Your home: It's much more than just a house or apartment. It's where you and your family live. It's also where you keep your possessions. In fact, you won't be able to get a mortgage without homeowners insurance. For these reasons, you need it. And even if you're not a homeowner, you should consider renters or tenant insurance.

Homeowners insurance will protect your house and its contents from risk of major hazards such as theft, fire and most other dangers - to the extent of the level of coverage you choose.

Your homeowners policy could also include additional coverage for valuables such as jewelry, computers, artwork and antiques.

Here are some tips for choosing a homeowners insurance policy:

• Know your home's value and replacement cost.
• Shop around, as different companies offer different prices and packages.
• Don't choose insurance based on price alone. Choose a company you know and trust.
• Be sure to know what is included in your coverage. You may need more coverage than is offered in a basic policy.
• Ask for discounts. Many companies will offer discounts if you are a low-risk customer, or if you have other products with them (such as your auto insurance).