Home Insurance in Texas
Protect your home, belongings, and liability with home insurance in Texas. Compare coverage options and request a free home insurance quote from Ava Sure.
Homeowners Insurance That Protects More Than Your House
Your home is more than a building. It’s where you live, the belongings you’ve worked for, and often one of your biggest financial investments.
A homeowners insurance policy can help protect your home, personal belongings, and financial well-being when covered damage or liability claims occur.
At Ava Sure Insurance, we help homeowners in Houston and across Texas understand their coverage options and compare policies based on both protection and price.
What Does Home Insurance Cover?
A typical homeowners insurance policy can provide several types of protection. The exact coverage and limits depend on your policy, property, and insurance carrier.
Dwelling Coverage
Coverage A — Dwelling helps pay to repair or rebuild your home after a covered loss.
One important point: your dwelling coverage is generally based on the estimated cost to rebuild your home, not its market value.
The cost to rebuild can be very different from what your home would sell for. Construction costs, materials, labor, and the characteristics of your home all matter when determining an appropriate coverage amount.
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Other Structures
Coverage may also extend to structures that are separate from your main house, such as:
- Detached garages
- Sheds
- Guest houses
- Fences
- Other detached structures
The amount of coverage varies by policy. Many homeowners policies provide a percentage of the dwelling limit for other structures
Personal Property
Your homeowners policy can also help protect the belongings inside your home, such as:
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Other personal belongings
Keep in mind that certain valuable items, such as jewelry, collectibles, or special collections, may have coverage limits. Additional coverage may be available when needed.
Personal Liability
Personal liability coverage can help protect you financially if someone is injured on your property or you are legally responsible for covered property damage or injury.
For example, if a visitor is injured at your home and you are legally responsible, liability coverage may help with covered legal expenses and damages up to your policy limit.
Common liability limits may include $300,000 or $500,000, but the appropriate limit depends on your circumstances.
Additional Living Expenses
If your home becomes temporarily unlivable because of a covered loss, your policy may help pay certain additional living expenses, such as temporary housing and other necessary costs.
Coverage limits and eligibility vary by policy.
Understanding Homeowners Insurance Deductibles
Your deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying before your insurance company pays a covered claim.
For example, if your home has:
Coverage A: $300,000
Deductible: 1%
Your deductible would be:
$300,000 × 1% = $3,000
So, for a covered claim subject to that deductible, you would generally be responsible for the first $3,000.
Some policies use a fixed dollar deductible, while others use a percentage of the insured amount. You may also have different deductibles for different types of losses.
Why does the deductible matter?
A higher deductible can sometimes reduce your premium, but it also means you will have to pay more out of pocket if you have a claim.
When comparing quotes, don’t look only at the monthly or annual premium. Make sure you understand the actual deductible amounts that apply.
Wind & Hail Coverage in Texas
Wind and hail are particularly important considerations for Texas homeowners.
Depending on where your property is located and the policy you purchase, wind and hail coverage may have a separate deductible or may not be included in a standard homeowners policy.
This is especially important for properties in coastal areas. In some areas along the Texas coast and in Harris County on Galveston Bay, a standard homeowners policy may not cover wind and hail damage, and separate coverage may be necessary.
If you’re buying a home or comparing homeowners insurance in the Houston area, ask:
- Is wind and hail covered?
- Is there a separate wind/hail deductible?
- Is the deductible a dollar amount or percentage?
- Does the policy have any limitations on roof damage?
These details can make a significant difference when you actually need to file a claim.
Your Roof Matters
Your roof can have a major impact on both eligibility and cost of homeowners insurance in Texas.
Insurance companies may consider factors such as:
- Roof age
- Roof material
- Roof condition
- Previous roof damage
- Location of the property
- Wind and hail exposure
Your roof may be covered on either a Replacement Cost or Actual Cash Value (ACV) basis, depending on the policy.
Some insurers may also change roof coverage as the roof gets older or may limit coverage if the roof is in poor condition.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value
This is one of the most important differences to understand when comparing homeowners insurance.
Replacement Cost
Replacement Cost coverage generally pays to repair or replace covered damaged property based on current costs, subject to your policy terms, limits, and deductible.
