The best homeowners insurance for military members

Liberty Mutual is not exclusively for military members, but its collaboration with the nonprofit Military Benefit Association provides eligible policyholders with “special savings on your auto and home insurance.” While its website is unclear as to the extent of this savings or its requirements, you’ll likely learn more when you request a quote.

When it comes to protection, personal property comes standard with all Liberty Mutual policies — as does personal liability, medical payments, dwelling, and wind, hail, and hurricane coverage. The underwriter offers add-on endorsements for damage caused by backed-up water and overflow, no-deductible jewelry theft, and replacement cost payouts with no depreciation.

On top of that, you’ll save money on your premium through a laundry list of discounts. Policyholders will save for being claim-free, having a new roof, and purchasing either a new or newly-renovated home. You’ll also earn discounts for smart account management, such as going paperless, enrolling in autopay, and carrying multiple policies.

Yet, military households may find their best rate elsewhere. Even with military discounts for home and auto, Liberty Mutual may still cost more than its competitors. Nonetheless, premiums are personal, and the one this provider quotes you may well be competitive.

In any event, Liberty Mutual scored high marks in J.D. Power’s claims satisfaction survey, which signals that it meets the needs of its policyholders quite well.

Established in 1922 to provide veterans, active-duty service members, and their families with low-cost insurance, USAA has grown into a full-service financial institution providing products such as mortgage loans, deposit accounts, credit cards, and home and auto insurance, to name a few.

Yet, USAA is a cut above the competition when it comes to homeowners insurance, especially for active-duty military who could be called to serve their country at a moment’s notice. When you are deployed and your home is vacant, USAA waives occupancy clauses that void coverage — many other providers will cancel a policy after 30 to 60 days of vacancy.

USAA will also pay deployed and active-duty policyholders the full replacement costs for personal items, including military uniforms, without depreciation — even for belongings damaged or destroyed by an act of war. Furthermore, it provides a financial services and planning hub to make “deployment easier for military families.”

In addition, USAA offers home-sharing coverage for any policyholder with vacation rentals, investment properties, or those who rent out their primary residence.

Although USAA provides fewer discounts than other home insurance companies, it is well regarded for offering some of the lowest premiums on the market. It’s easy to see how USAA regularly takes the top spot for customer satisfaction in J.D. Power surveys.

Founded in 1887, Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) has been on a singular mission “to protect the people who protect our nation.” It’s this expertise that has helped AFI grow into one of the largest purveyors of insurance products for military households, including policies for auto, home, pets, watercraft, business, umbrella insurance, and more.

In fact, AFI’s homeowners insurance is arguably the most customizable in the marketplace. Its brochure provides details for over 30 endorsements with which to customize your home insurance policy. Whether you’re looking to insure your ranch’s water supply or a small business operating from your home, AFI may have an add-on to suit your needs.

This military insurer also shines when it comes to premium discounts — it has eight total on its website. Policyholders will save when they purchase a new home, install safety alarms, and get certified for either a Building Code Effectiveness Credit or a Safer Living Home Credit. Those who live in gated communities will also earn a discount, as will homeowners who fortify their properties against windstorms.

Moreover, AFI provides additional services for military families and veterans, including a PTSD Resource Center, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) information hub, and the Armed Forces Military Spouse of the Year program.

If you’re looking for home insurance with a nationwide reach and discounts just for veterans, then you should know about Geico. Although this carrier is better known for its auto insurance, Geico also contracts homeowners policies through its third-party network. In some ways, outsourcing underwriting can be a disadvantage (during the claims process, for example). But for veterans, it means Geico can match them with a partner best suited for their specific needs.

What’s more, not only can veterans enjoy the provider’s standing military discount of 15 percent, they can further save by being a military association member, which includes the Armed Forces Benefit Association (AFBA), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Navy League of the United States (NLUS), and more.

Active-duty service members may appreciate Geico’s emergency deployment discounts when they serve in areas designated by the Department of Defense as “imminent danger pay areas.”

On the other hand, Geico offers the home insurance that one expects to see — but not much else. The provider’s standard policy will likely meet the needs of the majority, but homeowners who want a menu of endorsements and add-ons from which to choose may want to consider Armed Forces Insurance or another company.

Still, Geico offers coast-to-coast coverage, cheap rates, and plenty of experience in the insurance industry.

On-the-go military personnel and those living off-base may have a lot to like about Farmers’ condo coverage. This well-established underwriter offers an affinity discount to “customers who are active-duty, active reserves, retired, and honorably discharged military veterans.” But you’ll have to get a rate quote either online or by phone to know how much of a discount Farmers will give you, as availability and the amount of savings varies by both state and policyholder. Nevertheless, since condo insurance rates are typically on the cheap end of the cost spectrum, military households stand to save big.

Keep in mind that condo insurance is nearly identical to a home policy — the primary difference being lower limits, and the fact that homeowners associations (HOAs) generally cover the exterior of the home, such as the roof and structural walls. This is presumably why Farmers sprinkles a few extra perks onto its standard policy. Military on deployment may enjoy the complimentary insurance for lost luggage and personal property while traveling, and the $5,000 worth of coverage for theft of jewelry and watches when serving overseas.

However, Farmers may have some customer service issues. J.D. Power gave this provider below-average marks for customer satisfaction in a recent report. That said, J.D. Power also awarded Farmers the bronze medal for property claims satisfaction, too. So, it may be best to speak with an agent and decide for yourself.