Best and Cheapest Home Insurance in Texas (2021)
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Introduction
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas has more than 7 million individual households. As one of the largest individual insurance markets in the country, shopping for homeowners insurance in the Lone Star State can be a headache-inducing mirage of constant radio and television ads.
Given Texas’s susceptibility to home-threatening natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding, sufficient home insurance coverage is necessary to protect your property. Read on for an all-encompassing guide to navigating Texas home insurance.
Use Insurify to compare dozens of the best homeowners insurance quotes in Texas at once.
Texas State Homeowners Insurance Guide for 2021
- How to Get Affordable Home Insurance in Texas
- Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Texas by Company
- Home Insurance Rates in Texas by City
- What Does Home Insurance Cover in Texas?
- Mobile Home Coverage in Texas
- Natural Disasters and Home Insurance Coverage
- Special Home Insurance Situations in Texas
- How to Find the Cheapest Home Insurance in Texas
- Texas Homeowners Insurance FAQ
How to Get Affordable Home Insurance in Texas
Purchasing a home will likely be one of the largest financial investments of your lifetime. With that investment, inevitably, comes risk. However, there are steps homeowners can take to minimize risk and protect their investment, including finding the right home insurance policy.
The first step to protecting your property is homeowners insurance. Though not required by law, home insurance provides financial liability for your property and belongings from natural disasters or theft. Different coverage levels are available for different property types, locations, and other factors.
Homeowners Insurance Quotes in Texas by Company
The price of homeowners insurance varies greatly from city to city. The following quotes are general estimates of annual home insurance premiums throughout Texas, insurance companies offer different coverage levels and some even offer bundling options for your home and auto insurance.
Like property costs, home insurance varies greatly in price from one area to another. Pricing is determined on ZIP code-specific variables such as the volume of claims filed nearby, crime rates, property costs, and risk variables such as natural disaster frequency. Even your specific neighborhood may determine if you pay more or less on our annual premiums.
Buying and insuring a home comes with loads of unexpected costs and new living expenses. How can you be expected to pay all of these costs—vital as they are—and still provide for you and your family?
For a more accurate quote estimate, use Insurify to compare all of your choices in one place.
Average Annual Homeowners Insurance Premium in Texas by Company
Average prices for standard homeowners insurance for a 7-15 year old home, $200,000 in coverage
- Good Credit / $200K Coverage / Brick Structure / 1-9 years old
- Bad Credit / $350K Coverage / Aluminum Structure / 10-35 years old
Home Insurance Rates in Texas by City
As of 2021, the average home insurance premium in Texas costs $2,212 annually—far more than the national average. The median Texas home is valued at $222,507.
Rates throughout Texas can be relatively high or low compared to the state average—it all depends on which town you live in. Here are the most and least expensive ZIP codes in Texas to buy and insure a home. Average rates within these ZIP codes tend to increase relative to property cost. In wildfire- or earthquake-prone areas, rates are often higher.
| City | Median Home Price |
|---|---|
| University Park | $1,405,557 |
| Bellaire | $947,378 |
| Southlake | $764,157 |
| Brownsville | $83,800 |
| Lubbock | $112,700 |
| El Paso | $113,400 |
What Does Home Insurance Cover in Texas?
There are several types of home insurance. Specific terms of insurance policies may vary by state, but in general, the standard policy types are as follows:
- The simplest and least comprehensive type of homeowners insurance.
- Provides coverage for a handful of potential problems including:
- Natural disasters (storms, fires, wind lightning, volcanic eruption)
- Explosions
- Theft
- Damage from vehicles
- Civil commotion
- Broad form homeowners insurance policies include all basic form coverage, plus:
- Protection from falling objects
- Damage from the weight of ice, snow, or sleet
- Freezing of household systems including HVAC and pipes
- Sudden and accidental damage to pipes and other household systems from artificially generated electrical current
- Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
- HO-2 policies typically cover both dwelling protection and personal property.
- In some cases, broad form coverage may also include liability coverage. However, it still only covers the specific damages listed in the policy.
- The most common form of homeowners insurance is known as a “special form” policy.
- While HO-1 and HO-2 policies are “named peril” policies (meaning they only cover dangers that are specifically listed in the policy), HO-3 policies are “open peril” policies meaning they’ll cover all dangers except those specifically excluded in the policy documents.
- HO-4 policies, also known as renters insurance, are for people who lease rather than own their homes.
- Tenant’s form policies typically cover all the same dangers as HO-2 policies.
- Tenant’s form policies typically cover all the same dangers as HO-2 policies.
- These policies include personal property coverage and liability coverage but don’t cover the physical structure of the house.
- Some HO-4 policies may also include loss of use coverage for the tenants.
- Comprehensive form policies are usually the broadest and provide the highest level of coverage; not surprisingly, they also tend to be the most expensive type of homeowners insurance policies.
- The biggest difference between HO-3 and HO-5 policies is that most HO-3 policies are “actual cash value” policies, whereas typically HO-5 policies are “replacement cost value” policies.
- An actual cash value policy will only reimburse you for the actual value of a damaged or destroyed item, while a replacement cost value policy will reimburse you for however much it would cost to completely replace or repair the damaged or destroyed item (up to the coverage limits on the policy).
- HO-5 policies also provide personal property coverage against a wider range of dangers than the typical HO-3 policy. Many HO-5 policies also have extra coverage for high-value personal property such as jewelry and artwork.
