State Farm for STR insurance

State Farm for STR insurance

Member since 2023 · 113 posts · 129 votes

I'd been searching on and off for almost a year to find appropriate insurance for my Tahoe STR. I was turned down by all of the companies that are often mentioned here (Proper, Steadily, Foremost, American Modern) and many others. Most often because of wildfire risk or simply because it's an STR, but sometimes because of the high property value.

Last week I was chatting at a party with a State Farm agent (not my local agent) who clued me in that State Farm will write commercial policies for STRs, including SFH owned by an individual or trust. And it turns out they are okay with the wildfire risk and high value. Not sure if this option for commercial STR coverage is common knowledge among State Farm agents. My local agent certainly didn't know about it.

The premium is also surprisingly good.  Less than double the premium on the homeowner's policy I had previously, with a higher limit and lower deductible.  Covers the building, $1M/$2M commercial general liability and loss of income.

It does not have some of the bells and whistles that an STR specialty policy like Proper has, like coverage for liquor and off-premise liability. Still light years ahead of what I had before though.

FYI for others who might be having trouble finding insurance.

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Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
2y

Yes, I used State Farm to insure two STRs I had. Very reasonable and very good coverage!

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    2y

    Yes, I used State Farm to insure two STRs I had. Very reasonable and very good coverage!

  • Bradley BuxtonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · NV · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 712 votes
    2y

    @Craig Jones

    I'm also in Tahoe / Reno and this is a great tip. There were so many claims for snow damage last year that many HOA are losing their insurance or having to pay crazy amounts. I have a few contacts for independent insurance brokers that can look at some different market places to get better pricing.

  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    2y

    Thanks @Craig Jones. Interesting info.

  • Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    Interestingly enough, I just got a piece in the mail today clarifying my cancellation of my policy from State Farm. "We are sorry that we cannot continue this insurnace therefore your policy will not be renewed...Material increase in hazard as evidenced by the fact that the residence is not owner occupied as required by our policy". And also noticed today my escrow (by way of tax bump), has increased nearly $2k. A real head scratcher I'm not pleased with one bit. A reasonable person would assume if my rental burned down a couple months ago they would've left me on the hook for it all, meanwhile paid for the coverage all year long. Just a hunch. What to do or where to go for new policy TBD

  • Member since 2024 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    Thanks @Craig Jones. Interesting info.

    Any recommendations on a good home owner’s insurance company?
  • Member since 2023 · 113 posts · 129 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Bennie Bernard:

    Any recommendations on a good home owner’s insurance company? 
    I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer there.  It varies tremendously depending on what state you're in, home value, whether it's owner-occupied full-time, etc.  
  • Owen RosenBusiness Member
    Professional · Clinton Township, MI · Member since 2015 · 676 posts · 259 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Craig Jones:
    Quote from @Bennie Bernard:

    Any recommendations on a good home owner’s insurance company? 
    I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer there.  It varies tremendously depending on what state you're in, home value, whether it's owner-occupied full-time, etc.  
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    Royal Oath Insurance Group4.9203 Reviews
  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    2y

    Hey @Bennie Bernard. Like others have said, it is all going to depend.

    If you are talking about straight home owners then there are a ton of choices. If you are talking about STR insurance, there are a choices as well.

    Where is the property located?

  • Member since 2024 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    Hey @Bennie Bernard. Like others have said, it is all going to depend.

    If you are talking about straight home owners then there are a ton of choices. If you are talking about STR insurance, there are a choices as well.

    Where is the property located?

    Michael Baum I’m looking for STR home owners insurance for my first property in Broken Bow, OK.
  • Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    Right here with @Bennie Bernard quizzing and curious about the best insurance option for STR in Oklahoma, oddly enough. Left a message with StateFarm to get back with me yesterday, but guessing since they're intending to cancel me on not living there full time, they'll stick with their decision. Even if they didn't, very well may be another economical option out there anyhow, from what I've heard its Foremost? Anddd.... Proper is the premier and costly option?

  • Scott SennerBusiness Member
    Lender · OK · Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 9 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Bennie Bernard:
    Quote from @Michael Baum:

    Hey @Bennie Bernard. Like others have said, it is all going to depend.

    If you are talking about straight home owners then there are a ton of choices. If you are talking about STR insurance, there are a choices as well.

    Where is the property located?

    Michael Baum I’m looking for STR home owners insurance for my first property in Broken Bow, OK.

  • Scott SennerBusiness Member
    Lender · OK · Member since 2023 · 5 posts · 9 votes
    2y

    We finance a lot of the cabins in Hochatown and the two insurance providers that we refer are:

    Bobby and Becky Kelly, Oklahoma Farm Bureau in Broken Bow

    Brad Nutt, Norment/Landers Insurance in Paris, TX

    Both of them are well versed on the STR market.

