAIN ITEMS TO PROPERTY TO GAIN MEAGER PERCENTAGE FAVORS, CLEARLY SHOWS INDIFFERENCE TO ASSIST. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY MEETING OF THE MINDS TO MEET HOMEOWNER HALFWAY FOR REASONABLE RESOLUTION! ON THE CONTRARY, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PLOY FOR INDUCING PANIC SO THAT HOMEOWNERS MUST JUMP SHIP, AND BECOME VAGABONDS WITHOUT A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. IN A LOUD OUTCRY FROM HOMEOWNERS, WE THE PEOPLE REQUEST SERIOUS ACTION TO STOP INSURANCE COMPANIES FROM IGNORING OUR RIGHTS TO LIVE IN OUR HOMES AND CITIES. WE DEPEND ON OUR GOVERNOR AND ALL THE STATE OF FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT IN ONE ACCORD TO CORRECT THIS TRAVESTY! Respectfully submitted xxx, Ph.D. Thank you! On the other hand, perhaps federal law should govern insurance companies, as few insurance companies limit their base to a single state and are national corporations in effect. regards, -------------------As a second home owner in Miami Beach and my main home being in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada I am sick and tired of how second home owners in particluar are being srewed by this city of Miami Beach and the state of Florida. Something drastic needs to happen SOON in order NOT to drive all of us out of this market. My taxes almost doubled since I bought less than 3 years ago. Almost $8,000 for a 1,350 sf 1 BR condo.....That's ridiculous..... I only spend about 3 months a year down in Miami but with combined costs of taxes and condo fees exceeding $16,000 I will be better off selling my condo and adding to the already huge FOR SALE supply in this shitty real estate market... I can rent something real nice for the $16,000 in the future for 3 months and have no strings attached and no hassles w/ hurricane damage etc. The cities and state are sending the WRONG message to 2nd home buyers/owners all together. LET'S DO SOMETHING NOW.... Sincerely, ---------------------Florida needs to adopt the Hawaii model of "all risk" insurance where companies wanting to write policies to protect any property for any peril must write the policies to cover all perils. That includes auto insurance companies that are not allowed to write just auto but must also offer that same policyholder all-perils home insurance. Also, no company may write insurance in that state which does not write insurance in other states, that is, there is no Hawaii-only subsidiary, and all insurance companies are considered national in scope.
This approach would reduce the apparent
risk to insurance companies by forcing them to cover all perils for both
auto and home and spread the premium income also across all perils risk.
The model will not cause companies to leave the state but to add more
companies to the state than are here now. That was shown in Hawaii.
As a victim of the abuse from the insurance companies and the local governments I endorse this campaign. After almost 20 years of paying my premiums religiously every month and only having one claim, Allstate has decided not to renew my policy after next July. ------------------------- I REFUSE TO VOTE FOR ANY CANDIDATE WHO HAS NOT ALREADY SHOWN THAT HE/SHE IS SERIOUS ABOUT DOING SOMETHING CONCRETE... AND QUICKLY... ABOUT THE EXTORTIONATE WINDSTORM INSURANCE RATES IN FLORIDA. THE PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE GETTING AWAY WITH DAYLIGHT ROBBERY, I.E. FLORIDA PENINSULA, AS THEY ARE BEING ALLOWED TO CHARGE 140% INCREASES BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE THE MONOPOLY IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WHOEVER DOES NOT COME DOWN HARD ON THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES AND STOP THE EXTORTION... AND FORCED SALE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE'S HOMES... ABSOLUTELY WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE. WE NEED ACTION AND JUSTICE... AND NOT JUST TALK OF SAME... AND WE NEED IT RIGHT NOW! ------------------------ I am a civil engineer and my husband is
a computer administrator. We are two working professionals, which SHOULD be able
to afford a normal standard of livig, but here in South Florida is just
impossible. We have had the need to work sencod jobs just because: I am very unhappy
with the raising of the property taxes/insurance. I understand that taxes are
necessary, however when we have the property being assessed by my neighbors
property based on the value of a home that was not appraised accordingly. We do
not have good schools around the area, our avenue is not maintaned propertly and
i can go on. SO WHERE ARE THE TAXES going to?? to a FRIEND OF A FRIEND that is
being oursourced/contracted to get the job done and it never does???? -------- I want to insure for whatever amount so happy someone is looking our for our well being --------- Very Good Work ----------- Dear Mr. Crist: ----- Gov. Crist & staff, as you are more then
aware the State of Florida has increased its property taxes as well as insurance
coverage the past 5 years at a rate higher then any other state in the Union.
Those of us in South Florida have been affected the worse. Please keep your word
and maintain the cost, I know you are working on it, but keep your promise to
those of us that are your constiguents. We really need to focus all the attention this matter. Thanks -------- The cost of taxes is making it impossible
to be able to afford a home in South Florida. We need immidiate help in lowering
the tax, and insurance hike in Miami Dade. I am a single parent working by
myself with two children, my mortgage paymnent has risen to $2,200.00 a month
making it impossible to pay with one salary. I am currently been forced to get a
partime job just to make ends meet. We need change and we need it now before
most of us loose the homes we've worked so hard to maintain. ------- these property taxes are grossly over estimated. i feel we are being robbed. -------- Thank you governor Charlie Crist ----------- PLEASE LOWER INSURANCE RATES, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF HOMES BEING FORECLUSED, THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF FLORIDIANS BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANES.BUT IF YOU SEE THE NUMBERS THEY MAKE FORM US YOU KNOW THEY CAN AFFORD 10 HURRICANES IN A SEASON ALONE. THEY ARE MAKING A WHOLE ALOT OF MONEY, TAKING IT FROM US AND MAKING US LOSE OUR PROPERTIES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OURSELVES. HELP FLORIDIANS KEEP THEIR HOMES. ----- The cost of living in Florida (Taxes, Insurances, Mortgage/Rent, cars, gas) do not goes with the average income the Floridians earn as salary. The politics must prepare a plan to help the people that voted for them. -------- I own 4 properties in the Dade County Area.
The taxes & insurances are forcing me to sell and invest in other states. My insurance has increased from $2,400 in 2006 to $5,800 in 2007 that is an enourmous increase and we hae nver had a claim in the past 9 years. ------- I believe that taxes and insurance are
abusive. People don't make enough money here to pay the high cost living. If
things continue to go this way, we will be force to leave FL and move up to
another state. This is too much already, we live to pay taxes and insurance
here. ITS IMPORTANT TO LOWER OUR INSURANCE AND TAXES BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOSING THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF THIS REASON!!!!I THINK ITS OUTRAGIOUS OF HOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR HOMES PAID OFF ARE NOW HAVING TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY THE INSURANCE AND TAXES ----------- Politicians in control have made a mess in this country especially in Florida. We moved to Florida to be able to afford a better living for our family and now we are thinking of moving again to somewhere where taxes and insurance bills are normal, and politicians don't take advantage of the people. Where is that place..I wonder ! -------------- Thank you for helping us. ----------- Everyone that lives in the U.S. is
contributing in MANUFACTURING these HURRICANES !!! ----- We need to reduced taxes and insurance
,people is moving to other states because they can pay this taxes and insurance
,I did investments and the townhome that I have is not homestated and tha taxes
are getting to hight ,also there is a lot of foreclosures. Floridians need tax break and insurance
break. Residents cannot afford to continue paying such high prices. There are
many people loosing their homes due to such high insurance rates and taxes that
continue to elevate. Now a days young people cannot afford to buy their homes.
