• Covers your home from damage or destruction • Only certain disasters are covered • Some policies cover possessions • Some policies pay living expenses while house is being rebuilt or repaired • Provides liability coverage for anyone injured on your property • Differences in how reimbursement is calculated – actual cash value vs. replacement cost • Replacement cost coverage is more expensive • Required in most states • 5 main types: HO-1, HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, HO-6 • Assorted amendments can be added to increase coverage • Premium based on replacement cost of house • Don’t just buy the cheapest policy – make sure you are well-covered • Start looking for coverage ahead of time • Calculate costs on your own to insure you are getting a good rate – building costs vary from area to area, so find out information for your area • Don’t insure your land if money is an issue, just your home and its contents • Make a home inventory and store it at someone else’s house • Include receipts for expensive items with the home inventory • Report any remodels or upgrades to your insurance company, as they could affect coverage read more

What comes to your mind when you think about home security? For most people it is the peace of mind that it can provide. After all, our homes are our comfort zone. Our homes provide us with a place that we consider a sanctuary from the chaos of the world. But in today's world we need more than simple locks to provide us with the type of security we want and need. read more

• Most lenders require title insurance • Title insurance protects your ownership of a property • Title insurance costs vary widely based on property value and location • Real estate can be transferred without a public record, meaning someone could have rights to your property that you can have no way of knowing about • Title companies focus on clearing up any problems before they arise • Some title insurance firms made huge profits during recent housing boom read more