Orion180 Insurance Services LLC
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
Program: Orion180 Insurance Company – Homeowners Program, Texas Flex Program HO3, Underwriting Guide dated 01/13/2025. Applies to admitted HO3 in TX; other states and non‑admitted programs may differ. Preferred / eligible risks (TX HO3 Flex): - Location: All Texas counties are eligible for this HO3 program, subject to general binding restrictions. Public Protection Class must be 1–9; PPC 10 is ineligible. - Occupancy: 1‑family, owner‑occupied primary residences deeded to the named insured; secondary residences deeded to the insured or immediate family and owner/family occupied. - Buildings: Individual residential dwellings including townhomes/row homes with proper firewalls extending to the roofline (pre‑2000 townhomes must provide firewall proof). Homes must be properly maintained, in sound condition, and show good pride of ownership. - Insurance‑to‑value: Dwelling must be insured to 100% of estimated replacement cost at inception for Coverage A. - Construction: Conventional site‑built construction by licensed contractors; acceptable foundations include basement, masonry, slab, and fully enclosed/vented crawl spaces ≤3 feet in height. Acceptable roof materials: architectural/asphalt fiberglass composite shingles, clay or concrete tile, slate, poured concrete, adobe, and metal. Flat roofs allowed only when poured concrete or adobe. - Acreage: Up to 5 acres is standard; 5–10 acres allowed if in a planned community, within 5 miles of a fire station, and visible from a main paved road. Maximum 10 acres total. - Heating: Permanently installed, thermostatically controlled central or electric heat that meets code must be present. - Access & safety: Dedicated improved driveway (paved or gravel) and generally safe site conditions. Key ineligible / declined risks: - Location risks: PPC 10; homes in active binding‑restricted/catastrophe areas at time of binding; homes on a historic registry or with historic significance; adjacent or within 300 feet of commercial exposures; on steep slopes (>30°), cantilevered, hillside, subject to landslide/mudslide/brushfire, or partially/entirely over water or wetlands (swamp, marsh, bog); any portion of dwelling above water/wetland. - Age & ownership: Homes built prior to 1900; homes deeded to or owned by corporations, LLCs, LLPs, partnerships, estates, associations, trusts or other entities (owner‑occupied individual ownership required); homes with 3+ mortgages, in foreclosure, or >90 days past due on a mortgage. - Occupancy: Any multi‑family occupancy; roomers/boarders staying >30 consecutive days; any rental exposure; dwellings vacant or unoccupied >60 days (unless specifically pre‑approved by underwriting under tight conditions); unoccupied/ vacant homes for sale >30 days without prior UW exception. - Construction types: Homes in course of construction; homes undergoing major renovation or extensive remodeling making them uninhabitable; structures originally built for non‑residential purposes; homes not built or significantly remodeled by licensed contractors; log homes, mobile/manufactured/trailer homes, house trailers; unconventional or DIY construction (dome, shell, non‑code compliant, etc.). - Roof, siding & systems: Roofs with corrugated metal, T‑lock shingles, or overlay roofs (composition over wood shakes/shingles) are ineligible. Siding that is predominately (>20%) wood shake, or Masonite, asbestos, EIFS/Dryvit stucco is ineligible. Electrical systems not to code; knob‑and‑tube or aluminum branch wiring; double‑tapped breakers; fuse boxes; or certain known‑problem panels (Federal Pacific, Zinsco/GTE Sylvania, Challenger). Plumbing not to code or in poor condition is not acceptable. - Condition/maintenance: Significant unrepaired or deteriorated conditions (roof near end of life, missing or damaged siding, peeling paint, damaged foundations, unsafe or cracked walks/steps, damaged outbuildings, dilapidated pools/trampolines/tree houses/skate ramps, broken windows/doors, damaged gutters, unfinished prior loss repairs) render the risk ineligible. - Liability & premises hazards: Excessive or unusual liability exposures (e.g., jet skis; skateboard/bike ramps), elevated decks/porches >3 feet without proper railings, “doors to nowhere,” empty/unsecured pools or unmaintained pools/hot tubs/spas, burglar bars without interior releases, active business operations on premises open to the public (including daycare/childcare) and farming/ranching operations. - Animals & yard: Exotic/dangerous/vicious animals, or any animal with prior biting or aggressive behavior; excessive yard debris, inoperable vehicles, or dead/dying or overhanging trees creating hazard. - Prior losses & criminal history: More than 2 losses in 5 years, more than 1 liability loss, more than 1 fire loss, or more than 2 property losses in 5 years; any open prior claim; applicants indicted for or convicted of fraud, bribery, arson, or other arson‑related crimes within the last 5 years. Geographic notes (TX): - HO3 Flex program is available in all Texas counties; standard distance‑to‑fire‑station and PPC requirements apply. Binding is suspended in Orion180‑designated catastrophe or weather restricted areas. Properties on steep slopes, in landslide/mudslide/high brushfire zones, or situated over water/wetland are categorically excluded. Inspections & underwriting practice: - Inspections: Homes meeting Orion180’s internal inspection criteria must be inspected within 30 days of effective date. Inspections may also occur at renewal or whenever deemed necessary. Results can trigger underwriting actions such as non‑renewal, cancellation, or required repairs. - Policy term: Standard 12‑month term, renewable at company’s option under then‑current rates, forms, and endorsements. Changes (including cancellations and limit changes) are computed pro rata. Submission and agent/broker instructions: - Platform: Agents quote, bind, and service via the MY180 agent portal; underwriting rules are embedded and supported by separate state‑specific underwriting guides. Agent FAQs and Orion180 University provide additional underwriting, discount, and product training support. - Documentation: Townhomes/row homes built before 2000 must supply proof of firewalls; risks near acreage or construction thresholds or with prior unoccupied/vacant periods may need additional underwriting documentation and photos. Properties with known conditions cited in the ineligible list should not be submitted without prior UW engagement. - Inspections & follow‑up: Agents should advise insureds that a post‑bind inspection is likely and that identified hazards or unrepaired damage may require correction or result in coverage action. - Underwriting support: Agents are directed to contact underwriting for eligibility questions, complex situations, or exceptions; phone and underwriting email are published on Orion180’s contact and agent‑support pages. A separate “Write with Confidence” property review process allows agents to email addresses, photos, and concerns for pre‑review before binding on higher‑risk or borderline properties. Special note – other products: - Orion180 markets collectibles coverage under a separate program with its own underwriting criteria; eligibility is tied in part to clients of agents in states where Orion180 offers HO‑3 homeowners. Those guidelines should be referenced separately for collectibles exposures and are not automatically included in the TX HO3 Flex rules above.