What Is Homeowners Insurance?

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Homeowners insurance kicks in when misfortune hits your house or personal belongings. Homeowners policies also provide liability coverage if someone is injured on your property.

Like all insurance, homeowners policies can be confusing. You have to sort out things like what qualifies as a covered loss. Plus, you need to look out for potential pitfalls like coverage limits and other restrictions on your policy.

When you’re looking for a homeowners insurance policy, there’s a lot to consider. Use our comprehensive guide to make your search easier.

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Homeowners insurance: How to get the right coverage for the right price

If you’ve purchased a home (or are in the process of doing so), then you know that homeowners insurance is one of those things you have to figure out before the deal is done.

Mortgage lenders require homeowners insurance to help protect against potential loss on their investment. It’s also a lifesaver if something unexpected happens like a burglary, a slip on your front steps, or high winds that bring down a tree on your roof (that’s from personal experience).

But this isn’t the kind of decision you want to rush. This is protection for what’s likely the biggest purchase of your life—so it’s worth it to do your homework.

6 things to consider when you’re shopping for homeowners insurance



Highly-rated homeowners insurance companies

Not all homeowners insurance companies are created equal. We’ve found five companies that consistently rank high among customers and experts. Compare prices at Policygenius.

Amica GeicoAllstate State Farm USAA
Amica logoGeicoAllstateState FarmUSAA
J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction 1849, #1 N/A 815, #11 829, #6 N/A
Flood Insurance*
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo
Icon No  LightNo
Renters policy only
Home Security Discount
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Only in some states
Varies
Uses In-House Underwriters
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon No  LightNo
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes
Icon Yes  LightYes

Data effective 01/05/2023. Offers and availability subject to change.
*Companies that don’t offer their own flood insurance help customers obtain insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

How homeowners insurance works

Let’s say you have a kitchen fire, or someone breaks into your home and raids the jewelry box. Unexpected events like these can leave you without a roof over your head or with a huge financial loss.

This is where your homeowners policy kicks in.

After an event, contact your insurance company and make a claim. You may have to fill out forms or provide documentation like a copy of a police report if there was a break-in.

Once you file a claim, your insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your case. The claims adjuster assesses the damage and determines the amount of payment you’re eligible for.

That sounds pretty simple—but there are a lot of factors that impact how smoothly that process goes. And your payment can vary greatly depending on the type of policy you have, the amount of coverage, and the kind of event that occurred.

You don’t want to wait until something happens to find out your homeowners policy isn’t going to save the day.

1. Types of homeowners policies

Because your homeowners policy is a type of insurance, it’s complicated. Even the way the industry describes policies can be confusing.

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Jargon Alert

Different types of homeowners policies are called “forms.” This doesn’t refer to documents you have to fill out—it’s just the word that’s used to refer to a specific type of homeowner’s policy.

Common types of homeowners insurance policies

1. HO-1: Basic Form—This form lives up to its name; it’s basic. HO-1 policies cover only the structure of your home. There’s no protection for your personal belongings and no personal liability coverage.

2. HO-2: Broad Form—An HO-2 policy expands on the coverage offered by the basic form. In addition to the structure of your home, specific systems like the HVAC may also be covered.

Plus, you also get coverage for personal belongings, and sometimes it includes liability insurance as well. But this is a “named peril” policy, which means it will only cover damage from events outlined explicitly in the policy.

3. HO-3: Special Form—This is the most common type of policy because it offers the broadest coverage for your house and personal belongings. Plus, you get personal liability coverage if someone is injured on your property.

It also covers attached structures, like a garage or the back deck. Best of all, coverage isn’t limited to named perils—unless something is listed as an exclusion, it should be covered.

4. HO-5: Comprehensive Form—If you want the most coverage available, this is the homeowners policy to choose. It’s considered an “open-peril” policy, which means it will cover almost anything that could happen to your house or personal property.

An HO-5 policy gives you more personal liability coverage, too. But certain things, like damage from an earthquake or flood, are still usually excluded.

Special types of homeowners insurance policies

Outside of those four basic homeowners policies, some forms deliver specialized coverage.

  • HO-4: Tenant’s Form—Protection for your personal belongings if you’re a renter. More often referred to as renters insurance, it also provides liability coverage.
  • HO-6: Condo Form—This insurance covers personal belongings and personal liability for condo owners. It’s supplemental to the policy held by your HOA, and will usually cover your interior walls, floors, and ceilings.
  • HO-7: Mobile Home Form—Designed for manufactured homes, this policy usually covers the same things as an HO-3 policy.
  • HO-8: Older Home Form—If you have an older home, where replacement costs potentially exceed current market value, this policy extends extra protection. It covers damage and repairs that require materials (like plaster for walls) that are no longer commonly used.

