Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency, founded in 2005 and licensed in Maine. From our office at 601 Islington St in Portsmouth, a few minutes across the river, we help homeowners in Kittery, Kittery Point, York Village, York Harbor, York Beach and Cape Neddick compare homeowners insurance from carriers among the 40+ we work with. We don’t charge additional fees.
We work for you, not one insurance company. We put several carriers’ home offers side by side, explain where the coverage differs and help you set limits that would actually rebuild your house. Families across the Seacoast have given us 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.
What makes Kittery and York homes different to insure
Old houses close to the water
Kittery Foreside, Kittery Point and York Village have some of the oldest homes in Maine: center-chimney colonials, capes and Federal houses, many with additions from several eras. Carriers look closely at the roof, the wiring, the plumbing and the heating on homes like these. Having the year of each update ready (roof, electrical panel, heating system, water heater) helps us get accurate quotes and can open up more carriers.
Beach cottages and summer homes
Around Long Sands, Short Sands, Cape Neddick and parts of Kittery Point, many homes are seasonal cottages or second homes that sit empty part of the year. Carriers want to know who checks on the house, whether there’s a low-temperature or water-leak alarm, and whether the water is shut off in winter. A frozen pipe in an empty house is one of the most common and expensive winter claims, so we talk through how each carrier handles vacancy.
Nor’easters, wind and ice
The biggest storm losses on this stretch of coast usually come from nor’easters: onshore wind, heavy wet snow, ice dams and coastal flooding around the York River, Brave Boat Harbor and the beach roads. Wind, ice dam and fallen-tree damage are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductibles, and some carriers use a separate wind or hurricane deductible for homes near the shore. Flood, including storm surge, is excluded and needs its own policy.
Wood stoves, oil heat and private wells
Many homes inland in York and along Route 103 in Kittery heat with oil, propane or a wood stove and run on a private well and septic system. Carriers ask about wood stove installation and chimney cleaning, the age of the oil tank and where it sits. We’ll ask the same questions up front so there are no surprises after the policy is bound.
Coverage we review with you
| Coverage | What it does | What we look at for Kittery and York homes |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling (Coverage A) | Rebuilds the house after a covered loss | Replacement cost for older construction, not the sale price |
| Other structures | Detached garages, barns, sheds, fences | Old barns and carriage houses that need their own limit |
| Personal property | Furniture, clothing, electronics | Replacement cost vs. actual cash value, and scheduled jewelry or art |
| Loss of use | Living costs if you can’t stay in the home | Summer rental prices near the beach if you’re displaced in July |
| Personal liability | Injuries to guests and damage you cause others | Docks, pools and guests at a summer house; umbrella limits on top |
| Water backup | Sewer or drain backup and sump pump failure | Often an add-on, and important for finished basements |
| Flood (separate policy) | Storm surge and rising water | NFIP flood through Selective, or private flood when it fits better |
Carriers we compare for Kittery and York homes
For Maine homes, the carriers we quote include Andover, Concord Group, Hanover, Liberty Mutual, Vermont Mutual, Patriot, Openly, National General, Safety, Providence Mutual, Stillwater and Foremost Signature. Patriot can write Maine homes up to $3 million in eligible areas. For larger and high-value homes in York Harbor or Kittery Point, we also compare Chubb and Cincinnati; see York high-value home insurance and Maine high-value homes.
Disclosure: Coverage, eligibility and price depend on each carrier’s underwriting and your details. Nothing on this page is a quote or a promise of coverage.
Buying a home in Kittery or York?
Lenders usually want proof of homeowners insurance well before closing. Call us as soon as you have an accepted offer. We’ll need the address, year built, square footage, roof age and heating type, and we can check the flood zone at the same time so the flood question doesn’t hold up closing. Our flood zone check page explains what to look for.
More for southern Maine homeowners
See our town pages for Kittery and York, our southern Maine insurance agency hub, and nearby Eliot and South Berwick, Ogunquit and Wells and Kennebunk and Kennebunkport home insurance. Statewide: Maine homeowners and second homes, coastal home insurance in Maine, landlord insurance and condo and condex insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Portsmouth, NH agency insure my home in Kittery or York, Maine?
Yes. We’re licensed in Maine and insure southern Maine homes from our Portsmouth office, just across the Piscataqua River. We don’t have a Maine office, so most clients work with us by phone, email and online.
Does my homeowners policy cover flooding from a nor’easter in York or Kittery?
No. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood, including storm surge and rising water. Wind damage, ice dams and falling trees are generally homeowners claims, subject to your deductibles. Flood needs its own policy; we quote NFIP flood through Selective and compare private flood options. See flood insurance in Maine.
How much dwelling coverage do I need on an older Kittery or York home?
Enough to rebuild the house at today’s construction costs, which is often different from the sale price or assessed value. Older homes with plaster walls, original trim, slate or wood shingles can cost more to rebuild than their size suggests. We’ll walk through a replacement cost estimate with you before you choose a limit.
Can you insure a summer cottage at York Beach or a seasonal home in Kittery Point?
Yes. Seasonal and secondary homes are written differently from a primary residence, and carriers look at who checks on the house in winter, how the heat is monitored and whether the water is shut off. See second home insurance in Maine.
Which carriers do you compare for southern Maine homes?
Carriers we quote for Maine homes include Andover, Concord Group, Hanover, Liberty Mutual, Vermont Mutual, Patriot, Openly, National General, Safety, Providence Mutual, Stillwater, Foremost Signature, Chubb and Cincinnati. Which ones fit depends on the house and each carrier’s underwriting.
Can I insure my Kittery or York home and cars together?
Yes. We compare single-carrier bundles with split options side by side. See our Maine home and auto bundle and Kittery and York car insurance pages.
Get a Kittery or York homeowners quote
Send us the address, year built, roof age, heating type and any updates, plus your current declarations page if you have one. We’ll compare options from multiple carriers and explain the differences in plain numbers. Call (603) 431-4020, email insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com or request a quote online.