At a glance
- Organization
- Vacant Express
- Type
- Managing general agency (MGA)
- Founded
- 1978
- Base / focus
- J.H. Ferguson & Associates / Global Indemnity Group ecosystem
- Specialty
- Vacant property, landlord, and builders risk specialty
- Official site
- Visit Vacant Express
Who is Vacant Express?
Vacant Express (VacantExpress.com) is a specialty insurance platform created by J.H. Ferguson & Associates, a managing general agent focused on vacant property insurance since 1978. It enables licensed agents to quote, bind, and issue vacant dwelling, vacant commercial, landlord, short-term rental, renovation, and builders risk products electronically in most states, with coverage provided through Diamond State Insurance Company (a Global Indemnity company).
Vacant Express is built for properties that standard homeowners markets often decline or restrict — vacant homes, vacant commercial buildings, land, renovations, and related landlord or short-term rental situations.
Agents use the VacantExpress.com system to generate instant quotes and issue policies electronically. Behind the platform, J.H. Ferguson & Associates acts as MGA for Diamond State Insurance Company within Global Indemnity Group.
Key facts
- Vacant property specialty roots dating to 1978 via J.H. Ferguson & Associates
- Online agent platform for electronic quote, bind, and issue
- MGA for Diamond State Insurance Company (Global Indemnity Group)
- Products include vacant dwellings, vacant commercial buildings, vacant land, landlord, short-term rental, renovations, and builders risk
- Positions admitted coverage availability in almost all states (subject to program rules)
- Member of the Global Indemnity (GBLI) specialty insurance family
History
J.H. Ferguson & Associates has specialized in vacant property insurance since 1978, building expertise around the unique hazards of unoccupied and transitional properties.
VacantExpress.com was created as an innovative online system so agents can quote, bind, and issue those specialty products electronically almost any time of day.
The platform remains part of the Global Indemnity specialty family, pairing long-standing vacant-property underwriting experience with digital producer workflows.
Products Vacant Express offers
Vacant Express publicly lists specialty property products including:
- Vacant dwelling insurance
- Vacant commercial buildings
- Vacant land insurance
- Landlord insurance
- Short-term rental insurance
- Renovations coverage
- Builders risk insurance
- Builders risk premises liability insurance
Who Vacant Express serves
Vacant Express serves licensed agents and their customers who own vacant, renovating, rental, or transitional properties that need specialty underwriting.
Typical end customers include homeowners between occupancy, investors holding vacant inventory, landlords, and owners mid-renovation.
Coverage focus with Epic and Easy
We consider Vacant Express when clients need:
- Vacant home or vacant commercial building coverage
- Landlord or short-term rental specialty placements
- Renovation or builders risk for transitional properties
- Vacant land or related specialty property exposures
Who it’s for in Virginia
Vacant Express can help Virginia owners who inherited a vacant home, are renovating before move-in, or hold investment property that is not owner-occupied.
If the home is your primary residence and fully occupied, we usually start with standard homeowners markets instead.
How Epic and Easy helps
We confirm occupancy status, renovation plans, intended use, and desired limits, then check Vacant Express and other specialty markets we represent.
We also help you plan the transition back to a standard homeowners or landlord policy when the property’s status changes.
Vacant Express FAQs
What makes vacant property insurance different?
Vacant properties often present higher risk of vandalism, undetected water damage, and other losses. Specialty programs like Vacant Express are designed for those conditions, which preferred homeowners markets may exclude or restrict.
Is Vacant Express a carrier or an MGA platform?
Vacant Express is an online specialty platform created by J.H. Ferguson & Associates, a managing general agent for Diamond State Insurance Company within Global Indemnity Group.
How long has the vacant specialty existed?
J.H. Ferguson & Associates has focused on vacant property insurance since 1978.
Can Epic and Easy quote Vacant Express in Virginia?
When we are appointed and the property qualifies, we can explore Vacant Express products. Availability depends on occupancy, location, and underwriting.
Does Vacant Express only cover empty houses?
No. In addition to vacant dwellings and commercial buildings, Vacant Express markets landlord, short-term rental, renovation, vacant land, and builders risk products.
Sources & methodology
This profile summarizes publicly available information from the organization’s official website and related authoritative pages. Product lists describe what the organization markets broadly and do not guarantee availability through Epic and Easy in every ZIP or risk class.
Coverage, eligibility, pricing, and underwriting rules vary by state, product, and applicant. We do not invent AM Best scores, claim counts, or proprietary premiums on this page.
Advertiser Disclosure: Epic and Easy may be compensated when you request a quote or purchase coverage through our agency relationships. Compensation may influence which products we can offer. Carrier availability varies by product, ZIP, and underwriting. Product lists on this page describe what Vacant Express markets broadly and do not guarantee that every product is available through Epic and Easy in every location. This page does not invent ratings, claim counts, or proprietary premiums.