Home Insurance
Your home is more than a house. Protect what matters most.
Expert articles on homeowners insurance coverage, costs, discounts, and claims. Find the right policy to protect your home and everything in it.
What is home insurance?
Home insurance (also called homeowners insurance) protects your home, belongings, and finances from covered perils like fire, theft, and liability claims. A standard policy typically includes four core coverage types: dwelling coverage (the structure), personal property (your belongings), liability (injuries or damage you cause), and loss of use (temporary living expenses if your home is uninhabitable).
Dwelling
Covers the structure of your home.
Personal Property
Covers your belongings inside the home.
Liability
Protects you if someone is injured on your property.
Loss of Use
Pays for temporary housing if you can't live at home.
What does home insurance cover?
What home insurance typically does NOT cover
- Flood (requires separate flood insurance)
- Earthquake (requires separate earthquake policy)
- Normal wear and tear
- Pest infestations (termites, rodents)
- Intentional damage
Types of home insurance policies (HO-1 through HO-8)
| Policy | Description |
|---|---|
| HO-1 | Basic form — limited named perils |
| HO-2 | Broad form — more named perils than HO-1 |
| HO-3 | Special form — most common; open perils on dwelling, named perils on contents |
| HO-4 | Renters insurance — covers personal property only |
| HO-5 | Comprehensive form — open perils on dwelling and contents |
| HO-6 | Condo insurance — covers unit and improvements |
| HO-7 | Mobile home insurance |
| HO-8 | Modified coverage — for older homes with replacement cost limits |
How much does home insurance cost?
The average cost of home insurance in the U.S. ranges from about $1,500 to $2,200 per year, depending on your location, home value, and coverage choices. Factors that affect your rate include your home's rebuild cost, deductible, claims history, and discounts you qualify for.
Learn more about home insurance costs →Home insurance discounts
- •Bundling — Combine home and auto for 10–25% off
- •Security systems — Burglar alarms, smoke detectors
- •New home — Newer construction often qualifies for discounts
- •Claim-free history — No claims in recent years
- •Loyalty — Some carriers offer discounts for long-term customers
Coverage components
Dwelling Coverage (Coverage A)
Protects the structure of your home.
Learn more →Personal Property Coverage (Coverage C)
Covers your belongings inside the home.
Learn more →Liability Coverage (Coverage E)
Protects you if someone is injured on your property.
Learn more →Loss of Use Coverage
Pays for temporary living expenses.
Learn more →Home Insurance Perils
What events are covered under your policy.
Learn more →Home Insurance Claims
How to file and manage a claim.
Top Home Insurance Companies
Compare top carriers and ratings.
Learn more →Home insurance guides
Why choose Insurance Geek for home insurance?
Rate Watch
Save more over time without re-shopping. Rate Watch notifies you every renewal if your rate increases and there are better offers — so you don't have to remember to shop again.
Insurance Geek Wallet
All your policies in one place. The Insurance Geek Wallet stores policies from any carrier in one app — so you know what you have, when it renews, and never hunt for a document again. (Coming soon)
Expert guidance
Start online, finish with a licensed agent. Get digital convenience plus human expertise before you bind — so you're confident in your choice.
What Our Customers Say
How to get home insurance
Start your quote
Use our quote widget above or click Get a Quote. Enter your basic information and we'll shop multiple top carriers for you.
Pick coverage amount and policy type
Choose how much dwelling coverage you need and which policy type fits you — HO-3, HO-5, or another option.
Apply
Apply directly on our site. Complete the application.
Pay first premium and accept policy
Review your offer, pay your first premium online, and accept your policy to activate coverage.
Home insurance FAQs
Our hub content is written and reviewed by licensed agents. About our experts · Editorial standards
Don’t have time to run a quote? Just send us your policy.
Share your current declarations page with us in two clicks. Takes about 30 seconds. We'll review your coverage, check for gaps, and compare our carriers to your current policy.
Connect your policy