Home insurance guide

Condo Insurance

Condo insurance (HO-6) fills the gaps your association’s master policy leaves. Here’s how the two policies fit together, what an HO-6 covers, and how to choose limits, based on regulator guidance checked in October 2026.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency serving clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed; coverage depends on the insurer, the policy, and underwriting.

Published by Blake Insurance Group LLC · Reviewed October 2026

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How condo coverage works

A condo owner relies on two policies: the association’s master policy and the owner’s HO-6. Washington’s insurance regulator explains that master policies can be all-in, original-finishes-only, or bare walls, which determines how much of the unit interior your HO-6 must cover. An HO-6 typically includes the unit structure as defined by the governing documents, personal property, liability, loss of use, and loss assessment coverage for special assessments.

Homeowners policy forms

HO-3 (special form). The most common homeowners policy; covers the house for all perils except those excluded and belongings for named perils.
HO-5 (comprehensive). Covers the house and belongings for everything not specifically excluded; not every insurer offers it, and it usually costs more.
HO-2 and HO-1. Named-peril forms with narrower coverage.
HO-4 (renters) and HO-6 (condo). For tenants and condo owners.
HO-8 (modified). For older homes that don’t meet other forms’ requirements, with more restrictive coverage.

Descriptions come from the Alabama Department of Insurance and NAIC’s consumer guide.

What a homeowners policy covers

Standard homeowners coverages
Coverage	What it pays for	Typical amount
A, Dwelling	The house and attached structures	Full replacement cost
B, Other structures	Sheds, fences, detached garages	About 10% of A
C, Personal property	Your belongings	About 50% of A
D, Loss of use	Extra living costs after a covered loss	About 20% of A
E, Personal liability	Injuries and damage you cause to others	Often $100,000 or $500,000
F, Medical payments	Small injury claims for guests	Often $1,000 per person

Source: New Jersey DOBI and NAIC consumer guides. Your policy’s amounts may differ.

What isn’t covered

Flood. Homeowners policies don’t cover flood; buy it through the NFIP or a private insurer.
Earthquake. Commonly excluded; available as an endorsement or separate policy.
Wear and tear. Maintenance problems and gradual deterioration aren’t covered.
Sewer or drain backup. Limited or excluded unless you add an endorsement.
Wind in some coastal areas. Sometimes excluded, requiring a separate wind policy.

Replacement cost vs. actual cash value

Replacement cost pays to repair or rebuild with materials of similar kind and quality. Actual cash value is replacement cost minus depreciation, so it often doesn’t pay enough to fully replace what you lost. Many policies pay replacement cost on the house and actual cash value on belongings unless you add replacement cost contents coverage. NAIC’s guide notes that if your dwelling limit falls below 80% of replacement cost, the insurer may reduce claim payments.

Why premiums have risen

Home insurance has become much more expensive. NAIC reports the average HO-3 premium rose 11.26% from 2021 to 2022, and Triple-I says home insurance premiums jumped 57% from 2019 to 2024, with repair and rebuilding costs up nearly 30% over five years. Triple-I reported signs of stabilization in late 2025, forecasting improved industry results.

Make a home inventory

NAIC recommends going room by room and recording everything, including electronics, jewelry, collectibles, and guns, with photos or video, and storing the inventory off-site or online. Record the description, value, purchase date, receipts, and serial numbers, and update it each year and after big purchases. NAIC offers a free Home Inventory app.

How to compare home insurance quotes

Set the dwelling limit at the cost to rebuild, not the market value.
Quote the same coverage: limits, deductibles, and endorsements.
Check deductibles, including wind, hail, or hurricane percentage deductibles.
Ask about endorsements such as water backup and replacement cost contents.
Check the insurer with your state insurance department and AM Best or Demotech.
Ask about discounts for bundling, security systems, and roof upgrades.

Deductibles explained

Your deductible is what you pay before insurance pays on a claim. Most homeowners policies have an all-perils deductible, often a flat dollar amount, and many also have a separate wind, hail, or hurricane deductible stated as a percentage of the dwelling limit. A 2% wind deductible on a home insured for $300,000 means you pay the first $6,000 of a wind claim. Choosing a higher deductible lowers your premium but raises what you pay after a loss, so pick one you could cover from savings.

Endorsements to consider

Water or sewer backup. Standard policies limit or exclude it; Maryland requires insurers to offer it.
Scheduled personal property. Covers jewelry, art, and collectibles above standard sub-limits.
Replacement cost contents. Pays to replace belongings without subtracting depreciation.
Ordinance or law. Helps pay for code upgrades required when you rebuild.
Extended or guaranteed replacement cost. Pays above your dwelling limit if rebuilding costs more than expected.
Earthquake. Available as an endorsement or separate policy in many areas.

