Jessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.
After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.
Expert reviewed
Expert reviewed
This article has been reviewed by a licensed Policygenius expert to ensure that sources, statistics, and claims meet our standard for accurate and unbiased advice.
Pat Howard is a managing editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where he specializes in homeowners insurance. His work and expertise has been featured in MarketWatch, Real Simple, Fox Business, VentureBeat, This Old House, Investopedia, Fatherly, Lifehacker, Better Homes & Garden, Property Casualty 360, and elsewhere.
The beaches of Fort Myers are an attractive reason to live on the Gulf coast of Florida, as long as your home is protected with a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy. It doesn’t take a direct hit from a hurricane to cause extensive damage to a home, especially with storms from the gulf hitting the coast more often in recent years.
Severe weather is a threat to most of Florida, and while the average cost of homeowners insurance in Fort Myers is $2,288 per year is around 13% lower than the statewide average of $2643 per year, it’s about 20% higher than the national average of $1,899.
However, cost isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a home insurance company. Not sure what to look for? Policygenius can help you figure out your coverage needs and compare quotes from multiple top companies in Fort Myers.
Best homeowners insurance companies in Fort Myers
Of the companies we evaluated, Tower Hill has the lowest rate with an average yearly cost of $729, which is more than $1,500 less than the city average. At $7,586 per year, Citizens’ rate is by far the highest, but they offer options to residents that have been turned down by other companies.
Policygenius analyzed thousands of quotes from the 5 largest Fort Myers insurers to find the average cost of homeowners insurance with each company in 2022. We then looked at 2021 J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores and compared that with the coverage needs of Fort Myers residents to find the best homeowners insurance in Fort Myers.
Company
Average yearly cost
J.D. Power Rating
Universal Property
$2,560
--
Citizens
$7,586
--
State Farm
$2,046
835
Tower Hill
$729
--
ASI Progressive
$1,630
821
Universal Property
Universal Property is a Florida-based insurance company that provides a relatively standard, but solid home insurance policy. It's an especially good option if you have lots of animals on your property thanks to its special animal liability coverage.
Pros
Covers homes that are generally more difficult to insure
Excellent coverage add-ons, such as replacement cost contents, water backup, equipment breakdown, and service line coverage
Special animal liability coverage available in case your dog or another animal on your property injures someone
Cons
Customer reviews complain of a poor claims experience
Universal Property is a great option for Fort Myers residents who are likely to file a claim after an emergency. Once you submit your claim, their “fast track” team will make sure it is processed right away. When you need to repair or rebuild your home after a covered loss, Universal Property will get you back to normal as fast as they can.
Citizens Insurance offers basic home and wind-only insurance coverage for homes in high-risk coastal areas of Florida. If you're having a difficult time finding a company to insure your home, Citizens is a decent last-resort option.
Pros
Provides homeowners insurance to high-risk homes that are often denied coverage by private insurers
Offers wind-only policies
Sets up catastrophe response centers after natural disasters to offer in-person support to homeowners without power or means of communication
File claims over the phone or online 24/7/365
Low customer complaint ratings in 2020
Cons
Rates are around 15% higher than the state average
Being based in Florida, Citizens is familiar with the after-effects of a hurricane. They know that it’s not always possible to get in touch with your insurance company when your power and internet are out. After debilitating storms, Citizens will bring in mobile catastrophe response centers where customers can file claims and receive checks for living expenses instantaneously.
How to get a quote
Contact a Citizens Insurance agent through their website
State Farm
There's a reason State Farm is one of the top-rated insurance companies in the U.S. — its customer satisfaction ratings are through the roof, it offers a slew of coverage add-ons for full protection, and makes filing claims through its mobile app a breeze.