The American dream is disappearing. Elderly couples who have worked all their
lives end up living in low income housing because although they paid off their
homes the insurance and taxes don't allow them to make ends meet. This is
un-fair and just wrong. We need immediate changes...... --------- We need help or we are going to loose
everything, my husband and I are over 50 years old and we can't continue working
more than 10 or 20 hours overtime every week. I do take care of the house and the babies
because we can't afford to pay a day care. My husband spend many hours working
to be able to pay everything. -------- Because the live expenses increase I have
to spend more time working than with my family, including sleeping time. ---- If we want to keep real people in Florida and not just the rich snowbirds, something must be done about taxes and insurance. The average middle class citizen can not afford to live here. ------- It is incredible what this county has done with the property taxes...especially those of homes belinging to retirees...It si shameful!1 It is no wonder people are leaving FLORIDA for 'greener' pastures!! ------------- Property taxes are seriously weakening our
economy. Affordability issues have to be addressed. Salaries are not in line
with costs associated with housing. The bottom line is prperty taxes are killing
us. WE NEED HELP!!!! In the last years, my property insurance
has increased dramatically. We are preparing for retirement and these
increases in taxes and insurance have really hurt our plans. We can't even
afford to move to a smaller home. Miami is becoming a place for the
super/rich. ----- Ive lived in miami for the greatest part of my life and Im looking to move out of south florida because taxes have made it so dificult to follow the american dream of being a home owner, please evaluate our situation and lower property taxes ------- ---- It is getting more and more difficult to
afford living in South Florida because of the insurance cost and the property
taxes. Please help us by lowering these, not only by not raising premiums, but
by lowering these costs. This problem is creating instability in our
homes. We cannot afford these high taxes, high insurance and low salaries. Shame
on those politicians that think that this is going to work, yes for them it will
work, they will become more wealthy. We need to do something about our taxes
inMiami Dade, people are losing what little they have because they cannot afford
to pay the high tax cost, and insurance premium. my house property taxes went up to two time the amount within two years. ----- Insurance rates coupled with the high price of homes and cost of living in Florida make it impossible for people to purchase homes and live a decent life. Please make reforms to the Homestead Exemption and cut homeowner's insurance rates. We are draining South Florida of entrepeneurs and members of the "think tank" who go elsewhere. ----- Because of the inflation of the taxes and insurance, my mortgage has escalated $700.00 more monthly and being a single mom I am not able. Please help us. ----- A 10% reduction in insurance is not
acceptable. ---- I bought my home 35 years ago and is paid for. The property value has gone up, so have the taxes and insurance. My question is this...HOW DO YOU EXPECT AN 84 YEAR, LIVING ON A FIXED INCOME, TO PAY FOR ALL THIS?????? --------- Through this petition, I request that the tax/insurance issue be addressed immediately in order to have said tax increases lowered. Thank you. ------Our taxes were raised 100 and 200% and a 10% cut is not acceptable. With this petition, I request that the tax/insurance issue be addressed with great importance to our community and that it immediately be lowered in order for it to be affordable for single parents as myself. Thanks. ---- I definitely want for our property taxes to go down. The crisis is growing between Floridians. Everything seems to go up except our take home paycheck. -------- I believe that the taxes/insurance
situation in Miami is causing a large expense on Floridians that are unable to
afford due to the daily living expense. People are loosing their homes due to
this serious problem. Everyday there are more and more impedements for people to
live a normal and healthy life due to the stress being caused by our community.
I believe this issue should be seriously reviewed and that all measures are
taken to lower the inflation of taxes/insurance. Thank you. it is ridiculous!! there is no way we can continue paying the money that we don't make!! we need to stop this abuse!! please be fair to us, we already pay taxes throughout the whole year, we file taxes, I usually get something in return but now?? what I get is to continue paying??? because my taxes are sooo high?? pelase do something! -------- I don't even make enough money to keep up with my mortgage. I have to rent my house so that I can pay for it. This tax thing has got to end! first, the properties are SUPER HIGH!!! it is impossible to be a homeowner now days, and on top of that we get taxes this high??? they are out of their minds!!! how are we going to live ??? we get tired of working you know?? we need a brake!! ------ It is a great concern the real estate tax
increase in Miami-Dade County. This increase is creating a hardship in making
the mortgage payments together with the escrows to cover all the increases.
Especially at our age! Our property taxes are inconceivably
outrageous! We are curious to know how we can lower them and join this petition
to assist in any way we can. Please provide further information. ---- SOUTH FLORIDA HAS THE VERY HIGH TAXES, HIGH
INSURANCE, HIGH EVERYTHING, EXCEPT SALARIES. WE HAVE THE LOWEST SALARIES IN THE
COUNTRY AND WE HAVE TO PAY THE MOST FOR INSURANCE, TAXES AND UTILITIES ETC., HOW
LONG BEFORE SOMEONE CORRECTS THESE PROBLEMS???? This is so out of hands that if impacting
negatively the live of every resident in south Florida. I am signing this petition in order to
lower the property tax. As a single woman supporting a house, the property tax
and insurance is killing me. I pay $11,000 for both and only earn $47,000. The
remainder is to pay the mortgage, car, car insurance, food, utilities and other
misc items to support a house. The increase is outrages for a single person. It is bad enough that home prices have
doubled and tripled in the last few years, the goverment acknowledges we have a
problem by continuosly raising the affordable housing issue, yet they have
benefited by this increase in home costs by colelcting double and triple the
property taxes. I do not see double or triple improvements in our roads, new
schools or higher pay for county workers. Instead you hear about the millions of
dollars in embezzelment and fraud the county is guilty of. People are being
driven from their homes by higher property costs only to have a corrupt official
benefit. Give Miami a break, wages have not increased and people are suffering. There is a dire need to stop this madness. Current property taxes are legal avenues for discrimination. --- Property taxes and winstorm insurance, as
well as homeowners and flood insurance are outrageously expensive. Something
needs to give and I believe it is at this point the goverment put a halt to the
abuses the insurance companies are getting away with, not to mention the
inflated property taxes! Property taxes are outrigheous, that's the
reason why many homeowners will loose their hard worked and earned property.
Please do soemething about it, before is too late. My house was a total loss and made
uninhabitable by the county. I still have yet to see the full money to help
build my house. It has mold inside and I have been living in a trailer since
almost two years. I don't kow how many adjustors have gone and mediations and
nothing. Just insurance rising costs and in the end they don't pay. I am a
senior citizen widow and its not right. Please help us. I pay more than double my
property taxes for my home insurance. when not too long ago I paid 1,600 a year
and now 4,800 a year! Since my house was built in 1958 I do not have an option
of getting competitive rates from other insurance companies since none cover
houses built before 1998, even though nothing happened to my house in any
hurricane---it's made of concrete block! while people I know had more damage in
their new houses!! I don't make alot of money and its very hard to make ends
meet when the pay has stayed the same and this keeps going up and up.I will have
to leave out of Florida if this continues to rise.
--------- Hope that this works for the benefit of all
the residents of the State of Florida. I would like to say that I have been living in the good old USA since I was 10 Years of age and I do remember when my parents regular factory workers and we lived in a nice neighborhood, were able to afford to save money and go on vacation. I am a single mom and have two children and I earn a decent income and can't afford to save money or go on vacation with my family. The American dream is dying. Why are we letting the little people die? Where are we supposed to go? We want our children's off the streets and we can't afford to have them in a house. Families with children need a home to live in and salaries to match. ---- The issue of property taxes and insurance
relief should be an absolute priority. These issues do not only affect seniors
it affects all Floridians. As a native Floridian I have always wanted to stay in
Forida and give back to may community. Unfortunately, the tax and insurance
situation has placed my family and many others in a situation of not being able
to move or purchase a new home in Florida. It's not right when families are
forced to sell their homes because they can no longer afford the homeowners and
the property taxes. --- please help we can't afford this taxes anymore.... ----- please help ,, taxes are to much to pay.. we need help.. i am a single man trying to pay what i can't afford since it is to much.....please help prevent foreclosures....thanks ------------ i am a single mother with 3 kids unable to pay taxes.. please help ---- Please address the property tax increases
or we will be forced to move out of state. the cost of insurance has raised so much
that it is very difficult for regular working people to pay as it has gone up so
much .. people think about moving because of that.. if something can be done.. I
am sure the economy of fl will be a lot better since we will spend the money
here and not somewhere else.. if we had more money spared from taxes .. I am currently paying $5000.00 in property taxes. The previous owners paid half of that. It is not fair that just because we got here at a later date that we should be forced to pay more than others who are in the same neigborhood using the same fire station, police station, libraries,etc. There are neighbors who own much newer bigger homes and who pay the same or less in property taxes. How can we plan for our childrens future? Where will our children be able to buy their 1st home if this continues? Something must be done.Otherwise Florida will become a ghost town in the future. --- WE ARE TIRED OF THE BEURACRACY SORROUNDING
OUR DAILY LIVES, ALL OUR COUNTY, AND CITY OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE THE COMMON
CORTESY OF RESIGNING OFFICE THEY ARE ALL WORTHLESS PROFESIONAL LIERS. --- I am paying $5000.00 in taxes a year and I can barely afford it.I need my taxes lowered otherwise I will be forced to leave this state which I have lived in almost all my life and have to leave most of my family behind. --- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH WE ARE TIRED OF THE ABUSE, WE CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. --- WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY, THE ANSWER
TO ALL THE MONEY ISSUES IS RAISE TAXES, WE THE PEOPLE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ARE
FED UP. I object to the price rate increases that have occurred in the past and refuse to continue having these outrageous hikes. ------ Home ownership is not affordable. Presently paying $6,700.00 in property
taxes which seems absolutely outrageous for middle to lower class citizens.
