Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Renting out a home or room through platforms like Airbnb or other short-term rental services can change how homeowners insurance applies. Many property owners assume their existing homeowners policy will continue to cover the home as usual, but short-term rentals often introduce risks that standard policies were not designed to handle. This guide explains how s

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Mobile homes face a different set of risks than traditional site-built homes, which is why standard homeowners insurance often isn’t designed to cover them. While mobile homes can provide affordable and flexible housing, they typically require a specialized insurance policy . This guide explains how mobile home insurance works in the U.S., what it usually cover

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Condo insurance works differently from standard homeowners insurance, which often leads to confusion for first-time condo buyers. While you may own your unit, you likely don’t own the entire building — and that distinction affects how insurance coverage applies. This guide explains how condo insurance (commonly called an HO-6 policy ) works in the U.S., what it

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Renters insurance is often misunderstood or overlooked, especially by first-time tenants. Many renters assume their landlord’s insurance covers their personal belongings or provides protection if something goes wrong inside the unit. In most cases, that isn’t true. This guide explains how renters insurance works in the U.S., what it typically covers, what it do

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Homeowners often expect insurance claims to feel decisive. Damage occurs, an adjuster visits, a check arrives, and the problem is resolved. When reality doesn’t follow that script, frustration sets in quickly. The truth is that home insurance claims rarely unfold in a single, clean sequence. They’re layered, incremental, and often incomplete at first — by desig

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Home renovations are usually celebrated. A remodeled kitchen, a finished basement, or a new addition feels like progress — an investment in comfort, value, and long-term enjoyment. What most homeowners don’t realize is that renovations can quietly change how insurance views the home. And when insurance doesn’t keep pace with those changes, coverage gaps can for

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Homeowners often assume that the value of their home is obvious. It’s what they paid for it, or what it would sell for today. That number feels tangible and real. Insurance, however, doesn’t work with market value. It works with replacement cost — and confusing the two is one of the most common reasons homeowners end up underinsured. Why Market Value Feels Like

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Homeowners insurance is commonly viewed as a comprehensive safety net, designed to protect against nearly any disaster that could affect a home. While the coverage is broad, it is not unlimited. Standard policies are built around defined risks and explicit exclusions, and many homeowners do not fully understand those boundaries until a loss occurs. When that ha

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Many homeowners assume that having an active insurance policy means their home is fully protected. In reality, coverage gaps are one of the most common and least understood problems in homeowners insurance. These gaps often remain invisible until a claim is filed, at which point homeowners discover that certain losses are limited, partially covered, or excluded

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Home insurance claims are often more stressful and complex than people expect. Unlike auto claims, which usually involve a single vehicle and a defined repair process, home claims can affect the structure you live in, your personal belongings, and your daily routine for months. Understanding how the claim process actually works helps homeowners avoid delays, re

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Most homeowners think about insurance in terms of damage to a roof, a burst pipe, or a windstorm ripping off a deck. But one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated parts of a homeowners policy isn’t about physical damage  at all — it’s about what happens after damage makes your home unlivable . That’s where loss of use  coverage comes in. This part of a

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. Most homeowners think about insurance in terms of property. Fire, storms, theft — events that damage things. Personal liability coverage exists for a different kind of risk: situations where someone is injured or suffers damage and you are considered legally responsible. These situations are rarely planned and often happen in everyday settings. A guest slips on

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. When homeowners think about insurance, the focus is usually on the structure of the house. Walls, roofs, and foundations feel tangible and permanent. Personal property, by contrast, often fades into the background — even though it may represent a large portion of a household’s financial value. Personal property coverage exists to protect the items you own insid

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. When people think about homeowners insurance, they usually picture the house itself. The roof, the walls, the foundation — that’s where attention naturally goes. But most residential properties include more than just the main dwelling, and that’s where other structures coverage comes into play. This portion of a homeowners insurance policy is designed to protec

Written by Walter J. , insurance research contributor focused on homeowners insurance at Insurance Policy Authority. When people think about homeowners insurance, they often picture protection for everything inside their home — furniture, electronics, clothing, and personal belongings. While those items are important, the true foundation of any homeowners policy is dwelling coverage. This is the part of the policy that protects the physical structure of your home itself, and