Homeowners insurance,
explained without the small print.
What your policy pays, what it quietly excludes, how your state prices the risk, and the exact order of steps that gets a claim paid the first time.
Pick the situation that sounds like yours
Buying my first home
Dwelling limits, liability floors and the four parts of an HO-3 that actually matter at closing.
I own a condo
What the HOA master policy leaves out, and how walls-in coverage closes the gap.
I rent out a property
DP-3 versus HO-3, lost rent cover, and the vacancy clauses that void a claim.
My home is high value
Above $1M in dwelling cover, standard forms stop fitting — here is what changes.
Guides worth your time
Landlord (DP-3) Landlord Insurance (DP-3): Protecting a Rental Property — California Guide
A landlord policy insures the building and the rental income, not the tenant's belongings. DP-3 adds…
Read guide →
High-Value Homes High-Value Home Policies: When a Standard Policy Stops Working — New York Guide
Once a home passes roughly $750,000 in rebuild cost, standard forms start to strain. High-value policies…
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Coverage Basics What a Standard Homeowners Policy Actually Covers — New York Guide
Most US homeowners buy an HO-3 policy without reading the coverage form. The dwelling section rebuilds…
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Coverage Basics What a Standard Homeowners Policy Actually Covers — California Guide
Most US homeowners buy an HO-3 policy without reading the coverage form. The dwelling section rebuilds…
Read guide →
Replacement Cost Replacement Cost vs Actual Cash Value: The Difference That Ruins Claims — Pennsylvania Guide
Actual cash value pays replacement cost minus depreciation. A ten-year-old roof with a twenty-year life is…
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Condo (HO-6) HO-6 Condo Insurance: What the HOA Master Policy Leaves Out — New York Guide
A condo owner insures the inside of the unit, not the building shell. The HOA master…
Read guide →Every homeowners question, organised
Twelve hubs, each built around the decision a homeowner actually has to make.
Coverage Basics
6 guidesRead →💵Costs by State
6 guidesRead →🛠️Claims Process
6 guidesRead →📉Deductibles
6 guidesRead →🚫Exclusions
6 guidesRead →🏗️Replacement Cost
6 guidesRead →⚖️Liability & Umbrella
6 guidesRead →🎯Discounts & Bundling
6 guidesRead →💎High-Value Homes
6 guidesRead →🏢Condo (HO-6)
6 guidesRead →🏘️Landlord (DP-3)
6 guidesRead →🏠Roof & Age Rules
6 guidesRead →What homeowners actually pay by state
Average annual premium for a $300,000 dwelling with a $1,000 deductible. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive state is more than 4×.
| State | Avg. annual premium | Relative cost | vs. US average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $4,150 | +144% | |
| Louisiana | $3,980 | +134% | |
| Oklahoma | $3,650 | +115% | |
| Texas | $3,420 | +101% | |
| Colorado | $3,060 | +80% | |
| Kansas | $2,940 | +73% | |
| Mississippi | $2,760 | +62% | |
| Arkansas | $2,610 | +54% | |
| Nebraska | $2,580 | +52% | |
| Georgia | $2,010 | +18% | |
| New York | $1,660 | -2% | |
| California | $1,420 | -16% | |
| Pennsylvania | $1,310 | -23% | |
| Ohio | $1,350 | -21% | |
| Washington | $1,240 | -27% | |
| Oregon | $1,050 | -38% | |
| Wisconsin | $1,090 | -36% | |
| Utah | $920 | -46% |
Benchmarks modelled from public rate filings and carrier quote sampling. Your premium depends on construction, roof age, claims history and the wind or wildfire zone you sit in.
Recently published
Choosing a Homeowners Deductible Without Regretting It — Texas Guide
A deductible is the part of a claim you fund yourself. Flat deductibles are simple; percentage deductibles are calculated against…
What a Standard Homeowners Policy Actually Covers — Pennsylvania Guide
Most US homeowners buy an HO-3 policy without reading the coverage form. The dwelling section rebuilds the house itself; other…
Homeowners Insurance Cost by State in 2026 in Arizona (2026) — Arizona Guide
The same house can cost twice as much to insure one state over. Wildfire scores, hurricane exposure, roof age rules…
Choosing a Homeowners Deductible Without Regretting It — Pennsylvania Guide
A deductible is the part of a claim you fund yourself. Flat deductibles are simple; percentage deductibles are calculated against…
How Much Personal Liability Coverage Do You Really Need — Arizona Guide
Personal liability pays for injuries and property damage you are legally responsible for, plus legal defence. Standard policies start at…
Filing a Homeowners Claim: The Order That Gets It Paid — Arizona Guide
The first 48 hours decide how smooth a claim runs. Photograph everything before cleanup, stop further damage, keep every receipt,…
Two tools that answer the money questions
Premiums and deductibles are the only two levers most homeowners can move. Here is how to pull them without creating a coverage gap.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Flood is excluded from every standard HO-3 policy. Flood cover comes from a separate NFIP policy or a private flood carrier, and it is usually required in FEMA-designated zones.
How much dwelling coverage do I need?
Insure the cost to rebuild, not the market value or the purchase price. A rebuild estimate uses local construction costs per square foot; land value is not part of the calculation.
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Replacement cost pays to rebuild with new materials. Actual cash value pays replacement cost minus depreciation, so an older roof settled on ACV can leave you thousands short.
The questions homeowners ask first
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
No. Flood is excluded from every standard HO-3 policy. Flood cover comes from a separate NFIP policy or a private flood carrier, and it is usually required in FEMA-designated zones.
How much dwelling coverage do I need?
Insure the cost to rebuild, not the market value or the purchase price. A rebuild estimate uses local construction costs per square foot; land value is not part of the calculation.
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Replacement cost pays to rebuild with new materials. Actual cash value pays replacement cost minus depreciation, so an older roof settled on ACV can leave you thousands short.
Is a percentage deductible better than a flat one?
A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $450,000 dwelling is $9,000 — often far more than a $2,500 flat deductible. Percentage deductibles usually apply only to named storms, so read which perils they attach to.
Do I need a separate policy for a rental property?
Yes. A tenant-occupied home needs a DP-3 landlord policy rather than an HO-3. It covers the dwelling and lost rent, but not the tenant's belongings.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Deadlines vary by state, from 60 days to two years, and most policies require prompt notice. Report the loss immediately, then document everything in writing.