Comments:
"...Frankly, the pressure needs to continue, and the %
reductions are far from making a real and significant
difference for the most desperate homeowners..."
Comments: This kind
of problems are not resolve by metting at Versalles. The
public need's to get educated about what is going on on this
County.
I don't feell good about
the Cubans in Dade County that represent us. I feel that
everyone of them should be investigated buy the Federal
Govertment. Money disapears here more than you know.
I think my option is to
leave this State.
Don't get me wrong, I'm
Cuban also, but I can not stand what has been going on for
years. I prefeer to sit and listen to a buch of criminals in
jail, that for me to listen to a sigle politician.
Comments: To me, I knew that this was going to be just a game. Just like placing a half an inch bandage on a 12 inch injury. I'm retired, my house is pay for, no mortage.
What you are offering is a
disgrace to the people.
At the same time you see all
those citicens that still have the chance of staying with a
private company with a house similar to mine, paying aproxiamte
$1,700 a year. I was paying $2,700 a year and it took me over a
year to get the insuarnce company to pay my damages. Now I do
not have Insurance since the 17th of this month.
My agency ask me for me to
send pictures of my house and to fill up some applications.
Before I did that, acctually I
have not done that, I ask them to give me an idea of what my
Insurance will cost. The answer was almost $6000 dollars a year.
I decided to get no insurance and decided not to send the
paperwork. I know of people moving out of this County paying
less taxes and insurance, just by moving less than 100 miles
away.
I'm just disgusted with our
govertment, nothing good ever comes out of the people that
suposse to represent us.
Most of all, I'm sure no one
important will read this, and most of all no boby importantan
will reply.
What realy hurt's is that
politician can robe the tax payers all the time and nothing is
done.
I got more respect for
convicts the the system that I do for politicians.
You people are a
disgrace.................
Comments: I am outraged with insurance renewal prices. I own 10 properties mainly rental properties that my tenants cannot afford higher rents because of there income. I am being forced to raise there rents because of higher insurance premiums and taxes. Miami-Dade county is pushing or forcing the working class to move elsewhere because of un-affordable rents. If we keep this up soon we will have a lot of homeless people on the streets like what is happening in Oahu Hawaii. Comments: The homeowners insurance crisis is a direct result of our elected officials not fulfilling their duties by taking action on this issue. The insurance issue puts in jeopardy our entire state economy and deprives the lower income class the ability to own a house and create wealth thus continuing the cycle of dependency on goverment programs. To add insult to injury our real estate taxes have increased 130.37% in the last 5 years giving the state and county a windfall in revenues What have we gained? The only thing I see is more goverment waste, mismanagement and incompetence. Perfect examples are the Miami airport, over 1 billion over budget and more than 4 years behind schedule, the Miami Art center, over 100 million over budget and more than 2 years behind schedule. Comments: NOT ONLY DO OUR INSURANCE RATES NEED TO BE LOWERED, BUT CREDIT MUST BE GIVEN FOR CONCRETE ROOFS. I HAVE ONE BUT TRAVELERS CANCELLED ME BECAUSE IT IS FLAT. THAT WAS OUT OF THE BOX FOR THEM. AND HOW ABOUT PUTTING A CAP ON INVESTMENT AND 2ND HOME PROPERTY TAXES???? WE CANT AFFORD THOSE EITHER. IN VOLUSIA THEY NEVER LOWERED THE VALUE ON THE HURRICANE DAMAGED PROPERTIES. AND NO ONE WINS AN APPEAL ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL PROFESSIONALS. WHAT IS GOING ON IN VOLUSIA'S PROPERTY APPRAISER OFFICE? PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG. WE NEED DRASTIC CHANGES IN FLORIDA. Comments: The American dream
has always been to own your home. Unfortunately recently I realize that we're not the only family affected, but I do feel that we all have to fight this together until this issue is addressed and corrected, or Miami will turn into a land of absentee owners which have no investment in South Florida other then property. I hope you noticed that I didn't bring up taxes which when you combine them it forces me to ask how is any family with a average income between 20 - 30k per adult in Dade County supposed to ever think for a split second that the American Dream is about them, and not billionaire investors like Trump. Don't get me wrong I have nothing against him personally I just feel that everyone has the same right to dream as he has, after all that's what this country is based on, or we all might as well start looking to move to Idaho. I don't think they have any investors eye on them yet, but hey atleast they can dream. Comments: I am new to the work force, and a new homeowner. This year i paid $7500 in insurance to Citizens... need I say more? No, but I will anyways...From what I hear from others who also have Citizens, not a penny is returned for any claim. And if one is to take a plane and fly over Florida, its hard not to notice the thousands of blue tarps over the roofs, and we all know this is not because noboday wants to make money fixing roofs. Comments: We will be "forced" to carry no insurance at all since a retirement pension could not permit us to pay for this outrageous increase in property insurance. We are paying off the small balance owed and will certainly NOT PURCHASE INSURANCE COVERAGE!!!!!!!!!! AND....for what?....insurance companies pay squat!!!! Comments: Please make it possible that the legislators allow homeowners without mortgages to buy Homeowner’s Insurance that doesn’t include Windstorm Coverage. We have lived in this same house, in South Florida, for 34 years and it is paid for. We would like to purchase fire and theft coverage ONLY on our Homeowner’s Insurance. We have managed to make it through the hurricanes and storms through our 34 years here because we feel our home was well built in 1970 and we have our Hurricane Plan in effect every year. So, we would like to be able to go without the very expensive Windstorm Coverage. We’ve never had a claim for Hurricane damage. We hope we can continue to say that. We’ve had inconveniences from past storms, but we never sustained damage to our home. To our trees, yes. But, trees aren’t covered by a Windstorm Policy, anyway. Please help us. Allstate Floridian has cancelled our policy, which means they won’t renew us in March 2007. I don’t know how we will be able to afford to live in our home when we get what we assume will be a hefty rate hike from a new insurance company that our Insurance Agent has suggested - Royal Palm Insurance Company. We would like to have Homeowner’s Insurance for fire and theft ONLY. I think we can deal with Mother Nature and her hurricanes as we have had for over 34 years. Comments: Since it was the Florida politicians who got us into this insurance nightmare by lining their pockets with lobbyists’ graft and bribes, let’s see them get off their dead "behinds" and onto their dying feet and pass some meaningful legislation and damn the lobbyists being sent in by the insurance industry and other special interests. Shame on Tallahassee and their self-serving politicians. Comments: I am a single mom with my daughter in College. I work as an LPN, and do not make sufficient money. I have a mortgage to pay, and I support my daughter who is a studing full time, and has a part time job. I buy her books, and with the part time job that she has, she helps me paying for her own things, gasoline to go to school, and some of her expenses. I am attending part time College as well to be a RN. The Insurance Crisis is making me work overtime, and it is been a burden even to further my education. Insurance prices can not escalate as it has been. I am in favor of big deductibles, and zero coverage for contents. If I could, I would not have any insurance, but my mortage requires it. It is a shame that my home that cost me 2 years ago $119,000.00, it is evaluated as 160,000.00 for insurance purposes, but if I want to sell it, perhaps I could not get $130.000.00. Something should be done soon, or our State will suffer devastating losses. Our seniors, who are no longer in the work force are already suffering, and our children will suffer the consequences as well. Comments: As a senior citizen it is getting harder and harder to pay high insurance rates. Many are just not paying insurance meaning that when a bad storm hits people will have to depend on Fema or Government housing for Shelter. Our shelter is becoming unaffordable. Comments: To Our Legislators: I can imagine how overwhelming it must be to be in your position in Tallahassee. but please do not loose touch with the real reasons why you are there. We are counting on you to keep our homes. thank you. Comments: The increase in insurance had impacted us so much that we have thinking in putting our house in the market. We paid more in insurance that what we pay for morgage we have children and we can not see paying this and not having enough money to feed our children. I will need to get a second job and spend less time with my family to pay for insurance is just not right!!! Comments: It's shameful that homeowners have to pay so much more for insurance now only because one year of big payouts by the insurers. What happened to the years of not paying out, what happened to that money? U-sually, it ends in big wigs' pockets or on investments by the huge profits they make either way. How about them (the insurers) selling some of the properties they have invested in in order to come up with the additional monies for payments to the homeowners that put in claims but only 10% of the claim is paid??? Greed has become a very big part of the any big industry such as insurance. Comments: My home insurance premium with State Farem went up more than 100%, the insurance companies are finding all kinds of ways to deny claims and all kinds of ways to raise premiums, it is a rip-off. Comments: The treatment of South Florida is absurd.The whole stae is at risk yet there are only 800,000 policies written. Spread the risk, lower the cost, opt out provisions, etc. Comments: I have lived and