What Home Owners Need to Know About Insurers

No sensible car owner would drive without insurance, so it figures that no homeowner should be without insurance, either.

The essential idea behind various forms of real estate insurance is to protect owners in the event of a catastrophe. If something goes wrong, insurance can be the bargain of a lifetime.

What Kind of Insurance and How Much?

There are various forms of insurance associated with homeownership, including these major types:

Title Insurance: Purchased with a one-time fee at closing, title insurance protects owners in the event the title to the property is found to be invalid. Coverage includes “lenders” policies, which protect buyers up to the mortgage value of the property, and “owners” coverage, which protects owners up to the purchase price. In other words, owner coverage protects both the mortgage amount and the value of the down payment.

Homeowners insurance: This insurance provides fire, theft, and liability coverage. Homeowners' policies are required by lenders and often cover a surprising number of items, including in some cases such property as wedding rings, furniture, and home office equipment.

Flood insurance: Generally required in high-risk, flood-prone areas, this insurance is issued by the federal government and provides as much as $250,000 in coverage for a single-family home, plus $100,000 for contents. Local REALTORS® can explain which locations require such coverage.

Home warranties: With new homes, buyers want assurance that if something goes wrong after completion, the builder will be there to make repairs. But what if the builder refuses to do the work or goes out of business? Home warranties bought from third parties by home builders are generally designed to provide several forms of protection: workmanship for the first year, mechanical problems such as plumbing and wiring for the first two years, and structural defects for up to 10 years. Home warranties for existing homes are typically one-year service agreements purchased by sellers. In the event of a covered defect or breakdown, the warranty firm will step in and make the repair or cover its cost. Insurance policies and warranties have limitations and individual programs have different levels of coverage, deductibles, and costs. For details, speak with a REALTOR®, insurance brokers, and home builders.

When Do You Get Insurance?

The time to obtain insurance and warranty coverage is at closing, so speak with a REALTOR® or insurance broker prior to closing. Be sure to ask about limitations, costs, deductibles, and “endorsements” (additional forms of coverage that may be available).