Find the right homeowners policy form based on how you own your home and what you need covered.
Answer a few questions to see which policy form fits your situation, and compare estimated coverage differences.
How
This tool matches your home ownership type and coverage preferences to the policy form built for your situation, then estimates the typical cost difference between forms.
HO-3, HO-5, and HO-6 aren't quality tiers of the same policy, they're built for different situations. HO-3 and HO-5 apply to single-family homeowners, differing mainly in how broadly personal property is covered. HO-6 applies specifically to condo and co-op owners, who don't own the building structure itself.
The tool does not require personal information and does not generate a binding quote.
Factors
Higher value homes or homes with significant belongings sometimes favor HO-5's broader protection, since the potential gap HO-3's named peril limitation leaves matters more as the value at risk increases.
Not every insurer offers HO-5 for every home type or value range. Availability varies more than it does for HO-3, so confirming which forms a specific insurer actually offers is a real part of the decision, not just a preference exercise.
This is the primary factor. Condo and co-op owners need HO-6 regardless of other preferences, since HO-3 and HO-5 are built to cover a structure you don't actually own. Single-family homeowners choose between HO-3 and HO-5.
HO-3 covers personal belongings on a named peril basis, meaning only specifically listed causes of loss are covered. HO-5 covers belongings on a broader open peril basis, matching the same broader protection given to the dwelling itself.
Homeowners who want the simplest, most cost effective option that still meets typical needs generally fit HO-3. Homeowners who want the broadest available protection, particularly for higher value belongings, generally fit HO-5.
Why
Insurer availability for HO-5 specifically varies more than HO-3, since some insurers only offer it for certain home types or values. This tool's recommendation reflects which form typically fits your situation, but actual availability should be confirmed with a specific insurer.
When
Using this tool before requesting quotes helps you ask for the right policy form from the start, rather than discovering mid-quote that you’ve been comparing options that don’t actually apply to your situation.
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The table below illustrates typical annual cost differences between policy forms for a comparable single-family home.
Note: These figures illustrate typical relative differences. Actual premiums depend on your specific home, location, insurer, and coverage limits.
HO-3 is built to cover an entire structure you own outright, which doesn’t match a condo or co-op situation where the building itself is covered by the association’s master policy. HO-6 is specifically designed to cover what you’re actually responsible for: your unit’s interior, personal belongings, and liability.
Not necessarily. The extra cost buys broader personal property protection, which matters more if you have higher value belongings or simply want the broadest protection available without evaluating specific named perils. For lower value belongings, the gap HO-3 leaves open rarely becomes a real problem.
In most cases yes, many insurers allow this upgrade at renewal, since it mainly extends personal property to broader coverage rather than requiring an entirely different underwriting process.
No. Master policies typically cover the building’s shared structure and common areas, not your unit’s interior, personal belongings, or your personal liability. HO-6 fills exactly that gap, and skipping it leaves those specific areas uninsured.
A rough estimate is fine for this tool’s recommendation. For an accurate figure, a room by room inventory of your belongings, including approximate replacement cost, gives a much more precise picture when actually setting your coverage limit with an insurer.
This tool focuses on policy form selection specifically. Replacement cost versus actual cash value is a separate decision that applies within whichever form you choose, and it significantly affects what a claim actually pays out.
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