owned my home for 31 years have have paid insurance premiums the entire time. For the past two years I have received 100% increases in my nsurance premiums. I live in 1200 sq ft. townhouse attached on both sides and my homeowner's insurance was increased to $6,200.00 per year. This is rediculouse. Two years ago my premiun was $1,781.00. I cannot afford the higher premium so I reduced my coverage to get the premium down to $3,100.00 Still too high but far more manageable than $6,200. Why should I get less coverage for a higher premium. This must stop and our Legislatures have got to get us back to more reasonable rates and better coverage. I can't believe the insurance companies are losing money!!!! People have been paying premiums for years without filling claims. STOP it soon or no one will be ables to live in Florida Comments: The issues of property taxes, homestead excemptions and INSURANCE NEED to be addressed immediately. FL homeowners are going to lose their homes if the government fails to act. Comments: The thing that is so overwhelming to me, is that the insurance companies are getting away with this. We have been giving them money for years, and when we need it, it's no longer there. I have been to several meetings and was told by the panel at Coral Gables High School that there is no rhyme or reason as to why these insurance rates are as high as they are, and that a (quote) "Ouiji board" was how they came up with these quotes. This is a BLATANT scam, and I am a State Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser with a very large and well established bank, and I know values and I know houses. This is/will cause a meltdown of grand proportions. Big banks will step in and kick some behinds as there will be too many foreclosures. How dare they charge me an extra 20% because I live in a house that is 70 years old? How dare they say that homes built in the 1980's are better than mine? What a joke. Comments: I am a registered voter who owns property in Florida. I urge to do what you can to make home owner's insurance affordable. Comments: TAXES ARE AN UNFAIR BURDEN. WE NEED GUANTEES AND CONTROLS TO PROTECT HOME OWNERS Comments: with the rising cost of insurance and taxes people are finding it very difficult to remain in Miami-Dade County and even Florida. I know many people who have moved, are moving or are planning to move away from South Florida, because they cannot afford to live here. Comments: The Poperty Insurence burden is driving many hard working , middle class neighbors out of Miami . These are good people who have spent the best part of their lives paying off the morgage on a house they planned to retire in , only to find that the cost of Insurence can not be met. Comments: Please help us, my mom is having alot of trouble paying the bills because the house payment keeps going up. I can not help her too much since I am still in school. but we dont want to lose our house, where will we live? She is worring all the time. Comments: I believe that insurance companies are guilty of "cherry picking", ie. acquiring and only retaining policies that are deemed low or no risk, thereby giving Citizens only higher risk policies. The whole idea of insurance is to spread risk over a large pool of policies to offer some degree of protection to all. By allowing private insurers to continue this practice, they inherently drive actuarial rates of Citizens much higher than they would be if the risk were shared among all policy holders (meaning both low and high risk situations). What's the solution? That's the $64,000 question. You could perhaps kick private insurers out of Florida and come up with a Florida catastrophe Fire and Windstorm fund, but we all know how government can muck up a good idea. Perhaps some genius can come up with a formula to force private companies to take on a fair amount of high risk if they want to do business in Florida. A National Catastrophe fund would be great, but unlikely to be ratified in time to provide Floridians with immediate relief. Another idea: Give folks on a fixed income an additional break on insurance rates. What these insurance rates are doing to elderly folks on fixed incomes is unconscionable. (We are not on a fixed income. I am concerned about my elderly neighbors.) We also need to repeal the law that says Citizens has to have the highest insurance rates. That is utter nonsense! Base the rates on a fair actuarial premises. Insurance companies do it this way, and so should the state. Finally, I am not an actuary, but it seems to me that homes above a certain value shouldn't have the same coverage or rates as homes that are ordinary. (Thinking about mansions on the coast owned by the very wealthy.) Perhaps there should be a subgroup within Citizens for these kinds of homes with their own higher rates. Maybe it would help lower rates for the average home. Thanks for listening. Good luck. Comments: Hello: I'm 54 years old, I'm a single mother I'm working as a Mortgage Processor and I have a Real Estate Lic. The situation with the insurance coverage increased is affecting both sides of my life, personnally and with my job also. The Real Estate Market, is not doing well, one of the reasons is the high cost of Homeowners Insurance and Taxes. Insurance companies are becoming richer, please try to do something about it. This Is real Terrible. Comments: I purchased my home after Andrew I was insured with Citizen. In the 10 years I have never had a claim. Last year I received a renewal from First Home Insurance Company. I had an increase of $1500.00 and as if that was not bad enough I just got my renewal and it was raised another $2300.00 I am not sure what I am going to do because $6295.00 for home insurance is crazy. Insurance, taxes and mortgage takes over 40% of my salary. Comments: Please help The People of Florida or we will sink. I thank you ahead of time for keeping our heads above water. Comments: I am terrorized by the Insurance Industry. I am going to have to sell my home and move. Comments: I am a registered voter who owns property in Florida. I urge to do what you can to make home owner's insurance affordable. Comments: Thanks for providing an opportunity to express my displeasure in the way the insurance industry is treating Floridians. A Federal Wind Insurance should be set up much like the Flood Insurance program. If an insurance can sell auto insurance then they should also be required sell home owners insurance. Comments: Homeowners are in crisis because of property insurance costs. The cost of property insurance is driving residents out of our state because they can no longer afford their homes. Is this what you want? Comments: Propert insurance should be one of the top priorities. For all the lame excuses there has ever been to have a 1 cent sales tax increase, this should be the best reason to create a catastrophe fund only usable for natural disaters hurricanes, wildfires flooding etc. or in the case of calling out national guard for domestic violence/terroism. Comments: Some of my family and friends are in the Real Estate Business. Never have I heard them as well as myself, complain and worry for ourselves and children about where we are going to live next due to the fact of the price increase in the property taxes. People who lived in their homes for years and now being driven out of their homes, and shattering the dreams of others to those who do want to purchase a home, afraid to do so, because of the property taxes and even the outrages prices of any home in a neighborhood, where there is still a chance to raise your child right. I am appauled. I've been to California, the prices are definitely out this World, but, it is another World and gorgeous and worth every penny. I stay here for personal reasons, family most of all, otherwise, I would be somewhere else. MIAMI, your not the same anymore. Too Bad.... Comments: All Florida Residents needs a discount in our home owners insurance policy premiums. We can not longer afforded the high increase in our policies and this need to be evaluate as soon as possible. The property taxes also went up as well the insurance and all utilities. But the salaries remain the same amount. We trust in the power that our Vote have. Comments: I am a Realtor in the Miami- dade area as well as a homeowner, the increases in our rates has been a deterrent to Real Estate Sales as well as a hardship to existing homeowners. Comments on the Insurance Crises:
HELP, what is a person to do??? HElp, sinking fast Comments: Please do something about this grave situation; I am a homeowner for over 30 years and in grave danger of not being able to afford homeowner's insurance, in order to be able to cover my expenses. Comments: The cost of owning a house in South Florida is adding many burdens to families already maxed out by the cost of living here. Many families we know are looking to leave the area because they can not afford the increases in their morgages due to the increase in taxes and insurance. This is a priorty issue for us. Comments: I am a teacher and a single parent. Please have mercy, I cannot feed my children and pay for homeowner's insurance at the same time. God bless you! Comments: I feel that it is very unfair that homeowners who are not offered private homeowners insurance and must resort to the state's insurance policy must also pay higher rates. I have not been delinquent in any payments but pay the rate of a delinquent homeowner. There are no private policies being written in South Florida so I have no alternative than to continue to be penalized with the higher rates. Comments: Please help us with this very, very serious problem. This is completly getting out of control Insurance and taxes are killign us. We are working only to pay them. The American dream is at jeopardy because of this. Comments: No insurance company should have the right to raise homeowners insurance premium 242% over previous year's premium. Comments: Property taxes have skyrocketted also!!! Comments: Please LOWER SIGNIFICANTLY the price of PROPERTY INSURANCE! It is OUTRAGEOUS! Sincerely, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, M.D. Comments: Please change legislature or insurance laws. It is not to mention an outrage, but an abuse on society to raise the premiums of our home owner's insurance. We pay and pay and pay, then, yes by some freak of mother nature, we got slammed by hurricanes; but that should not give the insurance companies the right to raise the premiums. Instead, have better control when it comes to paying for damages, make sure that there are real damages, train your adjustors to be fair and honest. Comments: I was cancelled by my insurance carrier and the state doubled my insurance. It is outrageous to be paying this amount in homeowners insurance. We cannot afford to protect our biggest investment. Comments: HELP!!!!!! Property tax & insurance rate increases in Miami-Dade County have reach an abusive and unjustified limit. Tax collector in Miami-Dade county and the insurance commission must be elected by the people they are destroying economically. Comments: There is no reason to keep rasing rates when insurance companies have made so much money from premiums collected over a period of 30 years that I have been a resident in Miami Dade County. What they want is simply out of their minds. I would not be able to pay my new homeowners insurance, therefore will have to face loosing my home, as well as my wife, mother and uncle since we all reside at the same home. Comments: You need to do something about regulating the insurance industry in the state of Florida. A lot of homeowners can not afford any more increases and I am one of them. Comments: My family and I moved to Florida in hopes of a beneficial life change. We sold our property in New Jersey, and are now appalled by the news on Homeowner's insurance increases. Comments: The estate of the insurance industry is deplorable in Florida. Even when one has never ever claimed against them, and could have, due to constant flooding, they cancell us. Property taxes and insurance are killing most of us. Now add to that IRS, State sales tax, gas... you get the picture!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!! Comments: The Special session is the opportunity for the Legislature to avert a Florida economic disaster. There is no alternative but to take some of the proposed actions leading to dramatic reductions in premiums. Failure to accomplish this at this special session will lead to economic disaster especially in South Florida which will impact all of Florida. Comments: I am a single mother of and am very worried because I may be at risk of losing my home. This is my home with my 3 children. After many years of raising my children in this home, when I should be breathing a little bit easier, I am risk of losing my home because I cannot afford the homeowners insurance. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. It is imperative that the government do something NOW before more individuals loose their homes for not being able to afford the insurance premiums. Since this year we have been lucky and not had any hurricanes, ? what is the insurance companies doing with the excess premiums collected? We sincerely hope that something be done quickly. Thanks, Marta & Oscar Comments: Keep your promise and look after your Florida residents. Dear Mr. Rubio,
Allow me to introduce myself. My name
is Elizabeth xxxx and I reside at XXXXX Elizabeth, Your Constituent Dear Mr. Rubio I trust that you can help revert insurance rates back to where they were at least through 2005 and that you can achieve this in a timely manner. This issue is having a significant impact on our lives and if it continues we may have to leave our beloved Miami....our adopted home. Many thanks and may God guide you. Comments: As a retired person, I am now spending 25% of my income on insurance alone.My bill went up 60% over last year,if this continues to increase I will be left with no alternative but to move to another state like thousands of south floridians are doing where I won't be forced to make a decision as to what I will have to do without in order to pay for insurance and make ends meets. I understand that this was the result of a legislative action (more like a back stab)that left a huge loop hole that caused the chaos we now suffer. Can the legislation be reverted back to cover the loop hole,(i,e:put a cap on how much can be raised each year and mandate a state authorization for each increase). Also Mr. Rubio you should pioneer legislation that forbids 'special interests" to be represented in the legislature in the form of elected officials. Comments: As U.S.citizen I feel shame to reside in Fla.State I reside-own a townhouse at Chateaubleu Villas Condominium.We complain to The Dept.of Business and Professional Regulation, Bureau of Compliance ph. 954-202-3990 in State of Florida because the insurance did not pay us yet for Huracan's Katrina and Wilma damages. This State entity office had enforced the Condominium Association to collect money from owners to repair the above mentioned damages. Why the State of Florida do not enforce and obligate the insurance to pay the damages. Instead of enforce us as owners to pay for the Huracan's damages. I will to write this situation to the new State Florida Governor Mr. Crist Comments: I am very concerned about insurance rates in our state. I just had to sell a home in the Keys because I could not keep up with raising rates. I don't want this to happen to my home in Miami or anyone else's home anywhere. I am at the point where I would just as soon pay off my home and send the insurance companies right out of the state. In the near future if this is not corrected aggressively we will see a total collapse of our real estate values in Florida. If this were to happen, find anyone that would be willing live here no less move here. If no one moves heren or stays here who will pay the taxes that are becoming the next issue. Comments: Am tired of getting increases 65%, 80% per year. My income does not increase like that and will force me to have to sell my house in next 3 or so years if keeps going at this house. If I cannot afford it any longer I will leave the state. The insurance companies are just more powerful and adept at manipulating the legislature to hear their issues. The legislature needs to listen to the people! Besides the fact that overall the insurance companies make money nationwide tells you that despite the payoffs they are not in any kind of financial trouble or facing solvency. That should be the only reason to listen to them abou their rates when the industry as a whole is on the verge of collapse due to losses suffered. Selective bargaining as they are doing is ridiculous. And to be willing to be in the state to do car insurance, medical etc.. but not home should not be allowed. Either you are in business in the state or you are not --- make it all or nothing. Comments:1) Why do we have to pay insurance for the land? Florida is a seismic zone 0 . Why they don't consider in the price of the insurances the claim history, in order to give some benefits to the ones that had not rebuild their houses with fraudulent claims. Why do we have higher prices on the south were the construction codes are safer than in the north of Florida, and there they pay lower insurances tha us? Why ther is any customer protection in order to do not allow the insurances companies to cancel without any excuse, for example in my case I had been customer of Allstate since 1987, I NEVER HAD CLAIMED A PENNIE THIS COMPANY AND TWO MONTHS AGO THEY CANCELED MY INSURANCE?. THE INCREASE OF THE INSURANCES IS A CONSEQUENCE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2005 SEASON, WHY THEY DO NOT GIVE CREDITS FOR THE SEVERAL YEARS LIKE 2006 THAT THEY ONLY HAVE HAD WONDERFULL INCOMES Comments: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express my interest in working with your organization. I am a Florida attorney with a practice focusing on real estate transactions. I have seen what damage the rising insurance rates have caused to both the real estate market and to homeowners statewide. Please contact me for further information about myself and my interest in assisting your cause. Very truly yours, Comments: I am single mother of 2 boys one 18 and one 15 who is autistic. As well as my father who is 85 and has parkinson, dimensia, alheimer and cannot walk and a 72 year old mother who has diabetes and what not, all of these people depend on me. And i as a daughter bought a home so I can take care of them, and now I have been forced by the Insurance Comapnies as well as the Property Taxes to put my house for sale. That will then cost the satte more money since I will have to place my parents in a home, my 18 year old will not be able to go to college and my 15 year old well...he is a victim just the same. So I encourage you to Please do something to these outrages rates. At this rate Florida will be like any other latin country only the rich or poor may live here, because the middle class is dying off more each day. Sincerely, Comments: My neighbors and friends have currently sold their homes or are trying to sell because of the steep increases in insurance costs that they can no longer afford. They recognize the insurmountable insurance crisis that is effecting us all. Something needs to be done like yesterday! Not at a legislative snails pace. Comments: It is ridiculous, impossible and unreliable if we need to pay more money for home insurances, we are a regular workers and we can’t nor effort to pay more monay, it is unrealistic who is pretending to do this. Thanks in advance Comments: It is not fare that while insurance companies offer car insurance, and make big money, they are not abligated to offer home insurance. All companies offering car insurance must offer home insuranc also! This will reduce the home insurance costs due to more competition. Comments: I moved from Georgia to Florida, not realizing that I would have to pay these exhorbitant insurance premiums. I need to put my house on the market as I can no longer afford to pay these premiums. STOP LISTENING TO THE INSURANCE LOBBYISTS AND ACCEPTING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR CAMPAIGNS. Comments: I am a teacher who barely survived the housing bubble. I cannot live on my net wages as a single woman ANYWHERE in this toewn excpet hte most crime ridden areas. Whewre would you like a veteran teacher to go next??? HELP US not worry each and every single day! Comments: I MOVED FROM NEW YORK WITH MY FAMILY TWO YEARS AND HALF EGO TO AVOID HIGH TAXES AND INSURANCE to find out that in two years the insurance in our house has increase from $ 750.00 dollars to 1850.00 this year I AM RETIRED AND CAN NOT EFORD TO CONTINUE PAYING THIS . i want to sale the house and move out from this state; buth no body is buying it knowing wat to spect. so somebody ought to something. Comments: I purchased my home in December 2003. For the first year my insurance permium was $1200. I was dropped by my insurer Allstate Floridian after just two years. This is after insuring my previous home in another state with Allstate for over 34 yers without a claim I was picked up by Styate Farm for an increased premium of $2,200 for 2005-06. My renewal for 2006-07 came in at over $7000 excluding discounts. The discounted premium quoted was $5500. Since my house meets the 2002 building codes by original construction it receives all the allowable discounts no matter what I might do to further "harden" my house and still the premiums continue to double every year. I can't sell my home because the market is down and taxes and insurance continue to rise unchecked, so I am stuck. I am forced by law to accept the "packaged' coverage. I can't even leave the state, The cost of living in Paradise has gotten too expensive after just three years. As a retiree on a fixed income, how do you budget for monthly increases of 100+ percent each year over the previous year, then doubled again for the following years escrow amounts. Mr Christ campaigned on the promise that he would agressivelly go after those who gouged Floridians as a result of hurricanes. My expectation is that he should go after the insurance industry and the legislators for gouging. Those legislators who voted to legalize gouging and the insurance companies that worked in collusion to rape Floirdians should be criminally prosecuted. Anything short of a governmentally sponsored national or regional (coastal) not profit catastrophic insurance program is merely a contuation of same old window dressing. A national catastrophic insurance program that responds to any natural disaster (floods, hurricanes,mud slides, earthquakes, sink holes, forest fires, volcanic eruptions, tsunamies,avalanches, etc.) would be included. Basic fire,theif,liability, etc would continue to be underwritten by the private sector. If it works for The Natioinal Flood Insurance Program, why would it not work for other natural disasters? And at very affordable prices I might add. Comments: We should also be dealing with the current tax issue on homes. That number is much higher than insurance and is hurting homeowners alot more. Keep up the good work!!!! Comments: We bought our second home in Brevard county in Satellite beach last year in November. The Wind and Fire Insurance is up for renewal this month and The quote for the wind policy is more than 50% from last year. We are looking for a lower rate but no matter how many insurance agents I called the only insurance company I get a quote is the same company 'Citizen' and the price in the same ball part numbers or the answers are: 1.-Metropolitan: "We no longer sell insurance policies in Florida" or ASI: "We no longer insured homes built after 2003. How is it that homes that have survived 40 years and probably more than one Hurricane can not get insurance? Comments: I am a realtor.I have seen the plight of the people,they just cant afford the cost of insurance. People are running from south Florida in droves,to Atlanta.Can you imagine the mass forecloser, and the effect on the economy? Right now homes are not selling,and nobody is buying, because of the high cost of insurance. Please do something about it. Yours Truly Comments: Thanks for your stellar efforts. Comments: THANKS W JEB AND DICK. Comments: I Had Citizen up to 2004. I was transferred to First Ins. My deductible went up $1000.00and premiums up as well. I Had Damage with Wilma. No payment yet. The Ins did not want to send an inspector Did phone conversation and from that decided my deductibe was higher than my damages which they never surveyed. Now my insurance doubled up to over $6,000.00 and I received a letter from First Ins that if I did not show proof that my damages were corrected they would cancel my Insurance. I can bearly make ends meet. I had to get two loans due to Wilma and hurricane prepareness. No one in The local government seems to care. I do not think the State cares either. Higher deductibles is not the answer. Why was my Ins doubled? No hurricanes this year and no claim was ever paid. Thank you. God Bless Comments: My homeowners insurance with State Farm went from $1788.00 to $6500.00. I have never submitted a claim in the 30 years I have had State Farm. I was able to lower the premium by raising my deductibles to the maximum and eliminating what coverage I could. I basically have a policy now that I can never use but because I have a mortgage I have to have insurance. My property taxes also keep going up, so where is this extra money going to come from? I would like to retire but I will just have to keep working to afford to stay in my home. This is a disaster ! I have many friends who are on fixed incomes and are desperate as to what to do..very sad. Is anyone listening and realizing that we are in a crisis? Comments: Taxes and insurance costs have increased dramatically of the last few years. It is truly deplorable that the insurance industry has been given the latitude to increase rates beyond what is just and resonable. A retired person can not afford the rates and must move or bear the risk of being underinsured. I am employed and find that my increases in salary can not keep up with the hikes being imposed on me. My father has decided to sell his home of 40 years because he is retired and n a fixed income. His rate went from $1800 annually to almost $6000 in one year! He is moving out of state and not looking back. I also have over twenty close friends that have moved for the same reason. I will follow suite if nothing is accomplished in the legislative session, only after taking the time to vote AGAINST any and all elected officials that vote against the people of Florida. Comments: I am retiring in January and currently live in a four bedroom house that is too big for me. However, I cannot afford to downsize because of the extraordinary increase in taxes that I would have to face. This State and Miami, in particular, are quickly belonging to the rich only. It is important that the policy makers and politicians have the vision to remember that the middle class is the core of a successful capitalistic-democratic society. I trust that you take the necessary action. Marta A. Hernandez, Ed. D. Comments: I am so glad that something is being done about this because, if this continues, people in Florida will not be able to retire. Your source of income will go towards paying for property insurance and this is clearly not how it was meant to be. Life is stressful enough without having to wonder whether or not you will be able to live in your home that you have worked so hard for. This is supposed to be the American Dream but if it continues, it will turn out to be the American nightmare. Comments: I live east of I-95 and my insurance rates have doubled and are expected to triple next year. Some state government intervention is necessary to keep homeowners from absorbing the brunt of the burden. Please do contact me if you require an area homeowner to testify as to my experience with Citizens Poperty Insurance as a Florida resident and homeowner over the past few years. Comments: The insurance crisis must be rectified as soon as possible. My homeowners insurance is almost as much as my mortgage. That's absurd. People are leaving Florida everyday because of how expensive the insurance is. Comments: Mr. Rubio: Read your "We get it" piece in today's Miami Herald. I applaude your bipartisan efforts and urge you, along with your fellow lawmakers, to now follow through on that which you already understand is an urgent necessity. Thank you. Comments: This situation in Southeastern Florida, along with property taxes, is totally out of control. Something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now, to give relief to home and condo owners. There are condo and townhouse associations comprised of middle/lower-middle income residents in the west side of Miami-Dade (and I'm sure all over)with major problems, due to the fact that they are only able to insure their property through Citizens, and these premiums are increasing their monthly maintenance payments to the point that it's almost another mortgage to pay. And I know of places where they are still trying to get their last hurricane damage fixed, because Citizens is refusing to pay reasonable amounts for some of the more basic damages. This place is indeed beginning to look like a third world country, evidenced by all the blue tarps still on the roofs, and sidewalk, fence and landscape damage still evident over one year after the last hurricane. If this is now, even when the last damage occurred before a lot of people were forced to cancel insurance coverage due to the exorbitant premiums, imagine what this city will look like after another hurricane, minor or major, hits, since there's going to be thousands with no insurance coverage due to their inability to pay the premiums. I find it terrible that large local insurers, such as State Farm and Allstate, who for some 30 years greedily collected premiums from Florida residents while there were no hurricanes, now cancel policies or triple/quadruple our premiums, and then to boot, greatly reduce the hurricane coverages and forcibly raise the deductibles when you are "fortunate" enough to still be able to obtain coverage through them. And then they are still allowed to cherry-pick for whom and what they are willing to cover, nowadays mostly just auto insurance, which carries less risk. And let's not even talk about all the little hidden clauses in the policies (this at Citizens as well) which grab on to anything they can so as not to have to pay when you Comments: florida has been a place where
