If you have been scrolling Zillow for a house on Florida's Space Coast, there is a good chance someone has told you that you cannot get homeowners insurance in Florida anymore. I hear it on almost every first call. "Rachel, can we even get insurance down there?" The short answer is yes, you absolutely can. And in 2026, the market is actually getting better, not worse.

I am Rachel Langley, a local real estate agent on the Space Coast, which is Brevard County on Florida's east coast about an hour east of Orlando. My business partner Nichole and I help people relocate here every single day, and this is the exact insurance breakdown I give my own clients when they are nervous about moving to Florida.

Yes, You Can Get Home Insurance in Florida

The first thing to understand is this: you cannot have a mortgage without insurance. The bank is not going to lend you money on a house that is not insured. If people could not get insurance in Florida, we would be seeing a housing crash. We are not. People are buying homes on the Space Coast every single day and closing on them with coverage in place.

About 95 percent of homes in Brevard County are insurable at reasonable rates. That is the part the news does not spend much time on. What they do not tell you is that two houses on the same street can have very different premiums depending on the age of the roof, the plumbing, the windows, and a few other factors. That is actually good news, because so much of what drives your insurance cost is in your control. Pick the right house, and your insurance can be very reasonable.

The Good News for Insurance in 2026

There is a lot of good news this year, and most buyers moving here have not heard any of it.

New companies are moving in

Back in 2022, Florida passed sweeping reforms to fix the insurance market. Since then, 20 new insurance companies have come into the state with more than $850 million in new capital. That is companies coming to Florida, not leaving.

Rates are flattening or dropping

Since January of 2024, 48 companies have filed for rate decreases, and another 53 have filed for no increase at all. For years, all you heard was Florida insurance going up, up, up. Now you have dozens of companies going down or holding steady, and the state approved even more decreases in 2026.

Citizens is shrinking

Citizens Property Insurance is the state-backed insurer of last resort, where people end up when they cannot find coverage anywhere else. In late 2023, Citizens had about 1.4 million policies. In 2026, it is down to about 274,000, because private companies are writing policies again. On top of that, the average Citizens rate dropped 8.8 percent for 2026.

The takeaway: the market is stabilizing, and more companies means more places to shop. If you have been sitting on the fence about moving here because of insurance headlines, 2026 is a different market than the one people were talking about a few years ago.

What We Actually Pay in Merritt Island

Real examples are the most helpful thing I can give you, so let me share mine. My husband Greg and I live in a 1979 pool home in Merritt Island. It has a newer roof, impact windows, PVC piping, and it is not in a flood zone. All the things insurance companies want to see. Our premium is reasonable, and it is actually less than what we paid in Rhode Island.

We also own a rental here, also in Merritt Island, built in 1978 with all the same credits. We pay about $1,700 to $1,800 a year on that one. If you are coming from up north and are nervous about Florida insurance, it is not always the horror story you hear about. For a lot of people, it is pretty comparable to what they are paying now.

Inland vs Beachside: What You Will Actually Pay

Where you buy in Brevard County makes a real difference in your premium.

Inland Brevard: $1,200 to $3,000 per year

When I say inland, I am talking about Melbourne, Cocoa, Rockledge, and Viera. These areas have loads of options for both resale and new construction homes. On resale, I typically see insurance around $2,000 to $3,000 a year. New construction runs about $1,200 to $2,000 a year, because everything is new and insurance companies love that. Inland is where you will find the most affordable insurance on the Space Coast.

Beachside: The "Paradise Tax"

When I say beachside, I mean from Cape Canaveral down through Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, Indialantic, and Melbourne Beach. Beachside is still very insurable. It just costs more because you are closer to the ocean and there is more wind exposure. I have seen about $3,000 a year for a newer or renovated home, and up to $10,000 depending on the house. I call it the paradise tax. You are paying a little more to live by the beach, but for a lot of my clients, that lifestyle is absolutely worth it.

If you want the lowest insurance, inland is great. If you want the beach, you can absolutely still get insured. You just want to budget a little more for it.

What Actually Gets You the Best Rate

This is where you have the most control. These are the specific features that drive premiums down on the Space Coast.

A newer roof

I like to see a roof that is under 10 years old. Once it hits 15 years, expect premiums to climb, and plan on either budgeting for a replacement or negotiating a roof credit with the seller. Florida law does say an insurance company cannot refuse to write or renew your policy just because of roof age when the roof is under 15 years old. The roof is the first thing insurance companies look at.

Updated plumbing and electrical

For plumbing, you want to avoid cast iron, which is usually found in homes built before 1977. Modern PVC piping is what carriers want to see. On the electric side, they want to know the panel and wiring are in good shape.

