Whether you are in the process of purchasing a home or considering changing insurance agents or companies, there is one major decision you will have to make: "How much insurance do I need?" Your lender, for example, requires homeowner's insurance on your property with coverage only equal to the current outstanding balance of your loan. The lender is just looking to protect its investment in your property in the event of a total loss.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Homeowners' Insurance, like the Personal Automobile Policy, is a controlled class of insurance. That means that each state determines what coverages should be included in a policy form. The forms are substantially similar from state to state and from company to company within each state. Individual insurance companies may decide to offer enhancements to the mandatory requirements.

The information presented here is based upon a typical policy. Check with your insurance agent, as coverage may vary within your state or between insurance companies doing business where you reside.