Historic homes, a lake village, and coverage that fits both.
Excelsior is one of Minnesota’s most distinctive communities — a historic village on Lake Minnetonka with homes, businesses, and properties that don’t fit neatly into standard insurance boxes. Options Insurance is 15 minutes away in Chaska, with the carrier access and experience to insure what makes Excelsior unique.
Excelsior properties are one-of-a-kind. Standard policies rarely are.
A policy written for a 1990s suburban tract home does not work for an 1890s Excelsior Victorian, a mixed-use building on Water Street, or a lake cottage on Excelsior Bay. When your property is distinctive, your coverage needs to be too — or the gaps show up at the worst possible time.
Your 1905 Craftsman takes significant damage — the rebuild requires original materials and craftsmanship your standard policy refuses to pay for
Your mixed-use downtown building has a claim — and neither your homeowners nor your commercial policy was written to cover it properly
You rent your Excelsior cottage for a few summer weeks — your homeowners policy excludes short-term rental activity entirely
A guest is injured at your downtown restaurant during a busy event weekend — your liability limits were set when you were a much smaller operation
We find carriers who understand what makes your property distinctive and write coverage accordingly.
Coverage for Excelsior Residents & Businesses
Insurance built for Excelsior’s distinctive homes and businesses
Independent access to standard and specialty carriers means we find coverage that fits Excelsior’s historic homes, lake properties, and one-of-a-kind downtown businesses.
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Personal Insurance
Homeowners — historic homes with accurate replacement cost coverage
Historic home — original materials, craftsmanship, and code upgrade coverage
Lake home — Excelsior Bay and Lake Minnetonka waterfront properties
Boat & watercraft — hull, liability, and dock coverage
Condo (HO-6) — downtown and lakeside condos and townhomes
Specialty properties need specialty carrier access.
Excelsior’s housing stock and business community are not standard. The right insurance agency is one that can go beyond the standard markets when your property requires it.
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We understand unique properties
Historic homes, lake cottages, mixed-use buildings — Excelsior has properties that don’t fit standard boxes. We find carriers that handle them correctly, including specialty and surplus lines markets.
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Independent, 50+ carriers
We are not tied to one company’s products. Independent access means we can go to the right carrier for your specific property — not just whatever a single carrier will write.
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Personal service
When something goes wrong with a unique property, you want an agent who knows your situation and advocates for you through the claim. That is what we do.
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15 minutes away
Our Chaska office is about 10 miles from downtown Excelsior via Hwy 7 and CR 41. Close enough to meet in person, easy enough to handle everything by phone or email.
Excelsior-Specific Considerations
What Excelsior property owners and businesses need to know
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Historic home replacement cost
Excelsior homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s often cost significantly more to rebuild than their market value. Original craftsmanship, period-appropriate materials, and code upgrade requirements all drive higher rebuild costs. Your dwelling limit needs to reflect this.
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Lake Minnetonka exposure
Properties on or near Excelsior Bay and Lake Minnetonka have unique exposures — watercraft, docks, lake activity liability, and higher property values. Standard carriers are often not the right fit. We work with carriers that specialize in lake properties.
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Mixed-use buildings
Excelsior’s downtown has buildings with commercial space below and residential above. These require specialized coverage — neither a homeowners nor a standard commercial policy covers them correctly on its own.
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Short-term rentals
Excelsior’s appeal makes it attractive for vacation rentals. Standard homeowners policies exclude short-term rental activity. If you rent your property seasonally, your coverage needs to be restructured before the first booking.
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Restaurant & event liability
Downtown Excelsior restaurants and bars see heavy foot traffic, especially during event weekends. Liquor liability, event liability, and adequate general liability limits are essential for any food or beverage operation here.
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Flood near the lake
Properties very close to Lake Minnetonka should consider flood insurance. Spring snowmelt and heavy rain can cause water to reach lakeshore properties that are not typically considered flood-prone. Standard homeowners does not cover flood damage.
About Excelsior
Minnesota’s lake village — founded 1853
Excelsior is a small city of approximately 2,500 residents in Hennepin County, located on the southern shore of Lake Minnetonka. Founded in 1853, Excelsior is one of the oldest communities in the region and has maintained its historic village character through careful stewardship — a walkable downtown of independent shops and restaurants, a strong community identity, and direct access to one of Minnesota’s most beloved lakes. The city is a destination for both residents and day visitors, which shapes both its residential character and its commercial environment.
Options Insurance has been serving Excelsior from our Chaska office since 2011. The 10-mile drive on Highway 7 is easy, and most of our Excelsior clients are happy to handle day-to-day service by phone or email with an in-person meeting when it makes sense.
Questions from Excelsior residents and business owners
Yes. Our Chaska office is approximately 10 miles from downtown Excelsior — about 15 minutes via Highway 7 and County Road 41. We have been serving Excelsior residents and businesses since 2011.
Historic homes require careful attention to replacement cost. The rebuild cost for an early-1900s Excelsior home — with original woodwork, plaster walls, period-appropriate materials, and code upgrade requirements — is often significantly higher than the home’s market value. We work with carriers that understand this and write coverage that reflects true replacement cost, not what the home would sell for today.
Yes. Lakefront and lake-access properties on Excelsior Bay and Lake Minnetonka need more than a standard homeowners policy. We work with carriers that specialize in lake properties and can package home, boat, dock, and umbrella coverage to address the full range of lake-related exposures.
Mixed-use buildings — commercial below, residential above — require specialized coverage that addresses both occupancies correctly. Standard homeowners policies exclude the commercial component; standard commercial policies may not handle the residential component well. We work with carriers that write mixed-use properties and structure coverage for the full building.
At minimum: general liability, commercial property, and liquor liability. Given Excelsior’s event-driven foot traffic, your liability limits should be sized for peak-season exposure, not a slow Tuesday. Workers comp is required as soon as you have employees. If you have a patio or participate in community events, those activities need to be specifically covered. We review your specific operation and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
Get a Quote
Excelsior properties deserve an agent who gets it.
We respond within one business day. Independent agency, 50+ carriers — including specialty markets for historic homes and unique properties.
Historic home and lake property specialists
Personal and business coverage under one roof
10 miles from Excelsior on Jonathan Blvd in Chaska
Monday–Friday 7:30 AM–5:30 PM; evenings and weekends by appointment
