PERSONAL INSURANCE
Second Home & Vacation Home Insurance
The lake house in Wisconsin, the condo in Florida, the cabin in Michigan: a home that sits empty part of the year is a different risk, and carriers price it that way. We are licensed in 40+ states and coordinate your second home with your Illinois program, so nothing falls in the gap between two agents.
Quote My Second Home Call 833-776-4671- Personal Insurance
- Second Home Insurance
Quick Answer: Second home insurance is a separate policy for a property you own but do not live in full time. It usually costs more than comparable primary-home coverage because vacant stretches raise the risk of undetected damage, theft, and frozen pipes. Rates depend on occupancy, location, and how the home is used: personal use only, occasional guests, or rental income, which changes the coverage you need entirely.
The claims that hurt second-home owners are the slow ones: a pipe that burst in January and ran until someone noticed in March, a roof leak through an empty summer, a break-in nobody discovered for weeks. Carriers know this, which is why a vacation home is priced and underwritten differently, and why policies often carry occupancy requirements you should actually read. The other trap is coordination: when the primary home, the lake house, and the umbrella live with three different agents, liability limits and named insureds drift apart. We write all of it under one roof, in whichever states your properties sit.
What Second Home Insurance Covers
Dwelling & Other Structures
The house, garage, dock, and bunkhouse at replacement cost, written for a seasonal or secondary occupancy honestly disclosed.
Liability That Follows the Property
Guests, boats at the dock, and bonfires carry liability. We coordinate limits with your primary policy and umbrella so the whole picture is protected.
Water, Freeze & Sump Coverage
The signature second-home losses. We add water backup coverage and confirm the freeze provisions match how often you are actually there.
Flood & Wind Where It Matters
Lakefront, riverfront, and coastal properties usually need separate flood coverage, and coastal homes carry wind deductibles worth understanding before you buy.
Renting It Out Changes Everything. Tell Us First.
A vacation home you use personally, one you lend to friends, and one you list on Airbnb are three different insurance situations. Rental income, even occasional, can void coverage on a policy written for personal use only. Short-term rental activity needs either a carrier that endorses it or a dedicated landlord/host policy, and full-time rental property belongs in a landlord program. Be straight with us about how the home is used and we will write it correctly; the premium difference is small compared to a denied claim.
What Second Home Insurance Costs
| Property type | Typical annual premium |
|---|---|
| Midwest lake house or cabin (WI, MI, MN) | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Vacation condo (interior unit, HO6-style) | $600 to $1,500 |
| Coastal or hurricane-zone home (FL, gulf, southeast) | $3,000 to $8,000+, plus flood |
| High value vacation property | Written in a private client program |
Estimates only; premiums depend on location, rebuild value, occupancy, protection class, and how the home is used, and are confirmed by a licensed advisor.
What Our Clients Say
Second Home Insurance FAQ
Is insurance on a second home more expensive?
Usually yes. Unoccupied stretches mean damage goes undetected longer, so carriers charge more for the same dwelling than they would as a primary residence. Location risk, like coastal wind or flood zones, adds to it.
Does my homeowners policy cover my vacation home?
No. Each property needs its own policy. Your primary policy's liability may extend in limited ways, but the vacation home's structure and contents require their own coverage, ideally coordinated with the primary program and umbrella.
What happens if I rent my vacation home on Airbnb?
Tell your broker before you list it. Rental activity on a personal-use policy can void coverage. Depending on frequency, you need a short-term rental endorsement, a host policy, or a landlord policy; we place all three.
What is the difference between a seasonal home and a vacant home for insurance?
A seasonal or secondary home is regularly used part of the year; a vacant home has no occupants or contents for an extended period, often 30 to 60 days or more. Vacancy triggers exclusions on standard policies and usually needs dedicated vacant-home coverage, for example during a long renovation or an estate sale.
Can you insure my second home in another state?
Yes. We are licensed in 40+ states and regularly write Wisconsin and Michigan lake homes and Florida condos for Illinois families, coordinated with the primary home so liability limits and named insureds match across every policy.
One Advisor for Every Address You Own
Tell us where the second home is and how you use it. We quote it across 20+ carriers, coordinate it with your Illinois program, and make sure the empty months are actually covered.
Quote My Second HomeReviewed by Dave Rysavy, Personal Lines Advisor
Dave leads personal lines at Pro Insurance Group and coordinates primary homes, vacation properties, and umbrellas for Illinois families across 40+ states.