people from all over would love to live and work. ft. lauderdale is rated number 2 and miami number 4 on forclosures . why,INSURANCE AND TAXES. ITS TIME THAT THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWMAKERS REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO HELP BRING DOWN THE COSTS AND GET RID OF CITIZENS AND MAKE CHANGES SO OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN COME BACK INTO FLORIDA AND MAKE INSURANCE MORE COMPEDITIVE. HAVING ONLY CITIZENS GIVES THEM THE POWER ALOWING THEM TO RAISE THIER PRICE TO WHAT EVER THEY WANT. MY COMMUNITY ALONE AS MANY OTHERS WENT FROM $279,000 TO OVER $ 700,000 PER YEAR, AND WE WERE TOLD IT WILL GO HIGHER THIS YEAR. WHY, WE THANK GOODNESS DID NOT HAVE ANY HURRICANES IN 2006. SENIOR CITIZENS ARE HIT THE HARDEST. ON FIXED INCOMES SOME ARE FORGOING HAVING INSURANCE. LIKE THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN, THEY HAVE TO MAKE CHOICES LIKE MEDICATION OR FOOD. WHAT A CHOICE. LIKE INSURANCE , HAVE COVERAGE IN THE EVENT THEY NEED IT OR LOOSE THER HOMES. WE SPENDING GOD KNOWS WHAT ON IRAQ, WHEN WE SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF US FIRST. THE AMERICAN DREAM IS GOING TOWARDS EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD BUT US. HELPING OTHERS IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE SHOULD BE FIRST IN EVERY ASPECT LIKE INSURANCE, HEALTH CARE, WHATS THE SENSE OF SHOWING THE WORLD HOW GREAT A NATION WE ARE WHEN WE DON'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF OWN. WE AVE LAW MAKERS LIKE SENATOR KELLER WHO IS WORKING HARD TO MAKE CHANGES. WE ALL MUST DO OUR SHARE TO MAKE ALL LAWMAKERS BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPLICANS AWARE THAT WE CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS AND THEIR JOB IS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA IN OUR BEST INTEREST. Comments: I will hold my representatives in Tallahassee accountable for their actions and act for or against them in the next election. Comments: My husband and I own a home in south Florida. We currently have one child and would like to have another one. Unfortunately, between last years rate hikes and the upcoming ones over the course of the next three years have made us decide to wait to have another child. As responsible citizens who pay all bills on time and have insurance so that we do not burden disaster funds of the state and government, I am shocked that we are the ones who are being puinished for being responsible. We have shopped around for other insurance companies to insure us, but there are no other. Citizens is the only one. Therefore, the premise that Citizens shoudl only be a last resort and should cost more than the others to encourage people to shop around is completely wrong. Citizens is our only choice, and therefore I feel like they have a monopoly on our insurance as we have no other option except canceling our policy and taking our chances. My husband and I are both in the education field and we cannot afford to take that chance. Please work to remedy this situation so that we can keep our house and still afford to have a second child. Thank you! Comments: I have lived in Miami all of my over 30 years. I cannot imagine living any where else in the world, BUT am beginning to HAVE to imagine it. That I cannot move to a larger place because of the property costs, insurance, and taxes, I WILL HAVE to MOVE out of Florida. I do NOT want to, but I am being FORCED to think of it. DO SOMETHING TO HELP US!!!!!!!!!!! Comments: I am a single mom whose homeowner's insurance tripled since last year. Because of this, I am having to change the school my daughter currently attends. It is very sad that I have to diminish the quality of my daughter's education in order to afford my home. Something has to change VERY soon. Otherwise, I will no longer be able to live in Florida. Comments: Something must be done to tame the rising insurance costs in South Florida. If not, I'll have no choice but to sell my home and leave the area. Comments: Es abusivo, que me hallan subido mi seguro un 100% y que yo no tenga ninguna opcion, "OPCION CERO", igual que en Cuba. Comments: Our home owners insurance rates in Florida are way way too high. My house in Georgia is at a higher value than my Naples Fl home and the insurance cost is one fourth what my Florida home insurance costs! Comments: All parts of the country have weather disasters, some even worse than hurricanes. The load should be shared by all areas. Also, I live just east of US 1 and have never had damage to my house, even in Hurricane Andrew, the strongest winds of which went right down my street. (My husband, an engineer, worked with Bob Sheets of the Weather Bureau, and attorneys, as an expert in a law case, and we had all the Weather Bureau maps in our office confirming this. Nevertheless, our insurance rates went up, and we had to go with Citizens and pay their astronomical rates. Bah, Humbug! Comments: Insurance costs are a scandal, and Miami-Dade is getting unfairly hit, while many other counties in Florida aren't forced to share the burden. The situation has become unbearable financially for many homeowners, and the cracks in our local economy are beginning to show -- foreclosures, a moribund real estate market, a drop in spending, etc ... Please, right this wrong! The average homeowners' policy costs between $700 and $900 a year in the U.S. I realize that being in a hurricane zone, we should pay a premium, but $10,000+ a year is absurd and abusive. Comments: I'm 24 years old and was fortunate to be able to buy a small 1 bedroom/1 bath 750 square feet condo last year due to my parents lending me the money. My monthly association maintenance payments have increased (since November 2005) from $118 initially to $222 currently. This is in addition to my monthly mortgage payment of $735. The association is budgeting $174,000 for Citizens property coverage for the coming year (from $14,500 from last year). This is in addition to my personal Citizens coverage in the amount of $414 for minimal coverage, and two special assessments I've had to pay totalling almost $500. On a starting yearly salary of $34,000, I'm struggling. I have a Masters and was born, raised, and educated in Miami, and all my family's here, but between the insurance premiums and the property taxes, we are all struggling and I think eventually we'll all have to move out. This is a crisis that needs to be resolved now. Comments: The government needs to do something about insurance companies that are raising their rates or refusing to offer insurance coverage. If an insurance company offered homeowner's and now wants to stop they should not be allowed to operate in that state for any type of insurance. Comments: I moved to Florida in 2002 when I retired. At the time, my reasoning was that it was more affordable to live in Florida than NYC on a fixed income. As I didn't have a crystal ball I never factored in or anticipated exponential increases in insurance costs and property taxes. Comments: I am currently looking for a home to purchase. So far, my efforts have been delayed because the cost of home owners' insurance is sinfully inflated. In addition, I personally know of at least three families that have moved out of Broward County because of the ridiculously high insurance rates. Which would you prefer... alleged kickbacks from the insurance industry or ligitimately collected property and sales taxes from your constituency? Comments: South Floridians need your help! These insurance premiums are out of control, with the insurance company recording record profits. People are either being forced out of their homes and communities, or forced to give up other necessities and qualities of life to pay out the home insurance premiums jumping by unprecedented percentages. Something has to be done to protect the homeowner from this kind of insurance premium robbery at the hands of the insurance companies that want to do business in our state. We need your help and implore you to act on our behalf to turn back this unbelievable premium rise to South Florida homeowners. Comments: Insurers need more inspectors in the field. Homes should be inspected BEFORE being rated. Roofs that are new and up to code, hurricane proof doors and windows, shutters, trees that are trimmed and yards that are cleared of debris...these should all count towards a DISCOUNTED rate. (Some things do, but not all). Public assistance could be provided for those that needs repairs, but do not have funds. However, it is imperative that we be pro-active and not wait for the next disaster. Homeowners need to be responsible for MAINTAINING their properties. If the roof leaks, fix it. Make sure homes are up to code and can withstand a hurricane. Less claims. Less rate increases. And a bit of a break for those who choose to keep their homes maintained. The state should continue with their My Safe Florida Home project, offering inspections and matching grants for hurricane preparedness. Comments: Please make and keep as your priority, until a fair and just conclusion is reached with regards to the condition of "property insurance issues" in the next legislative session. Who is protecting us,the homeowners who are losing our properties and/or life savings, from the insurance companies and the new state laws which demand us to protect our homes. It should not be left up to "just us" but "justice". ALL INSURANCE WHETHER IT IS HEALTH OR PROPERTY COVERAGE IS A "UNJUST" SYSTEM. IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED. Comments: Please fullfil the election promises and attack the problem of insurance rates on behalf of the public Comments: SHAME ON ALL THE POLITICIANS THAT ALLOWED THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THESE RATE HIKES---YOU SHOULD ALL BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE---MEANWHILE THE GOOD PEOPLE CONTINUE TO RELOCATE AND I'LL BE ONE OF THEM Comments: Many homeowners in Indian River County are having to sell and are moving to TN, GA and the Carolinas. This is adding to the high property inventory available for sale and contributing to a reduction in real estate values. This in turn is contributing to foreclosures as many homeowners have no equity in their homes. An increasing number of SELLERS must now come to closing with a check! I know, I am a professional real estate agent, a Realtor. (Many potential Buyers are deciding to purchase elswhere rather than pay both the high insurance and the high taxes. Insurance is more critical as it affects EVERYONE). Comments: BOTH MY WIFE SELF FEEL THAT THE CURRENT PROPERTY INSURANCE RATES, & THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE MUCH TOO RICH FOR OUR BLOOD. FURTHERMORE, WE CANNOT REALLY SEE WHERE OUR HEFTY PROPERTY TAX MONIES ARE GOING. Comments: My insurance went up mid year 2006 from $1900 to $5500. Escrow wasn't enough so I had to come up with difference by Dec or get