Pros
Top-tier coverage add-ons, including equipment breakdown, water backup, and service line coverage
Get up to $1 million in personal liability coverage
Score discounts for bundling, installing security devices, and choosing a high deductible
File and track claims online, over the phone, in person, or through its mobile app
High customer satisfaction and financial strength ratings
Cons
No discounts for first-time homebuyers or going a year without a claim
If customer service is high on your list when shopping around for an insurance company, State Farm is a great option. State Farm consistently receives high ratings for customer service and claims satisfaction with J.D. Power. When you file a claim after a disaster, you want to be through a company that handles your situation quickly and efficiently each time. With State Farm’s mobile app, you can easily keep track of your claim.
How to get a quote
Online through State Farm
Tower Hill
Tower Hill stands out thanks to its robust flood insurance options and contractor network program that makes repairing your home after a natural disaster as seamless as possible.
Pros
Offers 3 flood insurance options, including a private flood endorsement and standalone policy
Contractor network program for easy repairs that come with a 5-year warranty for workmanship
Lower-than-average customer complaints according to the NAIC
Cons
Little information about discounts or coverage options available online
Beach erosion and rising tides put Fort Myers homes at risk of more frequent flooding in coming years. Tower Hill offers three different levels of flood insurance, including an option that requires no minimum deductible and no wait. Whether or not you are currently in a flood zone, your house is still at risk of water damage in Fort Myers. Tower Hill can make sure you don’t end up paying these costly expenses out of pocket.
How to get a quote
Online through Tower Hill
ASI Progressive
ASI Progressive offers robust home insurance coverage and ways to save. Our fave perk? Its bundling discount, which lets you save up to 20% on premiums and only requires you to pay one deductible if your home and car are damaged in the same event.
Pros
Policies are backed by Progressive Insurance
Flood insurance coverage add-on available — a rarity among insurers
Save up to 20% when you bundle your home and auto insurance
Score discounts for owning a new home, signing up for e-bills, paying your premiums in full for the year, and more
Only pay one deductible if your home and car are damaged in the same incident and you bundle your home and auto insurance together
File and track claims online
Cons
Below-average claims satisfaction ratings
Minimal information about coverage add-ons available online
If your house in Fort Myers is a vacation or rental home, ASI Progressive offers specialized insurance policies for seasonal or investment properties that can save you money on home insurance. By only paying for the coverage you need, you can eliminate costs that may not benefit your home away from home.
Cheapest homeowners insurance companies by ZIP code in Fort Myers
Looking at average home insurance costs for 15 of the most popular companies in Fort Myers, we found that the cheapest home insurance in the city can be found in almost every ZIP code with Tower Hill. The average Tower Hill rate in this area is $725 per year — $1,563 less than the city average of $2,288 per year.
While residents in the 33905 and 33907 ZIP codes will see slightly higher rates, the average rate of $735 in these areas is only nominally more expensive than the rest of the city.
ZIP code
Company
Average yearly cost
33901
Tower Hill
$725
33905
Tower Hill
$735
33907
Tower Hill
$735
33912
Tower Hill
$725
33913
Tower Hill
$725
33916
Tower Hill
$735
33965
Tower Hill
$725
33966
Tower Hill
$725
The most affordable areas for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers
With an average home insurance rate of $2,259 per year, the 33965 ZIP code (Florida Gulf Coast University), is the most affordable area for home insurance in Fort Myers. This area is mostly made up of student housing from the university.
ZIP code
Average yearly cost
33965
$2,259
33912
$2,289
33966
$2,289
33907
$2,291
33916
$2,292
The most expensive areas for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers
With an average home insurance rate of $2,295, the 33901 ZIP code is the most expensive area for home insurance in Fort Myers. Most homes in this area are 50 to 70 years old, which can increase the average home insurance rate.
After Demotech downgrades several Florida insurance carriers' financial strength and stability ratings, thousands of homeowners are at risk of losing their home insurance.
Jennifer Gimbel • August 5, 2022
Shopping for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers
When shopping for home insurance, it’s important to know what you’re looking for in a policy so you can get the right coverage for your house.
