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When Is Homeowner's Insurance a Legal Requirement?

By Elizabeth Newberry

Most people are under the impression automobile insurance is the only kind of insurance that is a legal requirement in America � and, sometimes they�re correct. Health, life, long-term care � none of these kinds of insurances is a legal requirement. Homeowner�s insurance, on the other hand, is the exception. Sometimes homeowner�s insurance is a legal requirement, and sometimes homeowner�s insurance isn�t a legal requirement.

Purchasing homeowner�s insurance is a legal requirement when you�ve borrowed money from a lender, such as a bank, to pay for your home. When you borrow money from a lender, you are entering into a contract with that lender, and most often than not purchasing a homeowner�s insurance policy can be found in the terms and conditions. If your lender makes it a requirement for you to purchase homeowner�s insurance � and they usually do � then you must purchase homeowner�s insurance.

Why do lenders require you to purchase homeowner�s insurance? While you are the person who actually lives in the home, the lender is the party that actually owns the home; therefore, it�s understandable that the lender is going to take some serious interest when it comes to the condition of the home and the condition of anyone else in regards to the home. Should your house burn to the ground, your lender is stuck with a pile of charred ashes unless you have a homeowner�s insurance policy to cover the damages. Unless of course you are wealthy enough to repair your home yourself, from the ground up, which probably isn�t the case since you needed a loan to pay for the home in the first place.

The legal requirement of homeowner�s insurance may vary in your state, so be sure to check with your state�s insurance bureau. Even if your home is completely paid for and there�s no legal requirement for you to have a homeowner�s insurance policy, consider protecting yourself and your home with one, anyway.

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