Foremost Insurance Agent in Illinois: Landlord, Vacant and Seasonal Homes
Longmeadow quotes Foremost for the Illinois properties a standard homeowners policy does not fit well: a rented house or two-flat, a home sitting vacant during a sale or renovation, a second home you use part of the year, and a condo you rent out. Foremost has focused on these properties since 1952 and sells through independent agents, so we place it alongside the other carriers we work with and show you how the options compare.
Most homeowners policies are written for a house the owner lives in year-round. Once a property is rented, empty for a few months, or used only in summer, the standard form starts to restrict coverage, and some carriers will not write it at all. That gap is where Foremost does most of its business. Programs and options vary by state and eligibility, so the details below describe what Foremost offers and what we check, not a guarantee for any one property.
What Foremost Insures
| Your property | Foremost program | What we check |
|---|---|---|
| A house or one-to-four unit building you rent out | Landlord and rental home | Named-peril or open-peril form, loss of rent, liability, and how a total loss is settled |
| A rental near a college campus | Landlord and rental home, where available | Occupancy, the lease, and how many unrelated tenants live there |
| A home empty while you sell, move or renovate | Vacant home | Vandalism coverage, whether you need liability, and the policy term |
| A second home you use part of the year | Seasonal home | How often it is empty, heat and water shutoff, and liability |
| A condo you rent out or that sits empty | Vacant and landlord condominium | Unit improvements, loss of rent, and the association’s master policy |
| A condo you live in | Owner-occupied condominium | Walls-in coverage matched to the master policy and loss assessment |
Landlord Insurance Through Foremost
Foremost’s landlord program covers one-to-four family dwellings you rent to others, and Foremost says availability can extend to student rentals and vacation or short-term rentals depending on the state. The main choices on a Foremost landlord policy are:
- The coverage form. Named-peril coverage pays only for the causes listed in the policy, such as fire, explosion, lightning, windstorm and hail. Foremost’s broader option, which it calls comprehensive property coverage, covers most sudden and accidental physical losses that are not excluded.
- How a loss is settled. Replacement cost pays to rebuild with comparable materials without deducting depreciation. Agreed loss settlement pays the agreed limit after a total loss. Actual cash value deducts depreciation, which keeps the premium lower and the claim check smaller.
- Liability. Coverage if a tenant’s guest or a passerby is hurt and you are found responsible.
- Discounts. Foremost lists discounts for insuring more than one dwelling, for insuring another policy with it, for screening tenants, and for belonging to a landlord association.
For a Chicago two-flat or a single rental house, our landlord insurance page and our guide to insuring one rental property in Chicago cover the questions that come up before any carrier is chosen.
For a building with several units, a small portfolio, or a condo association, a commercial package is often the better structure. Our Honeycomb landlord insurance page covers that option.
Vacant Homes During a Sale, Move or Renovation
Many homeowners policies limit coverage once a home has been vacant for an extended period, often 60 consecutive days, and vandalism, glass breakage and water damage are the usual casualties. That matters when you move before the old house sells, inherit a home, or gut a property for a long renovation.
Foremost’s vacant home program is built for those situations. It offers vandalism and malicious mischief coverage on an unoccupied home, makes liability coverage optional, and lets you renew on a short term rather than paying for a full year you will not need. If the home becomes occupied, Foremost says the policy can be cancelled with a pro-rated refund. Our post on insurance before renovating a Chicago or North Shore home explains when a renovation turns a home into a vacancy question.
Seasonal and Second Homes
Plenty of North Shore families own a lake house in southeastern Wisconsin or a place they use only part of the year. Foremost’s seasonal home program covers a second home on a named-peril or open-peril form, with liability and optional replacement cost, and it does not require your primary home to be insured with Foremost. Where Foremost writes the state the second home is in, that can make it easier to keep your main home with the carrier that fits it best. Our second home insurance page and our post on Wisconsin lake house insurance cover the rest of the picture.
Condos You Rent Out or Leave Empty
An HO-6 written for an owner who lives in the unit may not fit once the condo is rented or empty. Foremost’s vacant and landlord condominium program is written for that situation, and its owner-occupied condominium program covers units you live in. Either way, the policy has to be matched to the association’s master policy and its deductible, which our loss assessment guide explains.
How We Use Foremost Alongside Other Carriers
Foremost is one of several carriers we quote, and it tends to fit the properties other companies decline or restrict: older rentals, vacant homes and part-time homes. For a primary residence, we may compare it with Erie and our other carriers instead. Tom Firestine, CPCU, RPLU, founded Longmeadow after over two decades in insurance, and we explain where each option is stronger before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foremost a good insurance company?
Foremost is a specialist. It has focused on landlord, vacant, seasonal and manufactured homes since 1952, which is why it often writes properties that standard homeowners carriers decline. Whether it is the right choice depends on the property, so we compare it with other carriers before recommending it.
Does Foremost insure vacant homes in Illinois?
Foremost has a vacant home program for homes that are empty during a sale, move or renovation, subject to eligibility. It offers vandalism and malicious mischief coverage, optional liability, and short policy terms that can be cancelled with a pro-rated refund once the home is occupied.
Can Foremost insure a short-term or vacation rental?
Foremost says its landlord program can include vacation and short-term rental properties, with availability varying by state. Tell us how often the property is rented and to whom, because that decides which program and form apply.
Do I have to insure my main home with Foremost to insure a second home?
No. Foremost does not require your primary residence to be insured with it to write your seasonal or second home.
How do I get a Foremost quote?
Call or text 847.242.1040 or use our online quote form. Have the property address, year built, how it is occupied or rented, and any current declarations page ready.
This page provides general information, not a coverage determination. Foremost programs, coverages and discounts vary by state and eligibility, and every policy is subject to underwriting and its own terms. Foremost and related marks belong to their respective owners.
Coverage We Write
Call or text 847.242.1040 or request a quote online.