  • Member since 2024 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Scott Senner:

    We finance a lot of the cabins in Hochatown and the two insurance providers that we refer are:

    Bobby and Becky Kelly, Oklahoma Farm Bureau in Broken Bow

    Brad Nutt, Norment/Landers Insurance in Paris, TX

    Both of them are well versed on the STR market.


     Thank You Scott.

  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    2y

    Foremost, CBIZ and Proper are all major providers of STR insurance.

    What I would do is check with your current insurer for your primary. Find out if they offer a STR policy. You might get a decent discount for adding the policy to your overall stack.

    I would also look at adding an umbrella policy to cover the whole shebang.

  • Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    Got mine all straightened out w/ StateFarm thankfully, and they had admitted it all to be a false alarm. Nevertheless, fwiw I'm attaching the endorsement below for peoples review and thoughts. 

  • Member since 2023 · 113 posts · 129 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Ryan Sappington:

    Got mine all straightened out w/ StateFarm thankfully, and they had admitted it all to be a false alarm. Nevertheless, fwiw I'm attaching the endorsement below for peoples review and thoughts. 

    This could be fine if it's a part-time STR. If it's full-time, then you'll still be in conflict with the part of the policy where it says the property has to be your primary residence. The endorsement doesn't change that requirement. If you have substantial personal use of the property but it's not your primary, then a second home policy with this endorsement might work.

    Big picture, don't misrepresent how the property is used to the agent or underwriter.  It might be tempting to save some bucks on the premium, but you could find out later you've been paying for nothing if they refuse a claim.

  • Member since 2021 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    2y

    I bought a State Farm policy on a STR and LTR, their prices were competitive and they were easy to work with considering the home is 100 years old. I recently received renewal paperwork for 2024/25, shockingly the premium decreased a few dollars.

  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    2y
    Quote from @Justi Moor:

    I bought a State Farm policy on a STR and LTR, their prices were competitive and they were easy to work with considering the home is 100 years old. I recently received renewal paperwork for 2024/25, shockingly the premium decreased a few dollars.


     Yeah, I was happy using SF for my STRs...very reasonable and I got to bundle to get the best rates....

  • Member since 2022 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    2y
    Quote from @Craig Jones:
    Quote from @Ryan Sappington:

    Got mine all straightened out w/ StateFarm thankfully, and they had admitted it all to be a false alarm. Nevertheless, fwiw I'm attaching the endorsement below for peoples review and thoughts. 

    This could be fine if it's a part-time STR. If it's full-time, then you'll still be in conflict with the part of the policy where it says the property has to be your primary residence. The endorsement doesn't change that requirement. If you have substantial personal use of the property but it's not your primary, then a second home policy with this endorsement might work.

    Big picture, don't misrepresent how the property is used to the agent or underwriter.  It might be tempting to save some bucks on the premium, but you could find out later you've been paying for nothing if they refuse a claim.


     Fair callout. I'm certainly there as much or more than its actually rented out. Think I did around 50-60 total nights last year, and will likely do something similar this year...60-80. We as a family visit any particular weekend its not being rented out during the non-frigid months, and even then many times. Not sure how they'd actually track that type of activity though regardless. Certainly wouldn't have much issue showing credit card statements of local restaurant/grocery/gas purchases in that area through the year, but that seems a bit asinine to track or even think they'd request. 

  • Member since 2022 · 3 posts · 3 votes
    2y

    I am so glad to have found this post!

    I currently have a Proper policy on my vacation home in the mountains of Western NC, and I am tired of them increasing the rate so much. I have LTRs insured with StateFarm, and they quoted me half what I pay Proper. The only requirement is that I don't exceed about 185 nights of rentals a year, and I average about 160 so I should be fine. I do spend a couple of months a year at the property. They quoted an umbrella policy for $200 extra, which is very reasonable.

    From my limited understanding of insurance policies, if I have the second-home policy with home sharing endorsement (personal liability $1M) plus an umbrella for $2M, then I should have about the same coverage I get from Proper, even in the unlikely event of an off-premise liability lawsuit. 

    The only thing that would be different is that Proper covers revenue loss + all the bells and whistles  I feel I don't need for 2x the cost - squatters/bed bugs.

    Any input on this from more experienced STR investors or others with insurance backgrounds please?

  • Member since 2023 · 113 posts · 129 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Ricardo Carrasco:

    From my limited understanding of insurance policies, if I have the second-home policy with home sharing endorsement (personal liability $1M) plus an umbrella for $2M, then I should have about the same coverage I get from Proper, even in the unlikely event of an off-premise liability lawsuit. 

