Insurance
Home insurance, explained
Your lender requires insurance before you can complete a purchase — but the rules, the coverage, and even what counts as 'flood' differ by country. Here's the honest version, with no insurers named and nothing to sell.
United States
Homeowners, flood (separate NFIP policy), earthquake, and title insurance — plus the 2025–26 market reality in Florida, California, Louisiana and beyond. All 51 states.
US insurance →
Canada
Lender-required (not legally mandatory), overland flood as an optional private add-on, and BC’s earthquake risk — with cost by province from Alberta to Quebec. 13 provinces & territories.
Canada insurance →
United Kingdom
Buildings and contents cover — and the big difference from the US: flood is usually included as standard, not a separate policy. What that does and doesn’t mean.
UK insurance →
The one difference worth knowing up front
Flood works three different ways across these countries — getting it backwards is one of the most expensive mistakes a buyer can make:
- United States — standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding; you buy a separate policy (usually the federal NFIP).
- Canada — flood isn’t included either, but it’s an optional private add-on (not a government program), and a separate one again for sewer backup.
- United Kingdom — flood is typically included in standard home insurance as standard.
That’s why each country is on its own page here rather than blended into one generic “insurance” explainer.