If you have a Citizens Property Insurance policy in Ocala or Marion County and received a takeout letter, your decision for the current round is due November 5, 2026, ahead of a November 17 transfer. If you do nothing, Citizens can move your policy to a private insurer. Read your letter, compare offers, and record your choice before the deadline.
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Florida's state-backed insurer, keeps shifting policies to private companies through what it calls depopulation, often called takeout offers. If your home in Ocala, Belleview, Dunnellon, Summerfield, Silver Springs Shores, or Marion Oaks is insured with Citizens, a letter in your mailbox right now could change who insures your house this month. Here is what the current round involves, what the 20% rule means, and how it plays out for buyers, sellers, and investors.
What happened
Citizens mailed selection letters on September 28 for policies scheduled to transfer on November 17, and the deadline to record a choice for that round is November 5, 2026, according to reporting by CubaHeadlines and CiberCuba based on the Citizens 2026 personal lines calendar. A second round is already moving: letters went out October 28, with decisions due December 4 and a December 15 transfer date.
The Citizens depopulation resources page lists the carriers in each round. For the 11.17.26 personal lines offers it lists American Integrity, Manatee, Mangrove, One Alliance (formerly Universal North America), Security First, Slide, and Southern Oak. The 12.15.26 list adds Condo Owners' Reciprocal Exchange, for 8 carriers in total.
Two key rules, as reported:
- The 20% rule. If a private offer's premium is no more than 20% above Citizens' estimated renewal premium, you may lose eligibility to stay with Citizens. CiberCuba gives an example: a Citizens estimate of $3,000 and a private offer of $3,600 falls within that margin. Your letter states whether you are eligible to remain.
- Doing nothing is a choice. CubaHeadlines reports that if you do not respond, Citizens will assign the policy to the private company with the lowest estimated premium. Not responding does not mean the policy stays with Citizens.
Choices are recorded online with the policy number and registration code from the letter, or through your insurance agent. Citizens' customer line is 866-411-2742. CubaHeadlines also reports Citizens says there is no longer a 30-day window after the assumption date to return to Citizens, so the decision you make now matters.
This lands during a stretch of rate filings from private carriers. Insurance Journal reported on October 28 that Mangrove filed an average 5.6% statewide decrease for its HO3 homeowners program and Security First trimmed HO6 condo unit rates an average of 7.3%. Both companies appear on the current takeout lists. An average change is not your premium, and CiberCuba notes these reductions do not guarantee lower premiums for takeout participants.
What it means for buyers
- Ask the seller who insures the home. If the seller's Citizens policy is about to move to a private carrier, that affects the coverage history you are walking into, but you will still need your own policy. Get quotes during your inspection period, not the week before closing.
- Price insurance into your payment. Fortune reported the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.176% and the 15-year at 6.373% on October 30, citing Mortgage Research Center. At those rates, an insurance quote that comes in higher than expected can change what you qualify for. Ask your lender to run numbers with a real quote.
- Roof age and condition still drive quotes. Carriers taking policies out of Citizens are choosing risk. Ask for the four point and wind mitigation reports early, especially on older homes.
What it means for sellers
- Do not let your coverage lapse during a sale. If you are under contract and your Citizens policy is scheduled to transfer, read the letter carefully and talk with your agent so there is no gap before closing.
- Gather your paperwork now. Your current declarations page, roof permit, and any wind mitigation report help buyers get insured faster, which helps your closing stay on schedule.
- Insurability is part of value. A home that a private carrier will write is easier to sell. If you are planning a spring listing, our seller page covers how to prepare, and you can request a pricing review at sellocalahome.com.
What it means for investors
- Check every Citizens policy in your portfolio. Each property can get its own letter on its own timeline. A dwelling fire or landlord policy may have different terms from a homeowners policy, so compare deductibles, limits, and exclusions, not just price.
- Update your underwriting. Insurance is a major operating cost on a rental. If a takeout changes your premium, adjust cash flow projections and next year's lease pricing.
- Watch the December round. With decisions due December 4, a property that did not get a November letter may still get one. Set a reminder to check your mail and your agent's portal.
- Compare areas before you buy. Our Ocala ZIP code guide and the 34473 ZIP page are good starting points for comparing parts of the county.
What I'd do this week
- Check your mail and email for a Citizens letter. Look for "Policyholder Choice Offer" or "Policyholder Depopulation Offer."
- Read whether your letter says you are eligible to remain with Citizens.
- Compare each offer's deductibles, hurricane coverage, limits, and exclusions side by side, not just the premium.
- Call your licensed insurance agent before November 5 and record your choice in writing or online.
- If you are buying or selling, tell your lender and title company about any pending transfer.
- Save a copy of your confirmation, then watch for an assumption notice or a December round letter.
For more background on recent insurance moves, see my earlier posts on Florida home insurance rate decreases and Citizens reopening after Tropical Storm Isaias.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Citizens takeout deadline in November 2026?
For the round scheduled to transfer November 17, the deadline to record your choice is November 5, 2026, according to reporting based on the Citizens 2026 calendar. A later round has decisions due December 4 with a December 15 transfer. Your letter lists the dates that apply to your policy.
What happens if I ignore a Citizens takeout letter?
Reporting on the program says Citizens will assign the policy to the private company with the lowest estimated premium if you do not respond. Not responding does not mean you stay with Citizens. Read your letter and talk with a licensed insurance agent before the deadline.
What is the Citizens 20% rule?
If a private offer's premium is no more than 20% above Citizens' estimated renewal premium, you may lose eligibility to stay with Citizens. Your letter tells you whether you are eligible to remain. An insurance agent can help you compare the offers.
Which insurers are taking Citizens policies in Florida right now?
The Citizens depopulation resources page lists American Integrity, Manatee, Mangrove, One Alliance, Security First, Slide, and Southern Oak for the 11.17.26 personal lines offers. The 12.15.26 list also includes Condo Owners' Reciprocal Exchange. Not every carrier makes offers on every policy.
Can I go back to Citizens after my policy is transferred?
Reporting on the program says Citizens states there is no longer a 30-day window after the assumption date to return to Citizens. That makes the choice before the deadline important. Confirm your options with Citizens or your agent.
Does a Citizens takeout affect buying or selling a home in Ocala?
It can. A seller should avoid any coverage gap before closing, and a buyer still needs their own policy and should get quotes early. Tell your lender and title company about any pending transfer.
Sources
- Citizens Property Insurance Corporation: Depopulation Resources
- CubaHeadlines: Florida Homeowners: Decision Deadline Approaching for Insurance Policy Transfers (Oct 29, 2026)
- CiberCuba: Citizens letter and the November 5 deadline (Oct 29, 2026)
- Insurance Journal: More Florida Insurers Announce Rate Cuts for Auto, Homeowners, Condo Units (Oct 28, 2026)
- Fortune: Mortgage rates today, Oct. 30, 2026
This article is general information, not legal, tax, insurance, or lending advice, and no guarantee of any premium, coverage, rate, or value. Insurance rules, carriers, and deadlines can change, and your letter controls your situation. Confirm details with Citizens and a licensed insurance agent, and talk with a lender or real estate attorney about your transaction.
Cristian Gonzalez, REALTOR, eXp Realty
FL License #3633800 · Ocala, Marion County, Florida · Published October 31, 2026