Texas homeowners insurance

Helpful tools to find quality home insurance in Texas

For many homeowners in Texas, finding the best home insurance can seem like a complicated process. However, with the right information, you have the power to make a smart choice with this crucial purchase. Since every individual's needs involve many unique factors, a little research helps in locating the ideal Texas homeowners insurance. Understanding the value of insurance also supports your ability to make the right decision.

The need for home insurance in Texas

As everyone knows, Texas covers a lot of territory and is home to millions of people. Due to its size, Texas experiences many diverse types of weather, many of which can pose a threat to homes. Consider these important facts about the Lone Star State. It has: 

•       Over 261,000 square miles in total land area.

•       More than 30 million residents.

•       Nearly 12 million housing units.

•       Up to three primary climate zones.

With so many people owning houses, the need for affordable Texas homeowners insurance remains a priority. Damage to homes comes from a variety of sources and can exceed your ability to pay for repairs. Weather data indicates that an average of 132 tornadoes sweep through Texas every year, often causing widespread damage to homes. Cold snaps, such as the Panhandle Blizzard of 1957 and the Polar Vortex of 2021, also visit Texas on a regular basis and cause ice damage and plumbing disasters.

Additionally, hurricanes impact Texas from time to time. Just recently, Hurricane Harvey hit southern Texas in 2017 and caused extensive damage to many properties. All these factors make insurance coverage an essential piece of owning a home for most people. Areas that experience more storms and those that have higher crime levels typically cost more to insure.

The requirements for Texas homeowners insurance

As with most other states, Texas does not have a law that requires a homeowner to carry insurance. However, for those with a mortgage, lending institutions typically do require a borrower to have insurance. Even if you own your home free and clear, you can decide if you want to buy homeowners insurance. Most individuals do not have the financial resources to pay for serious damage to their home without insurance.

Since a strong insurance policy protects your home from many types of damage and supports your financial security from disasters, most people choose to carry insurance. A changing climate poses serious threats to homeowners, with the highest risks coming from heat and increased risk for wildfires and extreme levels of precipitation that could lead to flooding.

Fortunately, you can find a policy that meets your needs and fits your budget by comparing Texas homeowners insurance quotes and selecting the optimal mix of coverages. VIU by HUB gives you the tools to find the right coverages at an affordable price.

The options for home insurance 

The ideal Texas homeowners insurance provides protection for many aspects of owning a home. You can customize a policy to meet your needs and fit into your budget. VIU by HUB Advisors can help you structure a policy that reduces your financial hardships from storms, fires and other potential hazards. Most policies include protections in several core areas.

Property Damage

This essential coverage protects your main dwelling from many perils, such as fires, extreme weather and other incidents. Make sure to focus on this core feature when using VIU by HUB when comparing Texas homeowners insurance quotes.

Personal Property

Most homeowners have some or many items of value in their homes, such as electronics, artwork, clothing, antiques and jewelry. By specifying and insuring these belongings through your Texas homeowners insurance policy, you will receive compensation for damages.

Personal Liability

This coverage also ranks high as a necessity for many homeowners. It provides an array of protections in case someone injures themselves on your property or if you are responsible for damaging someone else's property. In certain cases, this coverage pays for medical bills, legal fees and repair costs.

Add-ons

Besides these essential coverages, you can consider valuable add-ons to a policy. Typical home insurance does not cover a flood, but you may be able add this to your policy through your carrier, or by purchasing coverage offered by the National Flood Insurance Program. If you have outbuildings on your property, you could consider additional structures coverage to pay for repairs to a fence, shed or guesthouse. You can also acquire add-ons for earthquake damage, extra liability, windstorm and hail events on the Gulf Coast, as well as other situations.

The cost of Texas homeowners insurance

Many factors go into determining the cost of homeowner's insurance, with home value ranking high as an important consideration. The average home in Texas has a value of about $290,000, but many homes fall below or above this number. A higher-value home will typically cost more to insure than a home of lesser value. Several other factors play a significant role in policy costs:

•       Location of the home.

•       Level of deductibles.

•       Past history of the insured.

•       Age of the home.

•       Presence of home security features.

•       Choice of an insurance carrier.

Understanding the average cost of insurance also comes in handy when considering Texas homeowners insurance quotes. Texas residents pay an average of about $3,000 a year for home insurance, which amounts to $250 a month. This is about 40% higher than the national average.

Customers searching for insurance should compare rates whenever possible. Our information on VIU by HUB lets you do this in an easy-to-use format, allowing you to compare rates from different insurers. You can do this at any time, whether you are looking for a new policy, exploring your options or renewing a policy.

This information is intended for general informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice.

Sources:

US Census Bureau

Sciencing.com

Texas Almanac

Insurance.com

Climate Check Texas

NFIP

TDI Texas.gov