7 Best Affordable Homeowners Insurance of 2023
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So you've signed up with a realtor to find your dream home, and maybe you've chosen a mortgage loan officer to get your preapproval. Particularly with fluctuating mortgage rates, owning a home can push the limits of your budget. As many homeowners know, it's not just about the price of the house. The homeowners insurance required by your mortgage lender adds to your costs. If you're not careful, it could financially push your dream home out of reach.
Between 2017 and 2021, homeowners insurance rates have increased by 12.2%, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. As a result, many homeowners are living on a financial tightrope or cutting coverage to save money. We've rounded up the best affordable home insurance coverage to help you maintain the homeowners insurance coverage you need with affordable premiums.
Best Affordable Homeowners Insurance of 2023
Compare the Best Cheap Home Insurance Companies
Methodology: How We Chose The Best Cheap Homeowners Insurance
When comparing countless homeowners insurance companies, narrowing down options can take work. We look at many factors, including affordability, customer satisfaction, accessibility, coverage options, etc. You can read more about our insurance rating methodology.
Alone, each of these factors could tell a misleading story. For example, not every company with high customer JD Power rankings has the type of homeowners insurance policy you need. Conservative companies may only issue low-risk policies on newer homes. We bring together relevant factors to get a bigger picture. Then we break down the pros and cons to help consumers make the right decision for their needs.
Why You Should Trust Our Recommendations
The most important thing consumers should know about Insider is that our reviews and top recommendations are not for sale. We go off the facts from verified coverage and exclusions to real customer reviews around the quoting, claims, and other vital processes. While the homeowners insurance industry constantly changes, we update product information, pricing, etc., only when it can be objectively confirmed.
Our job is to provide expert advice while making insurance shopping more manageable. We do the heavy lifting for you. Then you can get quotes from your insurance providers of choice to compare costs and coverage.
Cheap Homeowners Insurance Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 3 most significant factors in determining the cost of homeowners insurance?
Your home insurance costs are generally related to your home's replacement cost, your location, and the unique safety or weather risks your home might face. Insurers may require a formal inspection for older homes to check roofing and plumbing before issuing a policy. Keeping your home up-to-date on routine maintenance can save you hundreds of dollars per renewal period and keep your options open.
How much should you expect to pay for a reasonable homeowners insurance policy?
Homeowners insurance premiums vary widely and depend on location, age, cost of building materials, and more. The national average in 2021 was $1,398 annually, according to Insurance Information Institute (III). However, we recommend checking your state average and working with an insurance agent to compare quotes. Some states offer average insurance premiums far below the national average.
What is the most important part of homeowners insurance?
The most important thing when shopping for homeowners insurance is coverage. Does your homeowners policy cover your personal belongings? Do you have enough coverage to rebuild your home if it's destroyed? Having the appropriate coverage limits and riders to supplement things like water backup insurance for a flooded basement will ensure your homeowners insurance performs as expected.
Best for Customer Satisfaction
Amica Mutual
As buyers might expect, Amica Mutual demonstrates superior financial stability, according to AM Best. Its A+ rating indicates Amica may be around for another 100 years giving it many more opportunities to protect US homeowners.
The Amica Mutual Standard Choice HO-3 homeowners policy covers the physical structure of your home, your personal belongings, supplemental living expenses if you need to relocate after a qualified event, and more. HO-3s cover single-family residences. So this would not be available for condos, some townhouses, mobile homes, etc.
An optional add-on is its dwelling replacement coverage, which allows you to exceed your policy limits as necessary. In an era of unexpected shipping delays, fluctuating material costs, etc., a little flexibility in rebuilding your home goes a long way. Amica Mutual also offers water backup, special computer coverage, personal property replacement coverage, and other riders to ensure the right coverage for future claims.
If you want higher levels of coverage, you can choose the Platinum Choice® Home Coverage, HO-5 policy. An HO-5 offers everything an HO-3 offers for single-family residences, with extended coverage limits and other upgraded benefits.
Amica Mutual homeowners policyholders can bundle homeowners coverage with auto policies to save up to 20%. The company also offers discounts for loyalty, being claim-free, setting up auto-pay, and when you sign up for email communications. If quoting with Amica, we recommend discussing safety discounts with your insurance agent.
Best for Nationwide Coverage
State Farm
Most homeowners insurance companies are regional, sometimes offering coverage in as little as one to two states. State Farm can be found in all 50 states and Washington, DC. Many coverages that would be riders (at an additional cost) with other providers are automatically wrapped into State Farm's standard homeowners policies.
From the sample quotes we got, both single-family HO-3 policies and condo policies offered competitive pricing. Our condo quote was just $22 monthly. Our State Farm HO-3 quote was bundled with two cars and an umbrella policy, and the homeowners portion was just $60.08 monthly. But, of course, pricing will vary based on many factors.
State Farm homeowners insurance is only available for one to four-unit residential structures and individual condos, townhouses, etc. It may also require proof of a recent roof and plumbing inspection on older homes. However, both these things are standard for the industry.
Best Homeowners Insurance in Hawaii
DB Insurance
If you're looking for cheap home insurance in Hawaii,
Local brokers quoting for DB Insurance may also partner with Hawaiian Hurricane Group and other specialty insurance providers to fill in gaps. Based on recent averages, DB Insurance remains the most affordable option for the average Hawaii homeowner. When bundled with auto policies, homeowners can save even more.
This said, one downside is its lack of a mobile app or a modern website to handle claims. Currently, you need to call, email, or fax the company. However, if you work with a broker homeowners insurance agent, you can contact your agent directly to start or manage a claim.
Property and casualty agent and homeowners insurance panel member Jeremy Yang says of DB Insurance, "While DB insurance can be more flexible with competitive rates, the underwriting process is longer than most competitors. So Hawaii buyers taking out a new mortgage may want to buy with carriers like Island Insurance, Progressive, or First Insurance Company of Hawaii to avoid delays in the loan process."
Best for Online Quotes
Lemonade
If you're looking for a tech-savvy homeowners insurance company to get online quotes quickly, look no further than InsurTech company
Lemonade also has high customer reviews, and it's licensed in over 20 states with plans to expand. The company offers different types of insurance, including auto, pet, and term life insurance, for easy bundling options. You can bundle policies such as home and auto for the best possible deal. The Lemonade website states homeowners insurance can be as low as $25, though your exact rate will depend on your home, location, materials, and more.
Lemonade is best for tech-savvy buyers with plenty of computer-based expertise. Unfortunately, its human-based services are limited compared to industry giants like Allstate and State Farm. Specifically for homeowners quotes, the process was designed to take you step-by-step. In our trial run, we found customers would have to research their homes to get a quote. However, if you're working with an insurance agent, they will find all the information needed.
However, if you prefer to handle it from the comfort of your home with no phone calls, Lemonade offers a well-built site with affordable pricing.
Best for Military Members
USAA
USAA homeowners insurance is available in all 50 states and Washington, DC. But some programs are only available in select states, according to its website. In addition, for surviving spouses and other dependents, the primary military member has to be signed up with USAA before they can use its services.
Of course, the obvious downside is its restrictive coverage. USAA homeowners insurance is only available to a limited number of homeowners. For non-military families, other homeowners insurance options should be considered.
Best for Affordable Pricing
Progressive
For homeowners, bundling policies to manage your insurance in one place is easy. More importantly for some, homeowners may be eligible for bundling discounts on all their insurance policies. Progressive states monthly home insurance premiums could range from $83 to $138.
Of course, rates may be lower than the average depending on your location, claims history, home size, and other factors. Progressive is sold through independent broker agents. However, quotes can also be obtained online for easy comparisons.
Bundled policies may qualify for a 5% discount. Progressive also offers additional discounts for new homes, proper alarms, and other safety measures, receiving documents electronically, paying upfront, and purchasing ten days or more before you start your policy. This means you can get standard coverage at a lower price.
Best for Discounts
Allstate
Allstate has a reputation for great discounts, which can offer up to 25% in savings when you bundle its home and auto insurance coverage. Also, if you haven't filed a recent claim when you switch to Allstate, you may get up to 20% off your insurance premiums.
Other discounts are available if you pay upfront or on time, including a 5% discount for setting up automatic payments. In addition, signing up early can score additional savings of up to 10% when confirming renewal a week or more before your policy expires. Check with an Allstate agent to see if you qualify for extra safety-related discounts.
Allstate policies homeowners typically cover falling objects, fire, smoke, theft, hail, windstorm, and water damage from plumbing or frozen pipes, according to the company website. However, you should read your unique policy and check the exclusions. This way, you'll know if you need to buy riders or additional coverage to fill in gaps.
Standard coverage includes dwelling, liability, personal property, and medical costs. In addition, you can get optional coverage riders, including HostAdvantage®, which protects you if you do any home-sharing, and a personal umbrella policy to boost liability limits.