Affiliate Disclosure: This Old House‘s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
Homeowners insurance policies can give you peace of mind. If you own a home in Houston, you have likely thought about the worst-case scenario—fire, storm damage, flooding, and more. Your home insurance policy can help protect your wallet when these incidents occur, covering some of your repairing, rebuilding, and replacement costs.
Once you’ve decided you want a homeowners insurance policy, you have to do some research. There are many home insurance companies that serve Houston, but they can differ in terms of factors like coverage, cost, and customer service quality. In this guide, we examine the top providers in the area so you can find the one that’s right for you.
Houston’s Top 4 Homeowners Insurance Companies
The highest-rated homeowners insurance companies in Houston include:
- Allstate: Best Overall
- Amica: Best Customer Service
- Farmers: Most Customizable Coverage
- Lemonade: Quickest Sign-Up
The best homeowners insurance companies in Houston have strong reputations and offer comprehensive coverage along with a variety of endorsements to customize your coverage. Read on to learn about the differences between our top four picks.
Compare the Best Homeowners Insurance Companies
See how the top homeowners insurance companies in Houston stack up on key metrics.
Companies
| Provider | Get a Quote | Known For | Score | Monthly Cost* | Years in Business | States Covered | BBB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allstate | Not available through This Old House | Best Overall | 98.10 | $210 | 89 | 50 | A+ |
| Amica | Not available through This Old House | Best Customer Service | 96.60 | $213 | 113 | 48 | A+ |
| Farmers | Not available through This Old House | Most Customizable Coverage | 94.40 | $258 | 92 | 50 | A+ |
| Lemonade | Lemonade.com | Quickest Sign-Up | 83.50 | $25 and up | 5 | 23 | B+ |
| Provider | Get a Quote | Known For | Score | Monthly Cost* | Years in Business | States Covered | BBB Rating |
*Cost may be calculated for homes of slightly varying values
Industry-Standard Coverage
Most home insurance companies provide six basic forms of coverage—dwelling, other structures, personal property, loss of use/additional living expenses, personal liability, and medical payments to others. Each of our top recommendations offers these protections. You can find a breakdown below.
Coverage
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Dwelling + other structures | Covers the cost of repairing or replacing the home’s interior and exterior, in addition to any other structures on the property |
| Personal property | Covers the replacement of personal possessions, including clothing, electronics, and furniture |
| Personal liability | Covers attorney fees, court fees, and damages resulting from someone being injured on your property |
| Loss of use/additional living expenses | Covers living expenses like dining and accommodations if your home is temporarily uninhabitable due to covered damage or destruction |
| Medical payments to guests | Covers the medical expenses if someone is injured in your home |
| Type | Description |
1. Allstate
Allstate is our top choice for homeowners insurance, earning it the ranking of best overall. As the second-largest home insurer in the country, Allstate has strong financial backing. Its long list of endorsements makes it a great choice, along with its 24/7 customer service center that handles concerns and questions in addition to claims.
Weigh the pros and cons of Allstate below.
Pros and Cons of Allstate
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Many endorsement options | Average customer satisfaction ratings |
| Second-largest homeowners insurance provider in the U.S. | |
| 24/7 customer service for all insurance questions | |
| Pros | Cons |
Plans and Pricing of Allstate
We received an instant quote for a new construction, single-family, approximately 2,000-square-foot home in Houston valued at roughly $230,000. The monthly premium came out to $210.
Plans
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $232,900 |
| Other structures | $23,000 |
| Personal property | $140,000 |
| Loss of use | $23,000 |
| Liability | $100,000 per occurrence |
| Medical payments to others | $1,000 per person |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $210 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Allstate offers a variety of discounts to help reduce your premium:
- Multi-policy
- Early signing
- Claim-free
- Home alarm
- Roof
- Smoke-free
- Storm shutter
- Homebuyer
- Easy Pay Plan
- Age 55 and retired
- Welcome and loyalty
Allstate Endorsements
Below is a sampling of Allstate’s add-on coverage options. Homeowners insurance add-on coverages can vary depending on the location, so you’ll need to check your personalized quote to find out which ones are available in your area.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal umbrella policy | Increases limits of personal liability coverage and adds coverage for lost wages and legal fees |
| Earthquake | Covers repairs or replacement of your home after an earthquake |
| Flood | Covers repair or replacement of your home in the event of a flood (required for homeowners in certain locations) |
| Water backup | Covers water damage caused by clogged drains or sump pump failure |
| Scheduled personal property | Covers valuable personal belongings, including jewelry, antiques, and more |
| Business property | Covers computers and other home office equipment or equipment from a small business run out of the home |
| Sports equipment | Covers golf clubs, skis, bicycles, and other sports equipment |
| Identity theft protection | Covers legal fees and others costs associated with identity theft or fraud |
| Green improvement reimbursement | Increases coverage to upgrade appliances with more energy-efficient uses after a loss |
| Electronic data recovery | Covers costs for recovering lost computer data |
| Yard and garden | Covers trees, landscaping, and ornamental plantings or adds coverage for lawn equipment |
| Musical instruments | Covers valuable musical instruments |
| Type | Description |
2. Amica
Amica® offers accessible and high-quality customer service. The home insurer has the valuable feature Contractor Connection to connect homeowners with pre-approved contractors within as little as 24 hours to work on repairs. Customers can keep track of their progress online, and the contractors come with a five-year workmanship warranty.
Weigh the pros and cons of Amica below.
Pros and Cons of Amica
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Extensive coverage | Not available in Alaska and Hawaii |
| Affordable rates | Does not use local agents |
| Contractor Connection | |
| Pros | Cons |
Plans and Pricing of Amica
Our instant quote was for a new construction, single-family, roughly 2,000-square-foot home in Houston valued at roughly $230,000. The monthly premium came out to $213.
