All homes, regardless of their size or shape, should be safeguarded. Because of this, there are several kinds of home insurance coverage.
The finest homeowners insurance offers a financial safety net when unanticipated occurrences cause damage, such a fire, regardless of whether you rent or buy, live in a mobile home, split-level ranch, or condo. There are policies made to cover various sorts of homes, so you should choose the one that best fits your living circumstances.
HO-1 Home Insurance Policy: What Is It?
The HO-1 offers basic protection and is often known as basic form homeowners insurance. Only one (or more) of the following 10 dangers may cause damage to your home for a HO-1 insurance to pay out:
- Lightning or flames
- Explosion due to wind or hail
- Civil unrest or a riot
- airplane-related damage
- Damage brought on by cars (such as when a car collides with your home)
- Smoke
- Vandalism or nefarious harm
- Theft
- outbursts of lava
Because it often only covers these 10 risks as opposed to the 16 or more that other insurance cover, a HO-1 policy is constrained. In most cases, it simply offers coverage for the house structure, at actual cash value. As a result, you won’t receive the whole money necessary to completely rebuild, only the house’s value less the depreciation due to age. Additionally, it typically excludes personal property, responsibility, and other living costs.
Due to the HO-1’s limited coverage, it is less expensive than other forms of insurance. The majority of states do not offer it, and if you have a mortgage, you are typically required by a lender to have higher levels of protection.
HO-2 Home Insurance Policy: What Is It?
The HO-2 insurance, which is also known as the broad form, offers protection against more risks than the HO-1 policy. The following additional risks are also covered by the HO-2 policy:
- Snow and ice’s weight
- Unintentional overflow of steam or water discharge
- freezing of air conditioning and plumbing
- A abrupt, unintentional event-related bulging or cracking
- Objects that fall
An intentionally created electrical current that causes sudden, unintended damage
HO-2 insurance covers:
- Dwelling protection for your home and any other structures you have on your land
- Your personal property is covered
- liability for oneself
- coverage for lost use or increased living costs
- The cost of others’ medical care
- Your possessions are only insured for their actual cash value, which is what they are actually worth after depreciation, under a HO-2.
What Exactly Is a HO-3 Homeowners Policy?
The HO-3 policy, which is the most typical kind of home insurance policy, offers enough coverage for the majority of homeowners. It provides coverage for liability, medical payments to others, and additional living expenses in addition to covering your property and possessions.
In contrast to HO-1 and HO-2 policies, HO-3 policies cover all risks to your home, unless they are specifically mentioned as exclusions. An “open peril” insurance is what it is known as.
An HO-3 policy, also referred to as a special form, will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your home up to the policy limits provided that the following usual exclusions were not the cause of the damage:
HO-4 Renters Insurance: What Is It?
The HO-4 policy, sometimes known as renters insurance, covers tenants of homes and apartments. The same 16 risks that are outlined in the HO-3 policy apply to belongings as well. Also included are additional living costs and liability insurance.
The rental unit itself is not covered by a HO-4 policy. For the structure to be covered, a landlord would require their own landlord insurance coverage.
The HO-5 Home Insurance Policy: What Is It?
The highest level of insurance protection for homes and possessions is provided by a HO-5 policy, also known as a comprehensive policy. Except for the situations stated as exclusions in the insurance, it covers your home and possessions in all situations. Similar to HO-3 policies, HO-5 policies also have exclusions.
Instead of actual cash value, a HO-5 policy will make payments for replacement costs. Liability, medical payments to third parties, and additional living expenses are also covered under a HO-5.
Insuring new construction is frequently a sensible idea with these all-inclusive coverage. Some home insurance providers do not provide HO-5 policies.
The HO-6 Home Insurance Policy: What Is It?
Condominium and cooperative residents are covered by the HO-6 policy. Condo insurance policies include “walls-in coverage,” which protects against:
- Any upgrades you made to the condominium after purchasing it
- Floors, walls, and ceilings
- individual possessions
- Extra costs for living
- Liability
- The cost of others’ medical care
Reviewing your condo association’s insurance coverage is a smart idea before purchasing a HO-6 policy. Avoid coverage gaps and steer clear of any redundant benefits provided by the association’s insurance.
HO-7 Home Insurance Policy: What Is It?
The HO-7 policy covers mobile homes, however it provides similar coverage to the HO-3 policy. For the trailer or mobile home’s structure, mobile home insurance is an open peril policy. Similar to the HO-3, this means that any harm is covered so long as it is specifically excluded. The insurance policy’s list of specified dangers, such as HO-3, is the only one that covers items.
Such building types are covered by HO-7 policies:
- Wide single- and double-wide modular homes
- Mobile homes with one and two wides
- Trailers
- Homes in sections
- Mobile homes
- A mobile home is normally only covered by a HO-7 policy when it is immovable. When the house is moving, it doesn’t offer coverage.

HO-8 Home Insurance: What Is It?
In general, HO-8 house insurance coverage are for older homes, often those constructed more than 40 years ago. The cost of rebuilding these homes is typically higher than the property’s market worth. HO-8 policies are typically in place for historic homes and designated landmarks. With a HO-8 coverage, your home and possessions are solely protected against the following 10 identified perils:
- Lightning or flames
- Explosion due to wind or hail
- Civil unrest or a riot
- Aircraft Vehicles
- Vandalism using tobacco or deliberate malice
- Theft
- explosion of lava