For example:
Cost to replace roof $15,000
Deductible -$3,000
Insurance payment* $12,000
*Example only. Actual claim payments depend on the policy, covered loss, limits, deductible, and claim conditions.
Actual Cash Value
Actual Cash Value takes depreciation into account.
The basic concept is:
Replacement Cost − Depreciation = Actual Cash Value
For example, if a roof would cost $15,000 to replace but its depreciated value is $9,000:
Replacement Cost $15,000
Depreciation -$6,000
Actual Cash Value $9,000
The applicable deductible would then also affect the amount paid.
Because of this, an ACV roof endorsement can leave you with substantially more out-of-pocket expense after a claim. Texas Department of Insurance specifically recommends understanding whether your policy provides replacement cost or actual cash value coverage.
What Homeowners Insurance Usually Doesn’t Cover
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is assuming that every type of property damage is covered.
A standard homeowners policy generally does not cover flood damage.
Flooding can happen even outside designated high-risk flood zones. Texas Department of Insurance notes that more than half of the homes flooded by Hurricane Harvey were outside designated flood zones.
Depending on your property and policy, you may also need separate or additional coverage for things such as:
- Flood
- Certain wind or hail exposures
- Earth movement
- Special or high-value belongings
- Higher liability limits
Your exact coverage depends on the policy and carrier.
What Information Do You Need for a Home Insurance Quote?
To help us find appropriate coverage options, we’ll ask you for information about your home and insurance history.
Depending on your situation, this may include:
Property Information
- Property address
- Year the home was built
- Approximate square footage
- Construction type
- Number of stories
- Roof age
- Roof material
- Recent renovations or updates
Insurance Information
- Current or previous insurance company
- Current coverage
- Policy expiration date
- Previous claims
- Desired coverage or deductible
Property Features
- Detached garage or other structures
- Pool
- Security system
- Other features that may affect eligibility or pricing
Why Compare Homeowners Insurance With Ava Sure?
The cheapest policy isn’t necessarily the best policy.
At Ava Sure Insurance, we help you look beyond the premium and understand the coverage behind the price.
We’ll help you review important details such as:
Coverage limits
How much protection do you actually have?
Deductibles
How much could you have to pay out of pocket after a claim?
Roof coverage
Is your roof covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
Wind & hail
What protection applies to your property?
Liability
Is your liability limit appropriate for your situation?
Our goal is to help you find a homeowners insurance option that makes sense for your home, your budget, and your level of risk.
Ready to Protect Your Home?
Get a homeowners insurance quote from Ava Sure Insurance.
Tell us a little about your home and we’ll review your information and contact you with your coverage options.
No obligation. No pressure. Just coverage options that fit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is homeowners insurance required in Texas?
Texas law does not generally require you to carry homeowners insurance, but if you have a mortgage, your lender will usually require you to maintain insurance as a condition of the loan.
Does homeowners insurance cover flooding?
Generally, no. Flood damage is typically excluded from standard homeowners policies, so separate flood insurance may be necessary.
Is homeowners insurance based on the market value of my home?
Not usually. Dwelling coverage is generally designed around the estimated cost to rebuild the home, rather than its market value.
What is a homeowners insurance deductible?
A deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying toward a covered claim before the insurance company pays the remaining covered amount, subject to the policy terms.
Does homeowners insurance cover my roof?
A homeowners policy may cover roof damage caused by a covered event, but coverage depends on the policy, the cause of damage, the roof’s condition and age, and whether the roof is insured on a replacement cost or actual cash value basis. Normal wear and tear is not covered.
What is the difference between Replacement Cost and Actual Cash Value?
Replacement Cost generally covers the cost to repair or replace covered property at current prices, subject to the policy and deductible. Actual Cash Value accounts for depreciation, which can reduce the amount paid on a claim.
Can I choose my own homeowners insurance company if I have a mortgage?
Generally, you can shop for and choose your own insurance company, as long as the policy meets your lender’s requirements.
How much homeowners insurance do I need?
There isn’t one coverage amount that works for every home. The appropriate amount depends on the estimated cost to rebuild your home, your personal property, liability exposure, and other factors. An agent can help you review your options.