- Not surprisingly, condo form insurance is for condominium owners. HO-6 policies generally protect against the same types of dangers as HO-3 policies.
- They provide dwelling protection coverage with a twist: HO-6 policies cover the walls, floors, and ceiling of the condo unit but not the rest of the building.
- These policies also include personal property and liability coverage and may include loss of use coverage.
- If you own a mobile home or manufactured home, you likely have an HO-7 policy.
- Mobile home form policies are typically identical to HO-3 policies, except they’re designed specifically for mobile and manufactured homes.
- Like HO-3 policies, they provide dwelling protection coverage, other structures coverage, personal property coverage, liability coverage, and possibly loss of use coverage as well.
- HO-7 policies generally only protect the home when it’s stationary; if you plan to move your mobile or manufactured home, you’ll need to get a special policy to cover it while it’s in transit.
- Older homes have generally been built to less stringent code standards than recently built homes, and so insurers have designed a specialized type of homeowners insurance policy for them.
- HO-8 policies often only cover the basic perils listed in HO-1 policies and generally apply to homes that are registered landmarks or otherwise deemed historic homes.
- Owners of registered landmarks are typically forbidden from making the updates to HVAC, electrical, and other parts of the home to enable them to qualify for a standard HO-3 policy, so an HO-8 policy is often the only option for them.
For more detailed Texas city level guides, check out these below.
- Houston Homeowners Insurance
- Dallas Homeowners Insurance
- San Antonio Homeowners Insurance
- Austin Homeowners Insurance
- El Paso Homeowners Insurance
- Corpus Christi Homeowners Insurance
- Fort Worth Homeowners Insurance
- Arlington Homeowners Insurance
- Plano Homeowners Insurance
- Irving Homeowners Insurance
- Garland Homeowners Insurance
- Laredo Homeowners Insurance
Mobile Home Coverage in Texas
HO-7 type coverage is the best option for mobile homeowners. Even though home insurance is not mandatory in Texas, mortgage lenders will require some sort of proof of insurance as a prerequisite to a loan.
Similar to traditional home insurance, mobile home insurance protects your investment from a plethora of risks, including dwelling coverage, personal property, and liability protection in case of an accident or natural disaster. Mobile home coverage levels can be higher than those of a traditional home, likely because mobile homes are more susceptible to storm damage. Depending on the level of coverage you choose when insuring your mobile home, your annual premiums may fluctuate.
Natural Disasters and Home Insurance Coverage
As Texas residents know all too well, natural disasters can be catastrophic to property and livelihoods. In Texas, especially, homeowners and renters alike face hurricanes and increasing flood risk each season.
What’s covered and what’s not when it comes to homeowners policies and natural disasters in Texas? Damage due to uncontrollable circumstances may still be covered—your level of coverage will determine how much your property is actually protected through your policy.
With such risk, home insurance providers often charge higher premiums to cover potential disasters like wildfires. That being said, with the right tools, you may still be able to find competitive home insurance rates in your area. To choose from the best homeowners insurance companies, use Insurify to compare home insurance quotes all in one place.
Special Home Insurance Situations in Texas
Unique elements of your home may affect homeowners insurance prices. Check out these quotes for some special situations that may impact your home insurance in Texas.
Cheapest Home Insurance for Houses Near Fire Department in Texas
If your home is within a certain distance from a fire department or fire hydrant your rates may decrease. The same applies for the opposite. If your home is far from fire safety, you may pay more for homeowners insurance.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $1,257 |
| Amica | $3,148 |
| Farmers | $652 |
| Homeowners of America | $2,048 |
Cheapest Home Insurance for Houses With Swimming Pools in Texas
Swimming pools fall under a category called attractive nuisances. Sure, they offer a fun way to cool off during warm summer months, but they also pose a major injury risk. For that reason, having a swimming pool in your yard could increase rates.
| Insurance Company | Average Annual Premium |
|---|---|
| Amica | $1,257 |
| ASI | $1,642 |
| Bankers | $1,066 |
| Nationwide | $916 |
Not everything's bigger in Texas. Lower your homeowners insurance by comparing quotes today.
How to Find the Cheapest Home Insurance in Texas
Just like groceries or clothes shopping, you can find a good bargain on home insurance without sacrificing sufficient coverage to protect your property investment. Protect your home from water damage to burglars, and everything in between. With a little research and the right tools, you’ll be on your way to big savings.
Use Insurify to compare free quotes for home insurance premiums for your property in Texas.
Texas Homeowners Insurance FAQ
Why is home insurance so expensive in Texas?
Texas homeowners may find themselves paying higher home insurance premiums due to the increased commonality of natural disasters involving intense storms with high winds and flooding. Texas homeowners, especially those flood-prone areas and along the coastline, may have higher-than-average home insurance premiums. When insurance companies take on increased risk, as they do in disaster-prone areas of Texas, they increase their chances of having to pay out customers when disaster strikes. There are ways, though, that you can cut home insurance costs, even if you live on the water. Use Insurify to compare premiums in your area.
Does USAA insure homes in Texas?
Yes, USAA insures home in Texas. However, policyholders must be active military members, veterans, or the family members of those in the armed forces.
How long does a home insurance claim take in Texas?
Short answer: it depends. Of course, in times of crisis, like hurricanes or flooding, many of your neighbors will also be filing claims with their insurance companies, crowding the systems, and slowing down the claims process. The amount of time it takes to file a claim in Texas will vary from case to case. To find the best home insurance companies in your area, use insurify to compare reviews and quotes.
