New Jersey includes some of the most challenging properties to insure in the country, due to its proximity to water. Shore communities, from Spring Lake and Sea Girt to Asbury Park, Belmar, and Manasquan, attract buyers and investors from across the tri-state region. They also attract storms, storm surges, flood events, and the unique coastal risks that make shore property insurance fundamentally different from standard homeowners coverage.
Muller Insurance has been insuring shore properties across the broader Jersey Shore for decades. We have relationships with carriers that write coastal properties. If you own a shore home in New Jersey, or if you are thinking about buying one, here’s what you need to know.
Why Shore Home Insurance Is Different From Standard Homeowners Coverage
Coastal Wind and Storm Exposure
Shore homes along the coast face wind speeds and storm exposure that inland properties do not. Standard homeowners policies from many carriers include wind coverage, but some coastal carriers apply separate wind deductibles, calculated as a percentage of the insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. Understanding your wind deductible is essential for shore property owners.
Flood Risk: A Critical Coverage Gap
A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage, yet a storm surge from a nor’easter or a major hurricane can push water far inland from the beach, flooding properties that are blocks from the ocean. Superstorm Sandy demonstrated this catastrophically across the NJ shore. Every shore property owner needs a separate flood policy.
Seasonal and Vacancy Considerations
Many shore homes are used seasonally; occupied in summer but vacant for months during the off-season. Extended vacancy can affect your coverage. Properties that are vacant for extended periods require special policy endorsements or a seasonal home policy to maintain full protection.
Our Carriers for Shore Home Insurance
Most standard insurance carriers will not write shore properties, particularly those close to the water. Muller Insurance has access to carriers that specialize in exactly these properties:
- Narragansett Bay: a coastal carrier that writes near-water properties in NJ, NY, MD, VA, and DE.
- Foremost: specialty coverage for non-standard and coastal properties, including seasonal and vacation homes.
- Franklin Mutual / FMI: NJ home carrier for shore properties that qualify for standard coverage.
- Andover Companies: coverage for most NJ shore properties.
- Cumberland Mutual: available for certain shore properties.
Flood Insurance for Shore Homes
Flood coverage for shore properties is a separate policy entirely. At Muller Insurance, we work with Neptune Flood, Selective Flood, and Wright Flood to find the most competitive private market flood coverage for your shore property. Private flood policies may offer higher limits than the federal NFIP program.
Ready to Get Covered?
Own a shore home in New Jersey? Call Muller Insurance at 201-659-2403 or visit MullerInsurance.com for a free shore property quote.
