Home Insurance in New Jersey and All 50 States
Stonebrook is an independent insurance agency that has protected New Jersey homeowners since 1982, and we place home coverage in all 50 states through our carriers and partners. We make sure your policy covers what it should, for what your home would actually cost to rebuild.
What home insurance actually covers.
A homeowners policy is really six coverages in one. Each has its own limit, and the right amount for each depends on your home, your belongings and your family.
Dwelling
The house itself: walls, roof, floors and attached structures like a garage or deck. This pays to repair or rebuild after a covered loss, and it is the coverage most often set too low.
Other Structures
Detached garages, sheds, fences and other structures on your property.
Personal Property
Furniture, clothing, electronics and everything else inside. Ask whether it pays replacement cost or depreciated value.
Loss of Use
Hotel, rent and added living costs if a covered loss makes your home unlivable while it is repaired.
Personal Liability
Protects you if someone is injured on your property or you damage someone else’s, including legal defense costs.
Medical Payments
Pays small medical bills for guests injured at your home, regardless of fault.
Which policy form? Owner-occupied single-family homes are usually written on an HO-3. Higher-value homes often need an HO-5 for broader protection of belongings. Condos use an HO-6, and rental properties use a dwelling fire policy (DP-3). We match the form to the home.
Water backup coverage is a must.
Most standard homeowners policies exclude water that backs up through a sewer or drain, or overflows from a sump pump. It is an add-on, and without it a backed-up sewer line or a failed sump pump can leave you paying for the cleanup and the rebuild yourself.
Default water backup limits are often low, and restoring a finished basement can cost far more than they pay. We recommend at least $25,000.
Water backup is not flood insurance. Flood, meaning rising water from outside such as storm surge or overflowing waterways, is a separate policy. Ask us whether flood coverage makes sense for your address.
Make sure your dwelling value is correct.
Your dwelling limit should match what it would cost to rebuild your home today, not what it would sell for. Market value includes your land and location. Rebuild cost is labor, materials and building code requirements.
If your limit is too low, you can be left paying the difference after a major loss, and some policies reduce payouts when a home is underinsured. Building costs have climbed in recent years, so a limit set a few years ago may no longer be enough.
As of 2026, we like to see dwelling coverage of about $250 per square foot of living space as a starting point.
Custom finishes, high-end kitchens, historic details and complex rooflines cost more to rebuild, so those homes need more.
Dwelling coverage guideline
This is a starting point, not a quote or a replacement cost estimate. Every home is different.
Request a replacement cost reviewOther coverages worth a look.
Extended Replacement Cost
Adds a cushion above your dwelling limit if rebuild costs spike after a widespread loss.
Ordinance or Law
Pays the added cost of bringing a rebuilt home up to current building codes, which matters most for older homes.
Scheduled Valuables
Jewelry, art, watches and collections listed item by item, with broader protection than standard limits. For high-value homes, see our Private Client coverage.
Service Line Coverage
Underground pipes and cables on your property, like sewer and water lines.
Equipment Breakdown
Mechanical and electrical failure of home systems and appliances.
Umbrella Liability
Extra liability protection above your home and auto limits.
All 50 states, with the deepest expertise in New Jersey.
Nationwide
Own a second home, a vacation property or a rental out of state? We place home coverage in all 50 states through our carriers and partners, so one agency can look after every property you own.
New Jersey since 1982
We have been placing New Jersey homes for over four decades, from shore homes with wind and flood exposure to older inland houses and newer developments. We know which carriers tend to fit which homes, and where the gaps tend to be.
Stonebrook is an independent insurance agency.
We don’t work for one insurance company. We work with more than 25 carriers, so we can compare coverage for your home instead of selling you a single company’s policy.
If a different carrier is a better fit for your home, because of its age, value, location or any other detail, we can place it there. That is the difference between an independent agency and an agent who can only offer one insurer.
We have been doing this in New Jersey since 1982, and we place home coverage in all 50 states through our carriers and partners.
Home insurance questions, answered.
What is an independent insurance agency?
An independent agency works with many insurance companies instead of just one. Stonebrook is an independent agency, so we can compare coverage across more than 25 carriers for your home.
How much home insurance do I need?
Your dwelling coverage should match what it would cost to rebuild your home today, not what it would sell for. As of 2026, Stonebrook likes to see about $250 per square foot of living space as a starting point, and more for custom finishes or complex construction. Ask us for a replacement cost review and we will check your limit against your home.
Does homeowners insurance cover water backup?
Usually not by default. Water that backs up through a sewer or drain, or overflows from a sump pump, is typically excluded unless you add a water backup endorsement. Stonebrook recommends a limit of at least $25,000.
What is the difference between replacement cost and actual cash value?
Replacement cost pays to repair or replace damaged property without subtracting for age and wear. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so the payout is lower. Check which one applies to your dwelling and to your belongings.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage?
No. Flood, meaning rising water from outside such as storm surge or overflowing waterways, is excluded from standard homeowners policies and needs a separate flood policy. Water backup coverage is different and is added to your homeowners policy.
Can Stonebrook insure a home outside New Jersey?
Yes. We place home coverage in all 50 states through our carriers and partners. Our deepest expertise is in New Jersey, where we have been since 1982.
How often should I review my home insurance?
At least once a year, and any time you renovate, finish a basement, add square footage or buy valuables. Building costs change, and a limit that was right a few years ago may be too low today.
Let’s make sure your home is covered correctly.
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Get a quote.
Tell us what you need and we’ll take it from there.