Useful Links


GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR HOME AND BUSINESS OWNERS

Miami Dade County and the State of Florida are continuosly offering grants and support for homeowners, housing developers and landlors to improve their investment by remodeling or updating their properties. Below are some useful links regarding Grants to be offered in the upcoming months. The most reliable hurricane protection can be affordable to you.

Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program
Under the new law, the Florida Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program may award grant monies to local governments to help homeowners strengthen their homes against natural disasters. Inspections are provided free of charge through the Program to qualified homeowners. A grant of up to $5,000 is available to qualified homeowners but a dollar-for-dollar match would be required by either the local government or the homeowner participating through the local government's program. However, a grant of up to $5,000 is available to a low-income homeowner with no match required. Grant money awarded to a local government to help homeowners must be used for wind-resistance improvements in seven specific categories, as follows: Improving the strength of your roof deck attachment; Creating a secondary water barrier to prevent water intrusion; Improving the survivability of your roof covering; Bracing gable-ends in your roof framing; Reinforcing roof-to-wall connections; Upgrading exterior wall opening protections; Upgrading exterior doors. The Department of Financial Services is seeking information from Florida's cities/counties to learn what mitigation programs are already in place at the local level and to measure the amount of interest in participating in this program.

Florida Home Ownership Assistance Program
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation has announced its intent to provide an approximate amount of $8,000,000 for qualified mortgage loans for homebuyer assistance under the Florida Home Ownership Assistance Program (HAP). HAP funds will be made available to qualified persons in conjunction with the Corporation's Single Family Mortgage Revenue Bond Program (SFMRB). Access to these funds will be made available through Participating Lenders that have been selected to originate first mortgages under the Corporation's SFMRB Program through an application process. Participating lending institutions will make these loans available on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible first-time home buyers qualifying for a first mortgage under the Corporation's SFMRB Program. Eligible applicants are any home mortgage lending institution that is: a qualified FHA - approved mortgagee; VA-approved lender; an USDA/RD approved lender; or a Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac approved lender, in good standing. Applicants interested in receiving an Invitation and Application to Participate should contact the Corporation by telephone at (850) 488-4197, by Fax at (850) 922-7253, or in writing: 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 5000, Tallahassee, Florida 32301-1329. Questions, concerns, and/or requests for more information should be directed to Frances Pheeny, Single Family Programs Administrator at (850)488-4197

SAVE MONEY ON YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS INSURANCE PREMIUM
(click here to download this article in Adobe Reader version)

Many Floridians who live in a home built after 2002 (or after 1994 in Miami-Dade or Broward counties) do not realize that their home may qualify for one or more insurance discounts with Hurricane Protection upgrades like Hurricane Shutters.

Take the Florida Wind Insurance Incentives Survey
provided by the Florida Department of Community Affairs at:  http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdem/mitdb/index.cfm

DISCLAIMER: The discounts presented at the end of this survey are given as a percentage of the wind portion of your total insurance premium. The wind portion of your premium is between 15 and 70 percent of your total premium, depending on where you live in Florida.

Discount Sheet by Insurance Company
provided by the Office of Insurance Regulation https://apps.fldfs.com/WindMitigation

Florida law requires insurance companies to offer homeowners discounts or credits for existing building features or home improvements that reduce damage and loss from hurricanes. Florida insurance companies are required to file these discounts with the Office of Insurance Regulation.

This Web site offers homeowners general discount information by insurance company and explains what range of discounts may be available. Discount information is available for an estimated 60 insurance companies on this Web site, and updates will continue to be posted.

DISCLAIMER: A new law passed during the 2006 Session requires the Office of Insurance Regulation to evaluate all discounts filed by insurance companies and to ensure insurance companies are providing eligible homeowners with applicable discounts by July 1, 2007.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR DISCOUNT EFFECTIVE

1. Contact your agent or your company directly to find out the specific items for which discounts are available.
2. Verify the amount of the discount for each item as it applies to YOUR policy. For example: Hurricane shutters will result in a 30% discount on the windstorm premium.
3. Request the specific criteria needed to apply for and receive the discounts that are listed for your company. Example: Do the shutters need to be inspected by a certified wind inspector?
4. Verify the documentation that needs to be submitted in order to apply for and receive the discounts. Example: photos of the items installed, proof of purchase and installation.
5. Verify to whom the documentation should be submitted. Be sure to keep copies of all documentation, the date submitted and the mailing verification information.
6. Request confirmation of when the discount will take effect.
7.Verify if the discount will be in the form of a premium discount, a credit to your premium balance or a refund on premium paid.

We hope this information is useful and we look forward to doing business with you!


OUR MATERIAL HAS BEEN TESTED IN THE MOST REPUTABLE LABORATORIES
UNDER THE TOUGHEST CONDITIONS


2008 Tropical Storm Names

Call us NOW for your FREE Estimate!
Remember, we are Licensed and Insured for maximum
PEACE OF MIND and CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
and we are a Miami-Dade County Product Control Approved Company!