    The only thing that would be different is that Proper covers revenue loss + all the bells and whistles  I feel I don't need for 2x the cost - squatters/bed bugs.

    Any input on this from more experienced STR investors or others with insurance backgrounds please?

    It sounds like a good option for your situation where you have substantial personal use of the property, and the STR use fits within State Farm's parameters. I'm also with you that Proper's policy may not be worth the price because the extra risks covered by their bells and whistles are largely avoidable risks. Everyone has to do their own evaluation though. If you're in a market where you have to provide kayaks and bicycles for your guests in order to compete, then you might think differently.

    It's important to remember though that a second-home policy is still a homeowner's policy at the end of the day. The homesharing endorsement modifies it slightly, but there could still be substantial differences between that and an STR policy written on a commercial form. That's going to depend on the specific language in each carrier's policy and homesharing endorsement though. It's worth reading through the whole policy carefully to understand the differences, and / or get help from your agent to spell it out.

  • Member since 2024 · 107 posts · 55 votes
    1y

    I found this post as I was searching for more information about State Farm's coverage and hope someone who has posted on here can help clarify something for me.

    Are you getting a homeowner's policy with an endorsement for use as a STR or a business policy? Is one better than the other.

    Our agent provided quotes for both. The business policy is significantly more expensive. It includes loss of income and higher liability coverages but covers less on contents and sewer backup. 

    The homeowner's policy requires us to rent it for a minimum of 30 days and stay in it a minimum 1 night/year which should not be a problem.

    Both of these are a fraction of the ridiculous quote I got from Proper and much less than Steadily's quote so I am planning to go with State Farm. Just not sure which one is the best option from a STR standpoint.

  • Member since 2023 · 113 posts · 129 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Dina Schmid:

    I found this post as I was searching for more information about State Farm's coverage and hope someone who has posted on here can help clarify something for me.

    Are you getting a homeowner's policy with an endorsement for use as a STR or a business policy? Is one better than the other.

    Our agent provided quotes for both. The business policy is significantly more expensive. It includes loss of income and higher liability coverages but covers less on contents and sewer backup. 

    The homeowner's policy requires us to rent it for a minimum of 30 days and stay in it a minimum 1 night/year which should not be a problem.

    Both of these are a fraction of the ridiculous quote I got from Proper and much less than Steadily's quote so I am planning to go with State Farm. Just not sure which one is the best option from a STR standpoint.


    Ours is a State Farm business owners policy (BOP) which has the features you mentioned -- building replacement cost, $1M/$2M commercial liability and loss of income coverage.  For us the BOP premium was higher, but not outrageously so.  Maybe because high wildfire risk at our location is the most substantial contributor to the policy cost in both cases.

    I have also heard a State Farm agent (not mine) say that homeowners /w STR rider is allowed if the owner stays at least one night per year.  That language is definitely not in the rider itself, so if you decide to go that route, I'd ask for it in writing.

    Our decision to go with the BOP was driven by the fact that they write commercial STR under a hotel / motel policy.  So I have a fair amount of confidence that it will cover most of the scenarios we might encounter.  I have little confidence in what a homeowners policy /w STR rider will cover, because no other insurer I've talked to is okay with this for an (essentially) full-time STR operation.
  • Member since 2024 · 107 posts · 55 votes
    1y
    Quote from @Craig Jones:

    I have also heard a State Farm agent (not mine) say that homeowners /w STR rider is allowed if the owner stays at least one night per year.  That language is definitely not in the rider itself, so if you decide to go that route, I'd ask for it in writing.

    Our decision to go with the BOP was driven by the fact that they write commercial STR under a hotel / motel policy.  So I have a fair amount of confidence that it will cover most of the scenarios we might encounter.  I have little confidence in what a homeowners policy /w STR rider will cover, because no other insurer I've talked to is okay with this for an (essentially) full-time STR operation.
    Thanks! I am leaning towards the BOP for the higher liability if nothing else. I sent an email to our lender to ask if it makes a difference in getting financing and expect I'll hear back Monday. That could be the ultimate decision maker!
  • Real Estate Professional · Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2015 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    1d

    Today I called State Farm and the NY agent told me they don't provide loss of income for a BOP. Any other company recommendations? Proper and CBIZ are a bit too expensive for me.

    • Member since 2023 · 113 posts · 129 votes
      1d

      My State Farm BOP definitely has loss of income coverage. I've found a lot of State Farm agents aren't very knowledgeable about their biz policies, so you might want to try a different agent. I suppose it could be a NY-specific thing though. My policy is in NV.

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