Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa
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
Verified official guidance remains centered on FMH’s Iowa Property Manual for Home/Farm property. For Home, FMH is not broadly pursuing standard stand-alone homeowners business; it states it is a farm-focused carrier and limits homeowners to risks associated with new or existing FMH farm policies. Preferred home risks are owner-occupied single-family dwellings in towns/cities with Protection Class 1-8, written to required replacement cost standards, with no agricultural pursuits or agricultural outbuildings for Home Security packages. Home Security II targets average/basic construction with $100,000 minimum Coverage A; Home Security III targets above-average dwellings with $150,000 minimum Coverage A; Home Security III Plus targets superior-quality dwellings with $200,000 minimum Coverage A, 100% replacement cost, market value at least 70% of replacement cost, dwelling photo and market value support, smoke detector requirement, and generally homes 25 years old or newer or substantially remodeled within 15 years. Restricted/declined indicators include structures or dwellings in poor repair/maintenance/physical condition, dwellings with indoor wood heat as a primary source, and for town/city Home Security risks any wood-burning stoves or furnace add-ons; Home Security III Plus also declines supplemental heating devices such as wood, corn, pellet stoves, or wood-burning add-on units. FMH also flags licensed vehicles, licensed trailers, and licensed recreational vehicles as ineligible in the property manual context. Geographic notes: the verified manual is Iowa-specific, and the Home Security forms require city/town location within Protection Class 1-8; FMH separately notes product availability can vary by state. Submission requirements: farm/property applications are submitted through FMH’s online quoting/application system; photos are required for all dwellings, buildings, and bins to be insured, and FMH specifically says not to submit applications without photos. Agent and insured signatures are required. FMH does not accept agent transfer letters; business must be cancelled and rewritten by the new agent, with a current cost guide and photos required on all applications. Billing/new business instructions say applications must be completed in full and submitted within 24 hours, with full premium or at least the first installment payment sent to the home office or processed via agency sweep; applications without payment require underwriter approval. Electronic copies are acceptable for binding, but agents must retain original signed applications for at least 7 years. New business policies are mailed directly to insureds, while agent copies are available through the Property & Casualty website/portal. Broker/producer notes: FMH highlights dedicated underwriting support and internal systems support for agents; however, for home appetite the most practical producer takeaway is to position FMH primarily for farm-associated home placements rather than broad suburban homeowners submissions.