If you're shopping for home insurance in Tamarac, you've probably noticed something: the quotes are higher than you expected. Welcome to the reality of insuring a home in South Florida. Tamarac sits in Broward County, an area where hurricane exposure, flood zones, and aging housing stock create a perfect storm for elevated insurance costs. But here's the good news—understanding what drives your premium and knowing which discounts you qualify for can save you thousands of dollars a year.
Tamarac is a diverse city with a unique housing mix. Nearly half the homes here are condos or apartments, many located in sprawling active adult communities like Kings Point and Lime Bay. The other half includes single-family homes, many built in the early 1980s. Whether you own a condo in a 55+ community or a standalone house near Tamarac Park, your insurance needs are shaped by both your property type and Tamarac's location in one of Florida's highest-risk counties.
Why Home Insurance Costs More in Tamarac
Let's talk numbers. Broward County homeowners pay an average of $6,291 per year for home insurance—a 31% increase from just two years ago. That's more than double the national average. In Tamarac specifically, homeowners with properties over 2,500 square feet pay around $5,246 annually, while smaller homes average about $3,163 per year. Why so high?
Hurricane risk is the biggest factor. Tamarac sits squarely in South Florida's hurricane corridor, and insurers know it. The area has been hit by major storms like Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Wilma in 2005. Insurers calculate the wind portion of your premium based on this exposure, and in coastal areas like Broward County, wind coverage can represent 50% to 70% of your total premium. That's before you even factor in flood risk.
Speaking of floods, Tamarac has designated flood zones, particularly along the C-14 Canal and near the Sawgrass Expressway. Most standard homeowners policies don't cover flood damage—you'll need a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer. If you have a mortgage and live in a Special Flood Hazard Area, your lender will require flood insurance. The upside? Tamarac earned a Class 6 flood rating, which means NFIP policyholders in flood zones get a 20% premium discount.
Another cost driver is the age of Tamarac's housing stock. The median home here was built in 1981. Older homes often lack modern wind-resistant features like hurricane straps, impact windows, and secondary water barriers—features that can dramatically reduce your premium. If your home hasn't been retrofitted, insurers see it as higher risk, and your rates reflect that.
Active Adult Communities and HOA Insurance
Tamarac is home to several large active adult communities, and if you live in one, your insurance situation is a bit different. Many of these communities—like Lime Bay, Highland Lakes, and Tamarac Gardens—include building insurance in the monthly HOA fee. That master policy covers the building's exterior, common areas, roof, and shared structures.
But here's what catches people off guard: the master policy doesn't cover your personal belongings or the interior of your unit. You still need an HO-6 condo insurance policy to protect your furniture, electronics, appliances, and any upgrades you've made to your unit's interior like flooring, cabinets, or countertops. HO-6 policies also provide liability coverage in case someone gets injured in your unit.
The good news is that HO-6 policies are typically much cheaper than full homeowners insurance because the HOA's master policy is already covering the structure. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars a year instead of several thousand. Just make sure your coverage limits are high enough to replace everything you own if disaster strikes.
How to Lower Your Premium with Hurricane Mitigation
Here's where you can actually control your costs. Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for homes with hurricane-resistant features. We're talking about real money—homeowners who invest in mitigation can reduce their wind premium by up to 40%. Since the wind portion of your premium is often the largest chunk of your bill, these discounts add up fast.
The most impactful upgrades include impact-resistant windows and doors, hurricane shutters, roof-to-wall attachments like hurricane straps or clips, a hip roof instead of a gable roof, and a secondary water barrier under your roof shingles. If your home was built after 2002, you likely already have some of these features built in, but you'll still need documentation to prove it.
To claim these discounts, you'll need a wind mitigation inspection. A licensed inspector will evaluate your home's wind-resistant features and provide a detailed report. The inspection costs around $100 and is valid for five years. Once you submit the report to your insurer, they'll apply the appropriate discounts to your policy. The savings often exceed the cost of the inspection within the first year.
If your home doesn't have these features yet, consider making the upgrades. Impact windows, for example, not only lower your insurance costs but also protect your home during a storm and can reduce energy bills year-round. Hurricane straps are relatively inexpensive to install and provide significant structural reinforcement. These improvements also increase your home's resale value.
Understanding Your Coverage Needs
Your homeowners policy should cover the cost to rebuild your home if it's destroyed, not just the market value. That's called replacement cost coverage, and it's essential in Florida where construction costs have skyrocketed. Make sure your dwelling coverage limit is high enough to fully rebuild. Many Tamarac homes have median values around $310,900, but rebuilding costs can be higher depending on materials and labor rates.
Don't forget liability coverage. If someone gets injured on your property and sues you, your policy's liability limit protects you from out-of-pocket costs. Most policies include $100,000 to $300,000 in liability coverage, but if you have significant assets, consider increasing that limit or adding an umbrella policy for extra protection.
And remember: standard homeowners insurance covers wind damage from hurricanes, but it doesn't cover flooding. Even if you're not in a designated flood zone, consider buying flood insurance anyway. Heavy rains from tropical storms can cause flooding anywhere, and NFIP policies outside flood zones are surprisingly affordable.
How to Get Started and Save Money
The Florida home insurance market is volatile, and rates vary widely between companies. That's why shopping around is critical. Get quotes from at least three insurers and compare not just the price but also the coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions. Some insurers specialize in Florida's unique risks and may offer better rates or more comprehensive coverage.
Ask about all available discounts. Beyond wind mitigation, you may qualify for multi-policy discounts if you bundle home and auto insurance, claims-free discounts if you haven't filed claims recently, or security system discounts if you have monitored alarms. Every discount helps offset Tamarac's high baseline rates.
Finally, review your policy annually. Insurance rates in Florida change frequently, and new discounts or coverage options may become available. If your current insurer raises your rates significantly, don't hesitate to shop again. Loyalty doesn't always pay off in the Florida insurance market—vigilance does.
Home insurance in Tamarac isn't cheap, but with the right coverage, smart mitigation efforts, and aggressive shopping, you can protect your home without breaking the bank. Take control of your costs by understanding what drives your premium and taking advantage of every available discount. Your home is your biggest investment—make sure it's protected.
