-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LozCZIul4uRulcfSmVgmz2V1T9YCDiom/L7cTqMUJ/go7/Iv2fEXjn6QJ76BYbWf
 /sYuWJjiqEeSw2eN6bTTFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000898432-05-000003.txt : 20050106
<SEC-HEADER>0000898432-05-000003.hdr.sgml : 20050106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050106120531
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000898432-05-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOWNES SEAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287040

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20848
		FILM NUMBER:		05514943

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2875 N.E. 191ST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33180

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891166
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				650231984
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2875 NE 191 STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 400A
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33180
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3057924200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2875 NE 191 STREET
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33180

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNIVERSAL HEIGHTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950817
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>universal-downes_4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891166</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNIVERSAL INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UVIH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001287040</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOWNES SEAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2875 N.E. 191ST STREET,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIAMI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33180</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO of Univ Prop &amp; Cas Ins Co</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>444444</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0225</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2638044</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents $10,000 in compensation received in form of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Sean P. Downes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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