American Modern
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
American Modern is a specialty personal lines carrier focused on non-standard or niche residential property and recreational risks, written primarily through appointed agents and MGAs using the AMsuite online platform. Home and watercraft appetite and rules are product- and state-specific; agents must rely on current AMsuite eligibility questions, state bulletins, and program manuals rather than generic rules. PREFERRED / TARGET BUSINESS - Residential: Manufactured homes; older or non-standard dwellings; seasonal, secondary, short-term rental, or landlord risks that may not qualify for standard HO-3; condo and rental/landlord packages; some small schedules (e.g., 10+ dwellings) where supported by program manuals. AMsuite offers enhanced water damage/theft options and multiple discounts for residential lines, indicating focus on competitive but controlled property risks with documentation of condition and occupancy. ([arc.amig.com](https://arc.amig.com/products/?utm_source=openai)) - Watercraft / Yacht: Personal pleasure-use boats including cruisers, runabouts, pontoons, sailboats and yachts, generally with acceptable prior boating experience, maintained condition, and survey support for older or higher-value vessels. American Modern manuals stress that underwriters may still decline otherwise-eligible risks where overall hazard is unacceptable and that values over specified thresholds require referral. ([jebrown.net](https://www.jebrown.net/pdf/AMIG_YachtManual_10_2022.pdf?utm_source=openai)) RESTRICTED / DECLINED CLASSES (TYPICAL THEMES) (Note: exact thresholds and details vary by filed program and state manuals, accessible within AMsuite and carrier PDFs; always confirm current state guide.) - Home / Dwelling (general themes drawn from American Modern program manuals and distribution bulletins): - Higher natural catastrophe exposure (wind, convective storm, wildfire, coastal surge) often subject to tightened HO appetite. Public reporting shows American Modern paused new homeowners writings in at least 11 states beginning March 2025, so new HO business may be closed or heavily restricted in specific CAT-prone or distressed markets; verify in AMsuite and state bulletins before quoting. ([theinsurer.com](https://www.theinsurer.com/ti/news/american-modern-to-pause-writing-new-ho-business-in-at-least-11-us-states-in-2025-01-28?utm_source=openai)) - Poor condition dwellings (roof at or beyond life expectancy, prior unrepaired damage, knob-and-tube or severely outdated wiring, significant structural issues, or unapproved wood stoves/solid-fuel heating) are typically unacceptable or subject to strict conditions and inspection. - Certain high-hazard occupancies: properties consistently vacant, under major renovation without appropriate safeguards, or used for high-frequency party/event rentals can be restricted or declined; some short-term rental exposures may be accommodated via specific programs and must be rated correctly. - Watercraft / Yacht (from an American Modern yacht manual and wholesaler application instructions): - Vessels above certain value thresholds (e.g., >$300,000) and larger yachts always require direct underwriter review; some may be declined depending on age, construction, navigation territory, and usage. ([jebrown.net](https://www.jebrown.net/pdf/AMIG_YachtManual_10_2022.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Older vessels typically require recent marine surveys (often within 1 year, or up to 3 years with continuous coverage and no losses) from NAMS or SAMS surveyors; absence of an adequate survey or evidence of poor maintenance is grounds for declination or restrictive terms. ([jebrown.net](https://www.jebrown.net/pdf/AMIG_YachtManual_10_2022.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Commercial use, bareboat charter, racing, or high-performance boats may fall outside standard programs and are often declined or require specialty placement. GEOGRAPHIC NOTES - American Modern writes nationally through subsidiaries, but HO appetite is actively managed by state. A reported pause in writing new homeowners business in at least 11 states starting March 2025 reflects tightened capacity in distressed markets; agents should treat any state or county with HO capacity actions as effectively closed or referral-only until AMsuite indicates otherwise. ([theinsurer.com](https://www.theinsurer.com/ti/news/american-modern-to-pause-writing-new-ho-business-in-at-least-11-us-states-in-2025-01-28?utm_source=openai)) - Residential and recreational product availability, forms, and discounts are state-specific and visible on the AMsuite Resource Center state map; agents must confirm which programs (manufactured home, dwelling, landlord, etc.) are live and open in their state before