The last thing you want to do is spend too much for high coverage limits you may not need. At the same time, with the risk of powerful hurricane winds in Fort Myers, you should make sure you have enough dwelling coverage to pay for repairs to your home after a storm.
In this section, we break down the average annual home insurance rates in Fort Myers for different coverage and deductible levels, as well as the cheapest and most expensive home insurance companies in the state for individuals with a poor credit score, dog owners, and pool owners. Once you’re ready to shop, a Policygenius expert can help you navigate your coverage needs and help you find the best deal on homeowners insurance in Fort Myers.
Fort Myers home insurance costs by coverage amounts
Dwelling coverage is the part of your home insurance policy that pays for the cost to repair or rebuild your home when it is damaged by a covered hazard. Your dwelling coverage limit should be based on your home’s replacement cost, which is the total price to rebuild your home.
Knowing the replacement cost of your home can save you money, as the higher your dwelling coverage amount, the more your rates will increase. In Fort Myers, $100,000 in coverage will cost $902 per year. That amount jumps up to $1,588 for a policy with $200,000 in coverage.
Dwelling coverage amount
Average yearly cost
$100,000
$902
$200,000
$1,588
$300,000
$2,288
$400,000
$3,036
$500,000
$3,803
Liability coverage is important to have in case someone on your property is injured by anything from a dog bite to tripping over uneven paving blocks. Your coverage amount should be based on the total value of your assets (your house, cars, and cash) since you might be responsible for covering costly medical bills.
While usually the more coverage you need means higher premiums, in Fort Myers we found that average yearly costs fluctuate with the amount of liability coverage you get.
Liability coverage amount
Average yearly cost
$100,000
$3,154
$200,000
$1,766
$300,000
$1,909
$500,000
$1,605
Fort Myers home insurance costs by deductible amount
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for each claim you file with your insurance company. Since you will have to pay this amount every time you submit a claim, consider a lower deductible if your house is at risk for frequent storm damage. While a lower amount will increase the price of your home insurance, you won’t get stuck paying thousands of dollars in deductibles.
As seen in the table below, Fort Myers residents can save around $798 on home insurance by choosing a $2,000 deductible over the $500 option.
Deductible amount
Average yearly cost
$500
$2,511
$1,000
$2,288
$2,000
$1,713
Home insurance discounts in Fort Myers
If you are looking to save money on your policy, check if you can get a discount for having certain safety features in your home. Most insurers will offer discounts for smoke detectors, burglar alarms, and deadbolt locks because the safer your home is, the less likely you are to file a claim.
While you won’t get a huge discount if your house has one of the following features and nothing else, they can add up if you have several protective devices in your home. Here is the average annual rate and average discount percentage for homes in Fort Myers with deadbolts, smoke alarms, or burglar alarms.
Discount
Average yearly cost
Dead bolt
$2,288
Smoke alarm
$2,288
Burglar alarm
$2,190
Wind mitigation discounts & incentives in Florida
Many home insurance companies in Florida offer Fortified Roof, Fortified Home, and other wind mitigation discounts for installing fixtures or using construction techniques to reduce windstorm damage during a hurricane or tropical storm.
Other incentives include:
Hurricane Loss Mitigation Grant: Offers grants for retrofits, inspections, and construction to fortify your home against flooding and hurricane-force winds
Florida Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program: Offers financing for up to 100% of the costs to fortify your home against wind damage — payments are added to your property tax bill each year for an agreed-upon term
Home insurance companies in Fort Myers for dog owners
If you have a dog breed that insurance companies consider “aggressive,” you may be charged higher rates due to the higher liability risk.
With an average rate of $729 per year, Tower Hill has the cheapest home insurance rates in Fort Myers for a home with a dangerous dog breed, while Citizens’ average yearly premium of $7,586 is the highest.
Company
Average yearly cost
Tower Hill
$729
ASI Progressive
$1,655
State Farm
$2,046
Universal Property
$2,560
Citizens
$7,586
Home insurance companies in Fort Myers for poor credit
Your credit score could also impact your insurance rate. Companies will often look at your credit history to determine if you are more likely to file a claim or pay your bills on time. If you have poor credit, you could see higher premiums.