2. Amount of coverage

At a minimum, you need enough homeowners insurance to cover the cost to replace your home completely. Additionally, you should estimate how much it would cost to replace everything inside your house.

When it comes to your personal property coverage, you should calculate the value of everything from appliances to clothing to things like books and collectibles.

Then you need to look at your personal liability coverage. Most homeowners policies have at least $100,000 of personal liability coverage. But some experts recommend loading up on more—up to
$500,000 if you can.

Even though it’s smart to err on the side of excess when it comes to home insurance, don’t go outside what you can comfortably afford in your monthly or annual budget.

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Don't forget the deductible.

Your deductible amount impacts what you pay for premiums. Bigger deductibles usually equal lower premiums—but that means you’ll have to pay a lot more out of pocket before your homeowners insurance kicks in.

What you need to get a homeowners insurance quote

We recommend shopping around for the best insurance rate. Here’s what you need to have on hand to get a qualified quote.

  • A description of your home, including location, square footage, year built, and the type of construction.
  • Information about recent improvements, renovations, and repairs.
  • The insurance history of your home, including any losses in the last five years.
  • The age of certain structural elements or systems, like the roof or plumbing.
  • Extras like a custom kitchen or fireplace. These can add to repair or replacement costs in the event of a covered loss.
  • Details about any safety features including deadbolts, smoke and CO alarms, fire extinguishers, and a security system or security cameras.
  • Personal information including birth date, social security number, number of occupants, and how many weeks per year the home is occupied.

3. What is covered with homeowners insurance?

The more covered perils in your policy, the more you’ll probably pay for your premium. But it’s better than getting surprised with an enormous repair bill for items not covered by your homeowners insurance.

Most homeowners policies cover damage caused by the following perils:

  • Fire or smoke
  • Extreme weather like lightning, hail, and wind
  • Damage from the weight of ice or snow
  • Freezing of systems like the HVAC
  • Explosions
  • Theft
  • Damage caused by aircraft or vehicles
  • Riots and civil commotion
  • Volcanic eruption
  • Falling objects

Things that are usually excluded from a homeowners policy:

  • Earthquakes
  • Floods
  • Water damage
  • Infestations of insects, birds, or rodents
  • Neglect
  • Settling of your home’s foundation
  • Mold and fungus
  • Damage from war, government action, or an ordinance or law
  • Rust and other corrosion
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Expert Tip

Where you live can make a difference when it comes to homeowners insurance coverage. People in flood zones, coastal areas, or other geographic regions may have special exclusions to typical homeowners insurance. If so, your mortgage lender may require additional policies to cover potential hazards that are more common in your area.

Extra coverage you might want to consider.

  • Earthquake insurance
  • Flood insurance
  • Inflation endorsement
  • Personal property endorsement for high-cost items like jewelry, furs, antiques, art, etc.
  • Extra insurance to cover a home-based business

4. How to pick the right insurance company

The insurance company you choose matters—especially when it comes to your monthly premiums, the claims process, and (most importantly) the money you receive when it’s time to repair or replace something.

When you start looking at a company for homeowners insurance, consider the company’s reputation and financial stability. Check out customer satisfaction ratings, customer complaints, and financial ratings from third-party evaluators like A.M. Best.

Then get several quotes before making your final decision. To make sure you’re comparing apples to apples across multiple companies, always get quotes for the same type of policy, coverage amount, and deductible.

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Make multiple quotes easy.

We recommend using a service like PolicyGenius to get multiple homeowners insurance quotes. This way you only have to go through all of your information once—and you’re guaranteed to get quotes on identical coverage.

5. Average cost of homeowners insurance in your state

In 2022, homeowners across the US paid about $1,400 per year on average for insurance to cover a home worth $250,000. Below is a look at the average rates for a $250,000 dwelling in each state. 