Plans
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $230,000 |
| Other structures | $23,000 |
| Personal property | $115,000 |
| Loss of use | $69,000 |
| Liability | $500,000 |
| Medical payments to others | $5,000 |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $213 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Amica offers a variety of discounts:
- Multi-policy
- Claim-free
- E-discount
- Autopay
- Loyalty
- Alarm system
- Automatic detection devices
- New and remodeled homes
Amica Endorsements
Amica offers a range of optional add-on protections.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Personal property replacement | Fully covers the replacement cost for stolen or damaged items, instead of depreciated value |
| Scheduled personal property | Offers more extensive protection for valuable items like jewelry and antiques |
| Automatic dwelling coverage increase | Increases coverage limits when the cost to rebuild your home exceeds what your underlying policy allows |
| Credit card | Covers up to $5,000 if your card is used fraudulently |
| Water backup/sump pump failure | Covers damage from water backup and sump pump failure |
| Computer | Covers computers, tablets, smart televisions, and smartphones |
| Catastrophic | Covers damage due to earthquakes and floods |
| Liability and medical payment | Increases liability coverage for legal fees and medical expenses |
| Type | Description |
3. Farmers
Farmers is a respected brand name with comprehensive coverage as well as some impressive perks that aren’t common among homeowners insurance providers. Claims forgiveness waives your surcharge if you go five or more years without filing a claim. Another stand-out feature, declining deductibles, means that every year your policy is in force, Farmers will take $50 off of your deductible.
Weigh the pros and cons of Amica below.
Pros and Cons of Farmers
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Claim forgiveness | Fewer endorsements than competitors |
| Declining deductibles | Website lacks some details |
| Available nationwide | |
| Pros | Cons |
Plans and Pricing of Farmers
Our instant quote was for a new construction, single-family, roughly 2,000-square-foot home in Houston valued at roughly $250,000. The monthly premium came out to $258.
Plans
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $256,000 |
| Other structures | $12,800 |
| Personal property | $102,400 |
| Loss of use | $25,600 |
| Liability | $300,000 |
| Medical payments to others | $1,000 |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $258 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Farmers offers several discounts to lower your monthly premium:
- Claim-free
- Non-smoking
- Multi-policy
- Protective devices
- New home
- Roofing materials
Farmers Endorsements
Farmers offers relatively few endorsements to help you round out your coverage.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Eco-rebuild | Provides extra coverage to rebuild your home with green, energy-efficient materials after a covered loss |
| Personal articles floater | Provides additional coverage for valuables like art, collectibles, or jewelry |
| Identity Shield | Provides coverage up to your policy limit if your identity is stolen |
| Contents replacement cost | Provides the full replacement cost of stolen or damaged property (not less depreciation) |
| Type | Description |
4. Lemonade
Lemonade has only been in the industry for a few years, but its forward-thinking approach has made it a popular provider. The insurer has a focus on technology with a mobile app that allows customers to upload video explanations of their issues, and almost a third of claims are handled instantly.
Pros and Cons of Lemonade
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy-to-use mobile app | No auto insurance |
| Nearly a third of claims handled instantly | Not available nationwide |
| Charitable Giveback program | |
| Pros | Cons |
Plans and Pricing of Lemonade
We received an instant quote for a single-family, new construction, roughly 2,200-square-foot home in Eureka, California. The premium came out to a very affordable rate—$60.75.
To find out how much it would cost to cover your home, get a free quote from Lemonade by visiting the company’s website.
Plans
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
|---|---|
| Dwelling | $350,000 |
| Personal property | $175,000 |
| Loss of use | $105,000 |
| Liability | $300,000 |
| Medical payments to others | $1,000 per person |
| Deductible | $1,000 |
| Monthly Cost | $60.75 |
| Type of Coverage | Amount of Coverage |
Discounts
Lemonade offers several discounts:
- Fire protection
- Protective devices
- Gated community
- Multi-policy
Lemonade Endorsements
Lemonade offers a variety of add-on protections.
Endorsements
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Scheduled personal property | Covers the cost to replace damaged or stolen valuable items like jewelry, art, and furs |
| Home business | Covers operating a business out of the home |
| Earthquake | Covers the cost of repairing and rebuilding structures after damage from an earthquake |
| Sewer backup | Covers cost of damage to home after sewer backup |
| Type | Description |
Our Conclusion
Each of these top home insurance companies stands out with positive features, from technology to customer service. Allstate is the best overall with many customization options and a 24/7 call center that isn’t restricted to claims issues. Amica has high-quality customer service, including the Contractor Connection program that speeds up the repair process. Farmers is known for its declining deductibles and claims forgiveness policies, and Lemonade offers a convenient solution to claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is homeowners insurance in Houston?
The amount you pay for homeowners insurance in Houston will depend on a variety of factors, including where you live, the age and size of your home, the materials it was constructed with, the deductible you choose, and more.
Why is home insurance so expensive in Texas?
Texas has the fifth-most expensive home insurance rates in the country, according to Insurance.com. The high costs are attributed to weather-related risks like hurricanes, tornados, and windstorms.
Is it better to have a high or low deductible for homeowners insurance?
This will depend on your priorities and finances. In general, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. The most common insurance deductible is $1,000, according to American Family Insurance.
Our Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team values accuracy, transparency, and trust. With that in mind, we created a thorough, objective rating system to score each home insurance company based on the following six factors:
- Coverage (30)
- State availability (7.5)
- Customer service (15)
- Technology (12.5)
- Reputation (20)
- Additional benefits (15)
Our Reviews Team has a full-time researcher who collects and regularly updates data points from every company to help us compare them on key factors such as coverage, service, and dependability. Read more on our methodology here.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.