canceled. Have to come up with $8000+ in 2007 between taxes and insurance. Can't afford to keep house much longer! Comments: I am a single mom, with 3 children the increse of my homeowners Insurance is such a concern that sometimes I cant even sleep at night wondering what is going to happen to me and my children if the rates continue to rise, this is also effecting my health and I now I am not alone on this, please speek up don't be afraid we have rights. Comments: Since we saw such an adbrupt increase in our rates last year, with no hurricane events this year, we should expect to see a dramatic decrease in our rates. If this does not occur, then the insurance industry should be brought to task. We suffered with the numerous hits of hurricanes, we should also get relief as quickly. Comments: Stop Carpetbaggers Comments: With another insurance hike of 55.8% they are going to force me and many others out of Florida. Comments: We should also be dealing with the current tax issue on homes. That number is much higher than insurance and is hurting homeowners alot more. Keep up the good work!!!! Comments: I need the insurance rates on my house adjusted, I cannot afford to pay over $5000 for insurance when I am getting a teacher's salary. If not then I will have to move out of Florida and there is already a teachers shortage. Comments: I am 6 months away to selling my home and leaving the state of Florida. Comments: The rate increases have taken my maintenance fees up over $60.00 per month. My personal homeowners went up 300%. This is outrageous. I worked in the re-industry for years, it's all a rip-off. People CANNOT afford this!! Many unit owners are going without just to pay the electric bill. This puts my unit in danger. We all need some serious investigation into the insurance industry, especially since the State is running it!! Thanks for your help and not hiding this important issue under the rug Comments: With the soaring cost of hemeowners insurance and property taxes We are not sure how much longer we are going to be able to continue to reside in the state of Florida. I believe that if the state government does not put a stop to all these huge insurance increases more people like ourselves would consider moving out of the state.This issues are pushing away the backbone of this state. Thank you. |
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Comments: Comments: In 1999 I MOVED OFF THE BEACH-GAVE UP MY HOMESTEAD IN FAVOR OF LOWER INSURANCE PREMIUMS. Two months after I moved-citizens moved the coastal line 7 blocks west of my new home. 5 years ago I gave up my health insurance in favor of keeping an insured roof over my head. Next year I will not be able to insure my home as a result of the increase in cost in winstorm. I have an older wooden house that came through Andrew with only loss of landscaping my neighbors tell me. Every hurricane since I have lived here has damaged my neighbors newer up to new code homes to some extent-but not mine. I have never applied to FEMA or made a claim on any insurance policy . I cannot sell my house as no company will insure this wooden home WITH A NEW OWNER. I HAVE A TWO BEDROOM HOME AND MY INSURANCE IS ALMOST $7,000. A friend of mine with a very morbid idea of humor said I could pray for a lightning strike on a day with no wind-and move. I DO NOT WISH TO GIVE UP MY HOME-BUT IF I EVER CHANGE MY MIND-I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO, AS IT IS UNSALEABLE as long as it remains UNINSURABLE. Comments: I am an insurance agent and see, first hand, what the insurance rates are doing to our florida residents. It's time something is done. Comments: Work for the people, not for special interest groups or lobbyist like you democrats and republicans always do. Comments: The insurance costs are outrageous and is effecting the lives of all homeowners. Being in real estate we see that people are selling just to get out from under these high costs. The ripple effect will be felt in a very short time. It is inconceivable that our insurance commissioner and politians would let this happen. We did remember this at voting time and will continue to remember until something is done.I know that the insurance costs are being manipulated and that is unacceptable. Comments: PLEASE I NEED HELP. LIKE THOUSANDS OF SOUTH FLORIDA RESIDENTS, I AM IN A VERY DIFFICUL SITUATION. MY TAXES WENT UP FROM $3400.00 TO $7,600.00 PLUS MY INSURANCE FROM 1800.00 TO ALMOST 4K. I CAN TAKE THIS ANYMORE. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! Comments: If insurance premiums keep going up and our landlord has to keep raising our rent eventually we'll be homeless. We both work two job and it is very sad that we can barely afford our rent due to our landlord having her back against the wall due to such ridiculous insurance rates. Comments: I live in a working class neighborhood where many of us live paycheck to paycheck. The increases have already forced some of our neighbors to refinance there homes getting further into debt. We have also had some very good neighbors sell their homes and leave the state. If the prices continue to rise, I might be forced to pack up my family and leave my home, as well. The most bothersome thing about this rate hike is how can we be expected to pay more, when many of us are still waiting for our insurers to pay from a hurricane that took place over 12 months ago. Comments: Thank you for providing this assistance to us. It is definately out of control. It is not our fault that mother nature can take our properties and personal belonging in a blink of the eye. I would think that our state can provide the assistance needed in time of a disaster in would imagine that they would have control of insurance agencies to ensure us good and affordable insurance. Again thank you for your assistance. Comments: I am a top producing realtor an active in the community. At our peak last year there were up to 1500 people a day moving to FL. I believe that number has gone negative in one year. We are insuring people out of there homes, add taxes and these two combined surpass a persons mortgage and now have an average person that can maybe afford a trailer. We are losing millions of people to other states and if you don't act quick next are the businesses and then our state will be where it was ten years ago. Comments: GIVE US A BREAK> MY HOME BURNED DOWN IN 2004 AND I\"M STILL STRUGLING WITH LEXINTONG INS. FOR THEM TO FULLFILL THEIR OBLIGATIONS, CURRENT IMPOSIBLE COSTS DON\'T EVEN HOLD THE PROMESS OF A DIFFERENT ABUSSIVE BEHAIVOR FROM THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY Comments: 'CONGRATS ON HELPING SOUTH/WEST MIAMI, I HOPE YOU CAN DO THE SAME FOR OUR AREA Comments: Our homeowner's policy w/Vanguard for past 10 years has increased 300%!!!No claims within that time until WILMA OCT 2005 and we are still battling insurace company, roof still not finished and Vanguard has sent $600. for a $17,000.00 roof. Comments: 'As a Real Estate Broker with 23 years in the business, I can assure you that the cost of Homeowner's Insurance coupled with the increase in property taxes are making the difference in the slowdown of the real estate market, making it difficult for people to afford a home and those that have purchased a home and are hit with an increase of 102% from one year to the next are likely to loose it to the lender because they cannot afford to pay such increase. If something is not done about this issue soon we will be in serious trouble. Comments: If insurance premiums keep going up and our landlord has to keep raising our rent eventually we'll be homeless. We both work two job and it is very sad that we can barely afford our rent due to our landlord having her back against the wall due to such ridiculous insurance rates. Comments: 'As a single person, I find that I can know longer afford to keep my home because of the insurance. The rates are too high and I feel as thou we (the people of So. Fl.) are being the scape goats. It is so totally unfair, we go years without hurricanes and one year we get hit and then you want increase our insurance by 300%. Who can afford that? The high rates are FORCING families from there home because they can no longer afford them. This is a sad world that we live in because everything is about a dollar. Comments: 'Between the insurance and the high taxes for winter residents, many of us are planning to leave. I would hope Florida would listen to us because we bring a lot of money into Florida during season and continue to support all services throughout the year! Comments:
'Doubling the homestead exemption is not enough when home values are
several multiples of what they were 15 years ago. We need to
lower millage rates. Please do not use this contact
information for any purpose except regarding this petition. Thank
You Comments: 'I jsut got divorce and bought a villa 3/2. I have two children and i just can't afford to pay the insuance and the taxes. When i bought the house the insuance and taxes were lower, my salary is the same, but prices are going up. I might have to sell and rent and efficiency. I have been a homeowner since i was 21 years old. Now I', 50 and for the first time in my life i can't afford to be a homeowner. Please help. Comments:
'i rent an apartment, but when I tried 2 months to buy a house it
was impossible due to the insurance prices, they are ridiculous. Comments: 'Our homeowners policy went from approx. $2400 in 2000 to $4600 last year to $9500.42 this coming year!!!!!!!!! I heard on the news the other day that the insurance industry had a bad year, but still managed to profit by $46 Million. How can this be? Comments: $25,000 HOMESTEAD IS A JOKE NOW A DAYS, HOW LONG WAS THAT INTRODUCED, WHAT WERE THE PRICE OF THE HOMES THEN? RETIRED CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP THEIR HOMES WITH INSURANCE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? HOW IS THIS HAPPENING IN THE U.S.A? AND LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE. THE WHOLE THING IS VERY SAD, HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND AND RELATE TO THE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING. THANK YOU. Comments: I understand raising the rates when we get bombarded with hurricanes, why don\'t we get an adjustment when we don\'t get hit at all? |
9745 Sunset Drive, Suite
# 215 Miami, FL 33173
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