Liability and umbrella coverage

Personal liability coverage pays if you’re legally responsible for someone’s injury or property damage, including legal defense. Homeowners policies often come with $100,000 or $300,000 of liability, and many people choose more. An umbrella policy adds liability coverage above your home and auto policies; Triple-I says insurers generally want about $250,000 of auto liability and $300,000 of homeowners liability underneath.

If insurers won’t cover you

If regular insurers won’t cover your home, most states have a fallback. NAIC says 33 states have a FAIR plan or similar residual mechanism, and some coastal states run separate beach or windstorm plans. These plans usually offer more limited coverage, often without liability or loss of use, and can cost more, so they’re a last resort; an independent agent can also check surplus lines insurers.

How to file a claim

Protect people and property first. Make temporary repairs to prevent more damage and keep receipts.
Report the claim promptly to your insurer or agent; policies require prompt notice, and some states set deadlines (Florida, for example, now gives one year to report a new claim).
Document everything with photos, video, and your home inventory.
Keep receipts for extra living expenses if you can’t stay home.
Get the adjuster’s estimate in writing and ask questions about anything you don’t understand.
If you disagree, ask about the policy’s appraisal process and contact your state insurance department.

Questions to ask before you buy

Which company issues the policy, and how is it rated?
Is the dwelling covered for replacement cost, and is there extended replacement cost?
Are belongings covered for replacement cost or actual cash value?
What deductibles apply, including wind, hail, or hurricane?
What discounts are available for bundling, alarms, or roof upgrades?
How are claims reported, and what are the deadlines?

Checking a plan and insurer

Insurer license. Confirm the insurer is licensed in your state.
Financial strength. Check AM Best or Demotech, depending on the insurer.
Complaints. NAIC’s Consumer Insurance Search shows complaint data.
Exclusions. Read what isn’t covered, especially flood and water damage.
Deductibles. Know every deductible that applies.

What an independent agency does

An independent insurance agency is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies. Instead of quoting one company's products, an independent agent can compare options from the insurers the agency represents, explain the differences in coverage, and help you re-shop at renewal. The insurance company, not the agent, makes underwriting and claim decisions.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. We work with clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed, and we will tell you which insurers we can quote for your situation.

How we work

Blake Insurance Group serves clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed. The insurers and plans we can offer depend on our appointments and your location; a company named on this page may not be available through us.

How to verify an insurer or agency

Before buying through any website or app, confirm who is selling you the policy and who will issue it:

Find the licensed agency or insurer named in the site's footer, terms, or license page.
Look up the agency or producer on your state insurance department's license search, or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
Look up the insurer on your state insurance department's company search to confirm it is authorized in your state.
Save the insurer's name and policy number once issued, since that is who handles claims.

A legitimate service will make this information easy to find. Be cautious if you cannot identify the licensed entity.

Sources

We checked the facts on this page against the sources below in October 2026. Plans, prices, and rules change, so confirm current terms before you buy.

What to have ready for a quote

These details help an agent quote accurately.

Property address. And the year built, square footage, and construction type.
Roof and systems. Roof age and material, plus electrical, plumbing, and heating updates.
Current policy. Your declarations page, so quotes match your coverage.
Claims history. Any losses in the last five years.
Safety features. Alarms, sprinklers, and storm protection.

Back to the quote form Call a licensed agent at 888-387-3687

Condo Insurance FAQs

What does condo insurance cover?

Your unit as defined by the governing documents, belongings, liability, loss of use, and loss assessment.

What is a bare walls master policy?

One that covers only to the drywall, so you insure interior finishes.

What is loss assessment coverage?

It pays your share of special assessments for covered community losses.

Does condo insurance cover flood?

No.

Important information

Independent agency. Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent insurance agency. Licensed insurance producer NPN 16117464. Licensed states: AZ, AL, TX, CA, NY, OH, FL, NC, VA, GA, OK, NM, IA, KS, MI, NE, SC, SD, WV, IL, NJ, PA, TN, and WA. Which insurance companies we can quote depends on our current appointments, the product, and your state. Mentioning a company on this page does not mean we represent it.

Company names. Company names are trademarks of their owners. Blake Insurance Group isn’t affiliated with the companies described unless a partner link says so, and a company named here may not be available through us. Facts checked October 2026.

State figures. NAIC average premiums are from 2022 data reproduced by Triple-I and aren’t quotes; prices have changed since. State rules were checked against official sources in October 2026.

Coverage terms. Descriptions are general. The policy contract controls what is covered.

Availability. Coverage, prices, and eligibility vary by company, state, and applicant, and are subject to underwriting. The issued policy controls.

Your next step

Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us.