Last updated: October 13, 2025
"The first rule in investment is don't lose and the second rule in investment is don't forget the first rule." - Warren Buffett
Fix and flip insurance, also known as renovation insurance or builder’s risk insurance, is a specialized policy designed to protect real estate investors who purchase properties in Pennsylvania to renovate and resell for a profit. Unlike standard homeowners insurance, this type of policy accounts for vacant properties, construction risks, and frequent ownership changes, all common in fix and flip and BRRRR projects.
Whether you’re a first-time investor or a seasoned flipper managing multiple renovations across Pennsylvania, fix and flip insurance is essential for protecting your investment capital, liability exposure, and resale timeline.
Fix and flip insurance premiums are on the rise, up over 25% in the last 18 months, and this directly affects your profit and deal viability. Across our private lending and insurance rate shopping divisions, we review hundreds of fix and flip and insurance policies each year. We estimate that the typical fix and flip policy is quoted nearly 33% higher insurance premiums than is necessary based on lender guidelines and investor risk management preferences.
This is because many real estate investors get their fix and flip insurance policies from insurance agencies that do not specialize in commercial insurance policies.
What’s worse: these agencies are incentivized to sell you a more expensive policy because they get paid as a percentage of your premium. Even well-intentioned insurance agents commonly offer uncompetitive fix and flip insurance quotes because they’re captive to one insurance carrier and unable to shop multiple carriers, or they lack specialization.
That’s why we created the OfferMarket Insurance rate shopping platform. In under a minute, you can shop 40+ carriers to get the best coverage at the lowest possible price. Your quote is quality-controlled by our expert team that specializes in saving money for 1–4 unit residential real estate investors. Every month, we save thousands of dollars for our clients, and we’re excited to find out how much you can save!

Wherever your rehab project is located in Pennsylvania, we’ve got you covered.
Wherever your Pennsylvania rehab is based, our insurance network has you covered:
Our specialized coverage spans the diverse landscapes and neighborhoods unique to Pennsylvania.
Most fix and flip projects begin with a property that is vacant. Standard insurance policies often exclude or void coverage on unoccupied homes due to higher risks such as vandalism, theft, and undetected damage (e.g., burst pipes, electrical fires).
Whether you’re replacing a roof, rewiring electrical, or gutting a kitchen, the renovation process introduces risks like:
Fix and flip insurance is tailored to these risks, providing coverage during all phases of the rehab.
If a contractor or trespasser is injured on the job site, you could be held personally liable. A proper policy includes general liability coverage to protect you from lawsuits and medical expenses.
Fix and flip insurance policies are highly customizable. Here are common types of coverage included or optionally added:
Protects the structure and materials from risks like:
| Covered Risks |
|---|
| Fire |
| Vandalism |
| Theft |
| Lightning |
| Wind, hail |
| Water damage (non-flood) |
Covers bodily injury or property damage claims filed by third parties, including:
Often bundled with property coverage, builder’s risk covers the structure under renovation, materials in transit or storage, and newly installed features.
Ensures your policy remains valid even when the property is unoccupied during renovations.
Optional coverage for tools or rented machinery stolen or damaged on-site.
Covers additional costs to bring the property up to code after a loss, including demolition and rebuilding expenses.
Sometimes bundled into a fix and flip insurance policy and typically included in a landlord insurance policy, Loss of Rent or “business interruption” coverage protects against lost rental income due to a covered loss if you rent the property after completing your rehab or keep the property rented during your rehab. This is most relevant to BRRRR investors and multi-unit properties.
Always read the exclusions section of your policy and discuss with your insurance agent.
Fix and flip insurance is appropriate for:
Whether you’re flipping a $100,000 row home in Pittsburgh or a $2,000,000 luxury home in the Philadelphia suburbs, fix and flip insurance should be considered a risk management necessity.
Premiums vary depending on:
| Property Value | Rehab Budget | Estimated Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $50,000 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| $300,000 | $100,000 | $1,500 – $2,500 |
| $500,000 | $200,000 | $2,000 – $3,500 |
Note:
Annual insurance premiums are generally refunded on a pro-rated basis if you cancel the policy prior to policy term expiration. The most common reasons are either because of sale or refinance (i.e., DSCR loan) and switch into a landlord insurance policy.
Bundling multiple properties under one policy (“portfolio policy”) can reduce your per-property cost.
You have many choices when shopping for fix and flip insurance. Ultimately, your selection comes down to the risks you are willing to accept, the price you are willing to pay, the competitiveness of your rate shopping process, and the helpfulness of your agent and client service team. We recommend a comprehensive fix and flip insurance policy that includes property insurance, general liability insurance, business interruption insurance, and, if necessary, flood insurance.
Working with an insurance agency that specializes in fix and flip insurance and has access to many carriers will get you the best coverage at the best price. Get your fix and flip insurance quote today!
OfferMarket streamlines the process of obtaining fix and flip insurance by connecting you with specialized underwriters who understand real estate investing.
Most lenders will require:
Failing to maintain adequate insurance could lead to:
OfferMarket makes it seamless by coordinating
If you’re flipping more than one property at a time in Pennsylvania—whether in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, or the growing suburbs of Lehigh Valley—you should consider optimizing your coverage for scale and efficiency.
Blanket Policies: One single policy to cover all your investment properties in Pennsylvania. This is especially helpful if you're juggling multiple active rehabs across the state.