It’s important to shop around, however, since not all insurers will charge more for a low credit score.
With an average rate of $1,153 per year, Tower Hill has the cheapest home insurance rates in Fort Myers for a homeowner with poor credit, while Citizens’ average yearly premium of $7,586 is the highest.
Company
Average yearly cost
Tower Hill
$1,153
Universal Property
$2,560
ASI Progressive
$2,807
State Farm
$3,505
Citizens
$7,586
Home insurance companies in Fort Myers for pool owners
While it's nice to have a pool in the Florida heat, some insurers will charge you more if you have one on your property. Pools increase the probability of liability claims due to the risk of injury, though not all companies will factor this into your rate as heavily.
With an average rate of $729 per year, Tower Hill has the cheapest home insurance rates for Fort Myers homes that have a swimming pool, while Citizens’ average yearly premium of $7,586 is the most expensive.
Company
Average yearly cost
Tower Hill
$729
ASI Progressive
$1,630
State Farm
$2,046
Universal Property
$2,560
Citizens
$7,586
How to buy homeowners insurance in Fort Myers
Shopping around and comparing quotes is the best way to make sure you are getting the right coverage for your home. Below are tips for shopping for homeowners insurance in Fort Myers:
Reach out to a licensed Policygenius agent. A Policygenius expert can help answer questions, determine your coverage amounts, and compare quotes, all at no cost to you.
Ask about Florida’s FAIR plan. If you’ve been turned down by traditional insurers or coastal home insurance companies due to factors that make you a high risk to insure, our agents can discuss Florida’s FAIR plan as an alternative to traditional coverage.
Consider purchasing flood insurance. As storms continue to move through Fort Myers, it’s likely you will need flood insurance at some point, even if you are not currently in a flood zone.
Figure out how much you can afford to pay for your deductible. Consider how likely you are to file multiple claims when determining your deductible. You can save money on your policy with a higher deductible, but the savings won’t be worth it if you file multiple claims over a two or three year span.
Compare quotes from a Policygenius agent. There are many factors that determine your insurance rate, and insurers weigh those factors differently. Comparing quotes with Policygenius is the best way to find the most affordable home insurance.
Choose your policy, sign it, and pay your first premium. After you find the right policy for your home, a Policygenius agent can help with the paperwork so all you have to do is sign and pay your first premium.
In most circumstances, Tower Hill offers the lowest rates. Their average yearly cost in Fort Myers is $729.
Why do pools, treehouses, and trampolines affect my insurance rate?
These so-called “attractive nuisances” increase the likelihood of injuries on your property, which lead to more liability claims.
What can I do to improve my low credit score?
If your credit score is making your insurance rates go up, consider paying off credit cards and other debt and be sure to always pay your bills on time.
How does a deductible work?
With every claim you file, you will have to pay your deductible before your insurance kicks in. If you have a $500 deductible and your claim is for $700, you will need to pay $500 out of pocket, and then your insurer will cover the remaining $200.
Methodology
Policygenius has analyzed home insurance rates provided by Quadrant Information Services in March 2022 for ZIP codes in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., for a 40-year-old female homeowner with no claim history, good credit, a $1,000 deductible, and the following coverage limits:
Dwelling: $300,000
Other structures: $30,000
Personal property: $150,000
Loss of use: $60,000
Liability: $300,000
Medical: $1,000
All rates based on the above coverage limits except where otherwise noted.
Some carriers may be represented by affiliates or subsidiaries. Rates provided are a sample of costs. Your actual quotes may differ.
Jessica Olivo is a writer living in Connecticut. She specializes in web and blog content in a variety of topics such as parenting, business, and culture, as well as serialized and short fiction.
After working in publishing and book publicity for many years, she transitioned to freelance writing full time.