marketing. ([arc.amig.com](https://arc.amig.com/?utm_source=openai)) - Some yacht/watercraft manuals circulated via wholesalers are labeled countrywide but still instruct agents to defer to American Modern underwriters for navigation territories (e.g., bluewater, Caribbean), hurricane-haul-out or storm-plan requirements, and any value or size above standard thresholds. ([jebrown.net](https://www.jebrown.net/pdf/AMIG_YachtManual_10_2022.pdf?utm_source=openai)) SUBMISSION & UNDERWRITING WORKFLOW - Platform: New business, endorsements and many renewals are transacted via AMsuite (which has replaced modernLINK); AMsuite embeds product-specific underwriting questions and will automatically route quotes to underwriting when conditions or exception triggers are met. Agents are expected to use AMsuite instead of paper applications for standard risks. ([arc.amig.com](https://arc.amig.com/?utm_source=openai)) - Documentation / Referrals – Watercraft/Yacht: - For higher-value or older vessels, expect to submit: completed watercraft application, boating experience resume for all operators, detailed prior loss history, and a recent out-of-water condition and valuation survey from NAMS/SAMS where indicated. Values above manual limit (e.g., $300,000) and certain coverage requests (agreed value, expanded navigation, crew coverage) must be referred to underwriting with full documentation. ([jebrown.net](https://www.jebrown.net/pdf/AMIG_YachtManual_10_2022.pdf?utm_source=openai)) - Documentation / Referrals – Home & Dwelling: - AMsuite may automatically require inspection or underwriting review for older homes, higher limits, non-standard occupancies (short-term rental, seasonal, landlord), or higher protection classes. Agents should be prepared to upload photos, inspection reports, and details on updates (roof, electrical, plumbing, heating) when requested. Carrier call campaigns and customer messaging reference interior and exterior photo inspections, which may be fulfilled via third-party tools or customer self-surveys; incomplete inspection is a common reason for adverse action. - Endorsements: Certain mid-term changes will trigger submission to ‘Underwriting Authority’ in AMsuite (e.g., material exposure changes, coverage increases beyond defined thresholds, or changes in occupancy or use). Agents must submit and wait for an underwriting decision before binding those changes. ([amsuite.amig.com](https://amsuite.amig.com/WebHelp/policyMaintenance/SubmittingEndorsementQuotes.htm?utm_source=openai)) BROKER / PRODUCER INSTRUCTIONS - Access & Support: Producer support pages direct agents to separate contacts for Residential Underwriting and Recreational Underwriting for eligibility questions, coverage options, and required documentation. Residential and recreational underwriting phone numbers and dedicated email boxes are provided as the first point of contact for field underwriters. ([agents.amig.com](https://agents.amig.com/content/munichre/amiggrp/agents/storefront/en/all-support.html?utm_source=openai)) - Training & Resources: The AMsuite Resource Center provides state-specific product updates, marketing materials, and self-paced or instructor-led training; agents are expected to reference these materials for product changes, appetite shifts, and quoting instructions. ([arc.amig.com](https://arc.amig.com/?utm_source=openai)) - Distribution Partners: American Modern is widely accessed through wholesalers/MGAs (e.g., Southern Insurance Underwriters, Eastern Underwriting Managers, J.E. Brown, others). These intermediaries may publish their own product summaries and appetite sheets but consistently instruct producers to follow American Modern’s own underwriting manuals and AMsuite rules, and to provide full applications, supporting surveys, and prior boating/home information as required for referrals. ([site.siuins.com](https://site.siuins.com/americanmodern/?utm_source=openai)) OPERATIONAL TAKEAWAYS FOR AGENTS - Treat AMsuite as the ‘source of truth’ for what is currently open by state and product, and for specific home and watercraft eligibility rules. - For homes: expect stricter HO appetite in certain CAT or distressed markets; lean into manufactured home, seasonal, landlord and other specialty dwelling programs where available; gather photos and update information upfront to reduce adverse inspections and cancellations. - For watercraft: screen for age, value, use (pleasure vs. commercial/charter), navigation territory, and operator experience; secure NAMS/SAMS surveys and experience resumes early for older or higher-value boats and be prepared for underwriter referral above program thresholds. - Use Residential Underwriting and Recreational Underwriting contact channels when AMsuite flags a referral or when risk falls near program edges, and maintain documentation for all requested exceptions.