A home insurance, also known as homeowners insurance, is an insurance policy that combines into one, the various personal insurance protections that can include losses occurring to the real estate property owned by an individual which is usually one's home, its contents, loss of its use in terms of additional living expenses, loss of other personal possessions of the homeowner, as well as liability insurance for any accidents that may happen at the property in question.

The cost of a home insurance usually depends on how much it would cost to replace the house in the event of a mishap and which additional riders or additional items need to be insured that are attached to the policy. The insurance policy in itself is a lengthy contract, and clearly describes what will and what will not be paid in the case of various unfortunate events that may cause losses to either the property itself of the contents within.

Generally, home insurance claims due to damages caused by earthquakes, floods, or other 'Acts of God', or war whose definition normally includes a nuclear explosion from any source, are excluded. Special insurance can however be purchased for these possibilities, including flood insurance and earthquake insurance, at an additional insurance premium.

The homeowners' insurance policy is typically a term contract which is one that remains in effect only for a fixed period of time. The payment that the person whose property is insured makes to the insurer is called the insurance premium and this is to be paid every term. Most insurers tend to charge a lower premium if it appears less likely that the home will be damaged or destroyed; for instance, if the house is in close proximity to a fire station, or if the house in itself is equipped with fire sprinklers and fire alarms.

Another type of home insurance without a fixed term is also available and is called Perpetual insurance, which can also be obtained in only certain earmarked areas. In the United States of America, most home buyers borrow money from financial institutions of banks in the form of a mortgage, and the mortgage lender almost always requires that the buyer purchase a home insurance as a pre-condition before the loan can be disbursed, in a bid to protect the lender's interest, in case the home were to be destroyed by some unfortunate turn of events. Therefore, anyone with an insurable interest in the property must be listed on the policy.