Scheduled Policies: Each property is listed individually with its own limits and premiums. This approach is often used when project sizes and risks vary significantly from one property to another—such as a townhouse in Reading and a duplex in Scranton.
Master Policies: A comprehensive policy that merges various types of coverages—like builder’s risk and vacant property insurance—into one streamlined package, ideal for high-volume Pennsylvania investors.
OfferMarket specializes in helping real estate investors in Pennsylvania reduce insurance costs while simplifying admin work. Whether you’re managing a few rowhomes in Pittsburgh or a portfolio across Lancaster, Allentown, and Erie, we can tailor the right structure.
Use this checklist to make sure your Pennsylvania fix and flip project is fully protected:
| Requirement | Status |
|---|---|
| Property insurance covers full replacement cost | ✅ |
| General liability of at least $1M | ✅ |
| Vacant property endorsement included | ✅ |
| Builder’s risk for renovation phase | ✅ |
| Tools/equipment coverage (if needed) | ✅ |
| Policy names your lender as loss payee | ✅ |
| Flood/earthquake insurance if required | ✅ |
| Start/end dates match your project timeline | ✅ |
| Certificate of insurance issued and stored | ✅ |
Below are common fix and flip insurance guidelines for Pennsylvania-based fix and flip loans. These limits are considered standard from a risk management standpoint.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | Yes (mandatory) |
| AM Best Rating | A- VIII or greater |
| Term | 1 Year |
| Limits | Replacement cost or loan amount (Agreed Value or zero coinsurance if lower) |
| Deductible | $5,000 |
| Accepted Policy Types | Dwelling Fire (Special Form), Commercial Property (Basic/Special Form) |
| Cancellation Notice | 30 days’ notice |
| Exclusions | No windstorm/hail or named storm exclusions |
| Lender Designation | Mortgagee |
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | Yes (mandatory) |
| AM Best Rating | A- VIII or greater |
| Term | 1 Year |
| Limits | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Coverage Basis | Occurrence basis |
| Cancellation Notice | 30 days’ notice |
| Lender Designation | Additional Insured |
This is recommended especially if you're renting out parts of your Pennsylvania property during renovations.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | Yes |
| AM Best Rating | A- VIII or greater |
| Term | 1 Year |
| Limits | One year of gross rental revenue |
| Coverage Basis | Actual Loss Sustained |
| Cancellation Notice | 30 days’ notice |
| Lender Designation | Mortgagee |
Required for properties in FEMA special flood hazard zones—common in areas near the Delaware River or coastal PA zones.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Mandatory | Yes (If in flood zone) |
| AM Best Rating | A- VIII or greater |
| Term | 1 Year |
| Limits | Greater of $250K or loan balance |
| Cancellation Notice | 30 days’ notice |
| Lender Designation | Mortgagee |
Lenders require their mortgagee clause on your policy, such as:
| Requirement | Details for Pennsylvania Investors |
|---|---|
| Mortgagee Clause | OfferMarket Capital LLC ISAOA/ATIMA 627 S Hanover St Baltimore, MD 21230 |
| Condos | - Blanket policy may be used if it allows the individual unit to be included in coverage. - Homeowners association maintains “all risk” coverage for common areas, fixtures, personal property, and equipment at 100% of their insurable value on a replacement cost basis. |
| PUDs | - Project’s blanket policy may be used if it allows the individual unit to be included in coverage. - Homeowners association maintains “all risk” coverage for common areas, fixtures, personal property, and equipment at 100% of their insurable value on a replacement cost basis. |
| Instructions | - Use ACORD form to ensure compliance. - Send insurance certifications, invoices, or paid receipts no later than 24 hours before closing. - Send final policy documents no later than 60 days after closing. - Borrower must notify carrier if property becomes vacant or unoccupied and obtain a vacancy permit from the insurance carrier for the entire period of vacancy. |
OfferMarket is the go-to partner for real estate investors across Pennsylvania from the revitalized neighborhoods of York and Lancaster to the booming outskirts of Philly. We’re built to streamline not just insurance, but every stage of your investment process.
Yes. Your lender (or title company if paying cash) will require proof of insurance. OfferMarket can provide your certificate within hours.
Yes, but be sure to disclose existing work. Some insurers may require inspections or adjust coverage.
You can cancel the policy early and receive a pro-rated refund.
Yes. Portfolio policies are a great way to reduce cost and streamline management.
Some carriers won’t allow active tenants under fix and flip coverage. You may need a landlord or hybrid policy.
OfferMarket Insurance is a shopping platform for investor-grade insurance. We review your needs and match you with the most cost-effective, compliant coverage.
Yes, if they understand commercial fix and flip policies. That said, many agents lack the expertise—especially in PA—so we recommend working with our specialists to avoid delays and cost overruns.
Yes. Fix and flip loans require full payment of insurance at closing, either via HUD or a direct paid invoice.
Most PA lenders won’t require escrow, but you’ll be responsible for policy renewal if the project exceeds 12 months. Refunds are available for early cancellation.
A financial strength score for insurance companies. We only work with carriers rated A- VIII or better.
Covers your property and materials during the renovation period. It ends when:
Fix and flip insurance in Pennsylvania isn’t optional, it’s essential. From urban rehabs in Allentown to townhomes in Lancaster, the risks are real. With tight timelines, market competition, and unpredictable issues, protecting your downside is key.
Protect your capital. Protect your reputation. Protect your future. OfferMarket is committed to helping real estate investors across the Keystone State build wealth.
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