Home Insurance in Georgia

Are you protecting one of your largest investments—your home? If you don’t have comprehensive home insurance, you might be leaving one of your biggest assets uncovered. That’s where Obrella comes in. We make sure that shopping for and buying a Georgia home insurance policy is as painless as possible. Insurance experts make it easy to weigh your options so you can choose the policy that’s best for you.

What is the average cost of homeowners insurance?

Nationally, the typical cost of homeowners insurance is $1,034 per year. The average Georgia resident pays slightly less, at $975 per year, and that ranks the state as 23rd for the average cost of home insurance premiums in America.

• Median Home Value: 160,500
• Household Income: 49,555
• % of Income on Home Ownership: 30.50%

On average, Georgia residents pay less for their housing than most Americans, but they also have lower household incomes. Specifically, the median value of owner occupied housing in Georgia is $151,300, which works out to be $25,400 less than the national median of $176,700. However, the typical Georgia household income is $47,829, whereas the U.S. household income is $52,250. In Georgia, the percentage of owner occupied homes is 62.7%. That’s a bit lower than the national average of 63.5%, and ranks the state 34th in the nation for the percentage of owner occupied housing.

At 30.5%, those who live in The Peach State spend less of their income on home ownership costs than most Americans, but they still want to get the best policy for their money.

To find a Georgia homeowners insurance policy that offers solid coverage at the most competitive rate, contact an insurance expert and start comparing today at [mapi-phone-link /].

Determining Home Insurance Premiums in Georgia

With any new policy, insurance companies assess how risky it will be to insure your home. This has a direct effect on how much you pay for your policy. If there’s a good chance that the insurance company will wind up paying for damages to your home, your annual premium will be higher.

Home insurance providers assess risk by looking at the characteristics of the property as well as its surrounding area. The home’s size, date of construction, and amenities are all considered. Add-ons such as a swimming pool or guest home can increase your premium because they increase the home’s value and come with extra risks. Regional factors like crime rates, home prices, and the likelihood of a severe weather event or natural disaster in your area can also impact your insurance rates. The owner of a home on a flood plain, for instance, can expect to pay higher insurance premiums than the owner of a similar home on higher ground. Likewise, living in an area with high rates of vandalism and home burglary may also raise your costs. (For more information, read our “Protecting Your Financial Security: Latest Burglary Statistics”).

Fortunately, your homeowners insurance premium can be lowered with a few proactive steps on your part. Surveillance cameras, security systems, motion-sensitive lighting, and other home protection can help lower your rates. In some cases, simply having a high credit score can help make your premium more affordable.

Homeowners Insurance in Georgia

Many home insurance companies in Georgia give you a range of additional coverage options to choose from; here are a few examples:

• HO-1: Limited Coverage
  • No longer available in most states, this basic policy offers coverage against the first 10 classified disasters: fire or lighting, windstorms or hail, explosions, riots, damage caused by aircraft, damage caused by vehicles, smoke, vandalism, theft, and volcanic eruption. (For more information, read our “Understanding Homeowners Insurance Coverage For Volcanic Eruptions“)
• HO-2: Basic Policy
  • If any of the 16 classified disasters causes damage to your home, an HO-2 policy will give you basic protection.
• HO-3: Standard, most popular
  • This policy is the most popular due to its comprehensive coverage and relatively few exceptions.
• HO-8: Older Home
  • To protect against depreciation, this policy will usually reimburse homeowners for damage on an actual cash value basis, though some older homes may not qualify for full replacement cost policies.

Read more: Finding The Right Homeowners Insurance In Georgia

What is Covered By Standard Georgia Homeowners Insurance?

Typically, home insurance will only cover damage caused by particular events addressed in your policy’s terms. For example, if your basement floods but your policy doesn’t include flood coverage (read our full “Understanding Homeowners Insurance Coverage For Basement Flooding ” for more information), you won’t receive compensation for the damage.

To help you better understand the different policies and coverages available, check out the following home insurance coverage definitions:

• Coverage A – Dwelling
  • Covers damages to a home and any structures attached to the home. This includes damages to any of the home’s heating system, permanent air conditioning, wiring, or plumbing.
• Coverage B – Other Structures
  • Tool sheds, free-standing garages, fences, guest homes, and other non-attached structures are covered under Other Structures.
• Coverage C – Personal Property
  • Personal Property coverage reimburses homeowners for the value of damaged, lost, or stolen belongings, including furniture, clothing, computers, and TVs. This type of coverage even extends to items that were not lost, stolen, or damaged on the homeowner’s personal property—such as items in a storage unit.
• Coverage D – Loss of Use
  • During an extensive home repair, Loss of Use coverage will pay for living expenses.
• Coverage E – Personal Liability
  • If a homeowner is sued and found legally responsible for damages or injuries to another person, Personal Liability will cover the homeowner’s financial loss.
• Coverage F – Medical Payments to Others
  • In the event that someone is hurt on your property or by your pet, this coverage will take care of any resulting medical bills.

Georgia Insurance Resources

Georgia’s Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner: Can help answer your home insurance questions and investigate policyholder complaints. Its new Consumer Complaint Portal allows you to file a complaint online, or you can visit the office at: