Reviewed by Jon Merwin, owner, Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance
Our Portsmouth office is close to the Maine border. We’re licensed in Maine and can insure year-round houses, lake camps and summer cottages there, including homes for families whose main house is in Massachusetts or New Hampshire. We’ve been insuring homes since 2005.
As an independent agency with a team of 15, we compare 30+ carriers instead of selling one company’s policy. That matters most for second homes, where the right carrier depends on how often you’re there, who else uses the place, and how far it is from the coast.
Year-round homes in Maine
The Maine Bureau of Insurance’s Consumer’s Guide to Homeowners Insurance is a good read before you buy. A few points from it that come up with almost every Maine home we quote:
- Insure the rebuild cost. The Bureau notes that coverage is based on the estimated cost to rebuild your home, not its market value or tax assessment.
- Distance from the coast changes the price. Homes closer to the coast have more windstorm exposure, which can mean a higher premium, a higher windstorm deductible, or both.
- How you heat matters. Heating mainly with wood can raise the premium, and updated roofs, heating, plumbing and electrical can help.
- Check your agent and insurer are licensed. The Bureau runs a public licensee search for exactly that.
Second homes, camps and seasonal cottages
This is where a lot of policies quietly fall short. Before you sign, we look at:
- Vacancy and unoccupancy rules. Many policies limit coverage if a home sits empty for a stretch, especially for freezing pipes. Closing up a camp for the winter has to match what the policy expects. Our article on leaving a home empty explains what to watch for.
- Renting it out. If you rent the place for a few weeks each summer, the carrier needs to know. Some homeowners policies handle occasional rentals; others need a different policy. See landlord insurance.
- Flood. Homeowners policies exclude flood, whether it comes from the ocean or a lake. We write NFIP policies, mainly through Selective, and quote private flood through Aon Edge, Beyond Floods, CatCoverage, Flow Flood, Neptune, Selective Flood and The Flood Insurance Agency. Private flood often has a shorter waiting period than the NFIP. More on our flood insurance page.
- Liability across both homes. An umbrella policy can sit over both your primary home and the Maine property, as long as the underlying limits line up.
For more detail, read our second and seasonal home insurance page and homeowners insurance for a second home.
Massachusetts and New Hampshire owners
If your main house is in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, we can usually insure both homes, since we’re licensed in all three states (and in CT, RI, VT, NY, FL, IL and OH). One agent, one set of renewal dates, and liability limits that match. For higher-value homes we work with carriers including Chubb, Cincinnati, Hanover, Openly, National General and Andover. See our high-value home insurance page.
Getting a quote
Have your current declarations page handy, plus roof age, heating type and how many weeks a year the home is used. Request a quote or call (603) 431-4020.
Maine homeowners and second-home insurance FAQ
Can a New Hampshire agency insure my home in Maine?
Yes. Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is licensed in Maine. Our Portsmouth, NH office is close to the Maine border, and we can insure year-round homes, camps and seasonal cottages there.
Is a seasonal camp insured the same way as a year-round home?
Not always. Carriers look at how often the home is occupied, how it’s heated and closed up for winter, and whether it’s rented. Vacancy and unoccupancy wording can limit coverage, so we match the policy to how you actually use the place.
Why is my Maine home insurance higher near the coast?
The Maine Bureau of Insurance notes that homes closer to the coast face greater windstorm exposure, which can mean a higher premium, a higher windstorm deductible, or both.
Does my homeowners policy cover flooding at a lake or coastal home in Maine?
No. Flood is excluded from standard homeowners policies. You need a separate NFIP or private flood policy. NFIP policies generally take effect 30 days after purchase.
Can I insure my Massachusetts home and Maine second home with the same agent?
Yes. We’re licensed in Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire, among 10 states, so we can coordinate both policies and your liability coverage.
Sources: Maine Bureau of Insurance, A Consumer’s Guide to Homeowners Insurance and Factors Affecting Your Premium; FEMA, FloodSmart.gov.
Questions about a Maine property? Call (603) 431-4020, email insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com, or stop by our Portsmouth, NH office. See every town we serve on our service areas page.