If you’re in the process of 购买 a home or just starting your search, it’s never too early to start researching an important aspect of owning a home: insurance. Your lender will likely require homeowners insurance if you’re financing the purchase, and even if it’s not required, insurance can help mitigate some of the risks and costs that come with owning a home. 

根据 Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), homeowners insurance policies typically cover damages from:

  • 火与闪电
  • Sudden and accidental release of water or smoke
  • 爆炸
  • 盗窃
  • Vandalism, 恶意的 mischief, riot, and civil commotion
  • 飞机及车辆
  • Windstorm, hurricane, and hail (but not on the Gulf Coast).

However, policies often don’t cover damages from:

  • 洪水
  • 连续漏水
  • Termines, insects, rats, or mice
  • Losses that occur if your home as been vacant for a specified number of days
  • 损耗
  • Earthquakes or earth movement
  • Wind or hail to trees and shrubs.

To help you research what carrier or policy options will be best for you, the TDI has a number of resources, including information about discounts, what insurance credit scoring is and which carriers use it, 样本率, 和更多的. 你也可以 download a checklist from the TDI to help with your homeowners insurance research process.