(a) A domestic insurer may invest in real estate only if used for the purposes or acquired in the manners, and within the limits, as follows:

(1) The building in which it has its principal office, the land upon which the building stands, and such other real estate as may be requisite for the insurer’s convenient accommodation in the transaction of its business. The amount so invested and apportioned as to space actually so occupied or used shall not aggregate more than 10% of the insurer’s assets;

(2) Real estate acquired in satisfaction of loans, mortgages, liens, judgments, decrees or debts previously owing to the insurer in the due course of its business;

(3) Real estate acquired in part payment of the consideration on the sale of other real estate owned by it, if such transaction shall have effected a net reduction in the insurer’s investments in real estate;

(4) Real estate acquired by gift or devise, or through merger, consolidation or bulk reinsurance of another insurer under this title;

(5) The seller’s interest in real estate subject to an agreement of purchase or sale, but the sum invested in any such interest shall not exceed 2/3 of the fair value of such parcel;

(6) Additional real estate and equipment incident thereto, if necessary or convenient for the purpose of enhancing the sale or other value of real estate previously acquired or held under this section. Such real estate and equipment, together with the real estate for the enhancement of which it was acquired, shall be included, for the purpose of applicable investment limits, and shall be subject to disposal under § 1325 of this title at the same time and under the same conditions as apply to such enhanced real estate;

(7) Real estate, or any interest therein, acquired or held by purchase, lease or otherwise, acquired as an investment for production of income, or acquired to be improved or developed for such investment purposes pursuant to an existing program therefor. The insurer may hold, mortgage, improve, develop, maintain, manage, lease, sell, convey and otherwise dispose of real estate acquired by it under this provision. An insurer shall not have at any 1 time invested in real estate under this paragraph more than 15% of its assets. Real estate to be used primarily for agricultural, ranch, mining, development of oil and mineral resources, recreational, amusement, hotel, motel or club purposes shall in total not exceed 10% of an insurer’s assets.

(b) All real estate owned by a domestic insurer under this section, other than as to seller’s interest specified in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, shall not at any 1 time exceed 25% of the insurer’s assets.

18 Del. C. 1953, § 1325; 56 Del. Laws, c. 380, § 1; 59 Del. Laws, c. 79, §§ 25, 26; 63 Del. Laws, c. 363, § 14.