Window and door protection

That means either impact windows or hurricane shutters and panels. If a house does not have impact windows, you can add hurricane panels at roughly $200 to $300 per opening. That is a very doable update, and it can meaningfully lower your premium.

Wind mitigation features

There is a report called a wind mitigation inspection that documents how your roof is attached to the walls, the roof shape, deck attachment, and other wind-resistance features. Insurance companies in Florida are required to give you discounts for those features, and the credits add up. A good wind mitigation report can save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Concrete block over wood frame

Concrete block insures better than wood frame. You can absolutely find wood frame homes on the Space Coast, especially in older neighborhoods, but a lot of times the premium is a little higher.

Here is my take: a lot of older homes on the Space Coast have already had these updates, and when they have not, the fixes are often simple. Do not write off a 1970s or 1980s home just because of the year it was built. Pull the reports and look at the actual condition.

How Insurance Works When You Buy a House

Here is the step-by-step for what actually happens during a Space Coast transaction.

Once you go under contract on a home, you have an inspection period. During that period, you order a four-point inspection, which covers the four main systems: roof, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. You also order a wind mitigation inspection. Those two reports go to a local insurance broker, and the broker comes back with a real quote on that exact house.

This is the part a lot of buyers miss. If the reports flag something, you still have time to ask the seller for repairs or credits, or to walk away if the house is not the right fit. You never want to guess on Florida insurance, and you never want to assume. Do not look at a house online and decide the premium will be crazy. And do not assume it will be cheap either. Get the real quote on the real house. I walk every one of my clients through this exact process.

The My Safe Florida Home Program

A lot of buyers do not know about this one, and it is one of the best deals in the state. My Safe Florida Home gives you a free wind mitigation inspection. Then, if you decide to make upgrades, the state puts in $2 for every $1 you spend, up to $10,000. The grant money can go toward your roof, your windows, your doors, and more. The state is essentially helping you pay for hardening upgrades, and those upgrades then lower your insurance. It is a true win-win.

A few requirements to know. The home must be your primary residence. It must be built before 2008. And it must be insured for $700,000 or less. Program availability does change, so always check the current status before you plan around it, but if you are buying an older home here, it is absolutely something to look into.

Flood Insurance on the Space Coast

Most of Brevard County is not in a flood zone. The flood zones here are mostly close to the Indian River, the Banana River, the Atlantic, and some low-lying pockets near canals. For the most part, if you do not want to be in a flood zone, we can keep you out of one.

Important thing to understand: your homeowners insurance does not cover rising water. Flood is a separate policy. Inland, flood insurance is often well under $1,000 a year. Our house is not in a flood zone and flood coverage is not required for us, but we carry it anyway for about $800 a year, and for me the peace of mind is absolutely worth it.

Here is a tip most buyers do not know: a new flood policy has a 30-day waiting period before it kicks in, unless you purchase it at closing. So if you are buying a home here, set it up at closing. Do not wait until a storm is in the forecast, because by then it is too late for that storm.

A Few More Quick Tips Before You Buy

If you are buying a condo, the association insures the building and you insure the inside of your unit. Make sure you understand what the association covers and what is on you, because the split varies from building to building.

New construction insures the best because everything is new: new roof, new plumbing, new electrical, new windows. If you are considering new construction on the Space Coast, reach out to us before you go to the builders. We can represent you through the build at no cost to you.

Always use a local independent broker who shops multiple companies. Do not just call one carrier and take the first number they give you. With all the new companies coming into Florida, that is more important than it has ever been.

And shop your insurance every single year at renewal. It does not take long, and it can put real money back in your pocket. Every year when your renewal comes up, have your broker shop it.

The Bottom Line on Space Coast Home Insurance

Yes, you can get insurance on the Space Coast. The market is actually getting better in 2026, with new companies coming in and rates coming down. Inland Brevard gives you the most options at the most affordable prices. Beachside carries a paradise tax but is still absolutely insurable. Your roof, plumbing and electrical, window protection, and wind mitigation features are what drive your rate, and you get real quotes during your inspection period on your actual home.

If you are weighing a move to the Space Coast and insurance is holding you back, let's talk through it. Inland areas like Viera and Rockledge give you loads of insurance options if you want to keep premiums down, and beachside is still very much on the table if the lifestyle is what you are after. We can do a discovery call and figure out what area and price point actually make sense for you.

Thinking About Moving to the Space Coast?

We're Rachel Langley and Nichole Barna, Florida REALTORS® based in Brevard County. Whether you're buying, selling, or relocating, we're here to guide you every step of the way.

We're available days, nights, and weekends — because a move this big doesn't wait for business hours.