StateAverage Annual Premium
Alabama$1,597
Alaska$1,001
Arizona$1,216
Arkansas$2,104
California$1,084
Colorado$1,863
Connecticut$1,216
Delaware$681
District of Columbia$897
Florida$1,648
Georgia$1,373
Hawaii$378
Idaho$858
Illinois$1,376
Iowa$1,180
Kansas$1,290
Louisiana$2,009
Maine$944
Maryland$1,136
Massachusetts$1,274
Michigan$1,292
Minnesota$1,880
Mississippi$1,840
Missouri$1,647
Montana$1,752
Nebraska$2,849
Nevada$874
New Hampshire$731
New Jersey$775
New Mexico$1,939
New York$1,289
North Carolina$1,317
North Dakota$1,872
Ohio$1,119
Oklahoma$3,593
Oregon$704
Pennsylvania$786
Rhode Island$1,221
South Carolina$1,165
South Dakota$2,035
Tennessee$1,644
Texas$1,860
Utah$668
Vermont$668
Virgina$924
Washington$899
West Virginia$1,089
Wisconsin$928
Wyoming$902
U.S. Average$1,383

Data from Quadrant Information Services, as compiled by Bankrate for 2022.

6. Homeowners Insurance FAQ

Yes—if you have a mortgage. Most lenders require a homeowners insurance policy. But even if you own your home outright it’s a good idea to have insurance just in case something big comes up. And with home ownership, it will.

Because there are so many factors that impact how much homeowners insurance costs, it’s nearly impossible to give you a list of the cheapest home insurance companies.

Here are the most common things that influence how much you’ll pay for homeowners insurance.

  • Where you live
  • Proximity to things like a body of water or a fire station
  • The age of your home and roof
  • A home-based business
  • “Attractive nuisances” like swimming pools and trampolines
  • Wood-burning stoves
  • Pets, specifically certain breeds of dogs that are considered high-risk
  • Remodeling and upgrades
  • Home security and safety measures
  • History of homeowners insurance claims
  • Credit history
  • Marital status

No one wants to pay more than they have to for home insurance. While affordable rates are desirable, we don’t recommend just going with the cheapest quote you can find.

Balance your search for a good deal with priorities like company reputation, customer satisfaction, and the number of years in business and homes covered.

Even though you shouldn’t skimp on your homeowners insurance, you don’t have to pay more than necessary, either. Here are some tips to help lower your homeowners insurance rates.

  • Opt for a bigger deductible.
  • Bundle with auto or life insurance.
  • Get an expert estimate on the true cost to rebuild your house—this is often less than the sticker price you paid for your home.
  • Install a security system, upgrade door locks, or improve your fire-prevention measures.
  • Storm-proof your home by reinforcing the roof or adding extras like storm shutters.
  • Ask about other discounts—there might be breaks for retirees or military members.
  • Keep your credit record healthy.
  • Evaluate your limits and the value of covered items on an annual basis.

USAA, or the United Services Automobile Association, is the premier insurance provider for current or former members of the military and their families. USAA consistently gets high marks for both affordability and customer service.

The only drawback is that you can’t get USAA insurance if you or someone in your immediate family hasn’t served in the military. But if you are in that group, this insurance company is highly recommended.

As a general rule you want enough insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding your house if it ended up a total loss. On top of that, you should also get coverage for everything inside your house in case it’s lost in an event like a fire or burglary.

Even though you need a homeowners insurance policy, hopefully, you won’t have to use it. Only six percent of homes had a claim filed in 2017.² Of those claims, 98/1% were due to property damage—including loss from burglary.

Here’s a breakdown of the most common homeowners insurance claims from 2013 to 2017.²

  1. Wind and hail
  2. Water damage and freezing
  3. All other property damage, including vandalism and malicious mischief
  4. Theft
  5. Fire and lightning
  6. Bodily injury and property damage
  7. Medical payments and other
  8. Credit cards and other

It depends. A home warranty covers things that aren’t typically included in a homeowners insurance policy. Home warranties can help you pay to repair or replace a faulty appliance or household system like the plumbing.

If you’re buying a new home, it can be smart to get a home warranty. Sometimes sellers will include a home warranty as an extra incentive to prospective buyers.

But home warranty claims can get tricky, so make sure you understand the fine print before purchasing one on your own.

Yes. This is one of the easiest discounts you can get. Most insurance companies give you a discount if you have a monitored home security system.

All you need to do is submit a certificate from your security company. Because this is such a common request, many security companies provide the certificate as part of your paperwork. Otherwise, you might be able to download it online or call the company to request it.

But sometimes you don’t need a full-blown security system with professional monitoring to save money. Some insurers give discounts for security cameras, upgraded deadbolts, or smoke alarms.

Rebecca Edwards
Written by
Rebecca Edwards
Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past decade. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime and safety reports and spotting trends. Her expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. You can find her expert advice and analysis in places like NPR, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Simple, and an ever-growing library of podcast, radio and TV clips in the US and abroad.

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