Homeowners Insurance in Michigan
Though you may feel as if you’ve traveled back in time when you visit Michigan’s famous Mackinac Island, the rest of the state is known as an economic hub that’s helped advance the manufacturing, agriculture and automotive industries. But that’s not all that Michigan has to offer. With plenty of coastlines, thousands of bike lanes and apple orchards to boot, the state shaped like a mitten has a few hidden gems up its sleeve.
Hippo is excited to announce that we are now servicing Michiganders from Detroit to Petoskey and everywhere in between. In fact, Michigan was our first state launch of 2021, and we’ve loved getting to know all the fun facts about this great state (who knew the state was home to so many haunted light towers?). For more information on what you can expect from home insurance policies in Michigan, check out our breakdown below.
How much is Michigan home insurance?
Michigan homeowners can expect to pay an average of $1,059 a year for a home insurance policy — or the cost of a Pistons season pass with enough leftover for plenty of pizza, Coney dogs and beer. This yearly premium comes in below the national average of $1,200, which makes sense given that Michigan is known to be a pretty affordable state (and if you live in Grand Rapids, you’re actually in one of the most affordable cities in the nation).
What factors influence my home insurance rate?
Though many move to the Great Lake State for, well, the Great Lakes, there are some things to be aware of when it comes to owning a home in Michigan. For one, living close to a large body of water can increase your risk of flooding. Second, the state experiences pretty harsh winters (from 40 to 120 inches of snow each year), meaning the weight of snow and ice could damage your home.
But we aren’t trying to talk you out of packing up your bags to see all that Michigan has to offer. Just the opposite. Your risk of experiencing these weather conditions, as well as your average premium, will vary greatly depending on your home’s location. So just make sure to do your research before the big move to ensure you can afford the protection you need to enjoy Michigan's sprawling parks and golf courses.
Michigan Home Insurance Premiums
What does homeowners insurance in Michigan cover?
Whether you bought a home in Michigan to explore their numerous fishing and ski spots or just to be closer to your favorite Detroit Bold Coffee, you’ll need home insurance all the same. A typical policy in Michigan will cover your home’s structure, personal belongings and liability. But for the ultimate protection, you might want to consider insurance riders.
Depending on where you live in the Great Lakes State, you may need a rider like flood insurance to protect you from rising lake levels or water backup coverage if your home’s plumbing system is on the older side. If you pride yourself on your vast collection of Wolverines memorabilia, you might want to consider scheduled personal property insurance to give your belongings extra protection.
Michigan Insurance Coverage Options
Traditional coverage
Physical Structure
Living Expenses
Liability Protection
Additional Structures
Personal Possessions
Supplemental coverage
Fire
Earthquake
Flood
Tips for lowering home insurance rates
Step into Colon, Michigan, and you’ve entered The Magic Capital of the World. Surprising? Yes, but the city actually draws in magicians from across the globe and is the biggest manufacturer of magic supplies in the world. But you don’t need to live in Colon to work magic on your home insurance premium — there are plenty of tips non-magic folk can implement to save a few bucks.
After you’ve bought your dream home, especially if it’s in a high-risk location or it’s an older home, you might experience a bit of sticker shock at the high price of insuring your home and its contents (that’s why it’s important to shop around to find the best price). But with a few updates such as adding in a security system, getting a smart thermostat, disaster-proofing your home and raising your deductible limit, you can easily lower your yearly premium.
Michigan home insurance resources
Michiganders are tough. Every year, they deal with harsh winters and several feet of snow that would send other states into a frenzy. But even so, ‘ganders still deserve a helping hand, and their government has set up several programs to do just that. From the Department of Insurance and Financial Services to independent insurance providers like Hippo, there are plenty of resources within arms reach.
National Flood Insurance Program
With over 3,000 miles of freshwater shoreline, Michigan residents are no strangers to flooding. To get protection for flood damage, similar to the rest of the country, Michigan homeowners will have to go through the NFIP. Luckily, this government-run program outsources to independent insurance companies, which makes getting this protection a breeze.
Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan
In 1968, the Michigan Basic Property Insurance Association was established to control Michigan’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan (FAIR). FAIR plans help give homeowners basic insurance coverage when they can’t get coverage anywhere else due to various reasons, such as living in a high-risk area or having a long history of insurance claims.
Ranked as the sixth happiest state for homeowners, our goal is to help Michigan homeowners climb that happiness ladder with a comprehensive policy that protects what really matters. Four times the coverage for electronics? We’ve got it. Automatic protection for things like service lines and water backups? We’ve got it. A great comprehensive policy? You’ve got it. Well, once you sign up with us, that is.
