What Is an HO-7 Policy — and Do You Need One for Your Manufactured Home?

If you own a manufactured home in Texas, a standard homeowner's policy won't cover it. The HO-7 is the policy form written specifically for manufactured and mobile homes — and understanding what it covers, and what it doesn't, is the difference between real protection and a gap you won't discover until you file a claim.

The HO-7 Is Built for Manufactured Homes — Not Adapted from a Site-Built Policy

An HO-3 policy is designed around a home built on a permanent foundation at the construction site. A manufactured home is built differently, transported differently, and carries a different risk profile — which is why it requires its own policy form.


The HO-7 addresses the actual structure of a manufactured home: the chassis, the roof system, the skirting, the tie-downs, and the materials used in factory construction. An HO-3 applied to a manufactured home would leave significant portions of that structure either undervalued or excluded entirely.


In Texas, where manufactured housing is one of the most common forms of homeownership, the HO-7 is the baseline standard — not a specialty workaround.

What Does an HO-7 Policy Cover?

A well-structured HO-7 policy covers the following:

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Dwelling coverage

The manufactured home structure itself, including walls, roof, floors, built-in appliances, and attached features like carports or awnings

Other structures

Detached storage buildings, fences, or utility sheds on the same property

Personal property

Furniture, electronics, clothing, and belongings inside the home

Liability protection

Coverage if someone is injured on your property and you are found responsible

Additional living expenses

Temporary housing costs if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss

Medical payments 

Limited coverage for medical expenses of guests injured on your property regardless of fault

Coverage limits, deductibles, and excluded perils vary by carrier and policy. What you put into the application — the age of the home, its condition, the tie-down system, the roof material — directly shapes what you get back in a covered loss. Accurate underwriting from the start is how you avoid surprises after a claim.

How Does an HO-7 Differ from an HO-3?

The core difference is the property type each form is designed to cover.


An HO-3 is written for site-built homes on permanent foundations. It uses replacement cost valuation standards calibrated to stick-built construction costs, and its exclusions are written around site-built risk profiles. Applied to a manufactured home, that structure is a mismatch.


An HO-7 uses valuation methods appropriate to manufactured housing — accounting for the home's depreciation schedule, construction materials, and the specific perils most relevant to manufactured homes in Texas, including wind, hail, and weather-driven structural stress.


The practical difference: if you file a claim under the wrong policy form, you may find that the payout doesn't reflect the actual cost to repair or replace your home.

Does an HO-7 Cover Wind and Hail Damage in Texas?

Wind and hail coverage is available under an HO-7 policy, but it is not automatic everywhere in Texas. In coastal and near-coastal counties — including parts of the Rio Grande Valley — wind and hail coverage may be excluded from a standard policy and require a separate endorsement or a policy through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).


Whether your home qualifies for wind coverage, and at what deductible, depends on where the home is located, how it is anchored, and which carriers are willing to write that risk in your area.


We represent all carriers licensed to write manufactured home insurance in Texas, which means we can compare wind coverage options across the market rather than fitting you into a single carrier's appetite.

What About Park Models and Stationary Fifth Wheels?

An HO-7 is the standard form for manufactured homes. Park models and stationary fifth wheels — units that are tied down, skirted, and used as a primary or seasonal residence rather than towed — are often written on a similar homeowner-style policy form, but the underwriting criteria differ.


If you own a park model in a south Texas community or a fifth wheel you've set up as a seasonal home, the coverage structure you need is closer to an HO-7 than to a travel trailer policy. We write those policies regularly and can walk you through the distinctions.

What Affects the Cost of an HO-7 Policy in Texas?

Several factors influence your HO-7 premium:

Year and age of the home

Older homes carry higher risk profiles and may require separate underwriting consideration

Construction and roof materials

Roof type and condition are among the most weighted variables

Tie-down and anchoring system

Properly anchored homes present lower wind risk

Location

County, flood zone designation, and proximity to the coast all affect pricing

Coverage limits and deductible selection

Higher deductibles reduce premium but shift more cost to you at claim time

Claims history

Prior losses on the home or by the insured affect carrier willingness and pricing

Accurate information on each of these factors is what allows a carrier to price your policy correctly. Understating the home's age or condition doesn't save money — it creates the conditions for a disputed claim.

  • What is an HO-7 policy?

    An HO-7 is a homeowner's insurance policy form written specifically for manufactured and mobile homes. It covers the structure, personal property, liability, and additional living expenses — using valuation methods and exclusions calibrated to manufactured housing rather than site-built construction.

  • What does an HO-7 policy cover in Texas?

    A standard HO-7 in Texas covers the dwelling structure, detached structures, personal belongings, personal liability, and additional living expenses after a covered loss. Wind and hail coverage availability depends on location — coastal counties may require a separate endorsement or TWIA policy.

  • What is the difference between an HO-7 and an HO-3?

    An HO-3 is designed for site-built homes on permanent foundations. An HO-7 is designed for manufactured homes. The two forms use different valuation standards and exclusion structures — applying an HO-3 to a manufactured home can result in coverage gaps that only surface when you file a claim.

  • Can I get an HO-7 policy for an older manufactured home in Texas?

    Yes, though older homes — generally those built before 1976 or with significant deferred maintenance — may require placement with a carrier that specializes in older manufactured housing. Not all carriers will write them, which is one reason working with an agent who represents the full Texas market matters.

  • Does an HO-7 cover my belongings inside the home?

    Yes. Personal property coverage is a standard component of an HO-7 policy, covering furniture, electronics, clothing, and other belongings up to the limit selected. High-value items like jewelry or collectibles may require a separate scheduled endorsement.

  • Do I need a separate flood policy with an HO-7?

    Yes. Flood damage is excluded from an HO-7, as it is from virtually all standard homeowner's policy forms. If your home is in a designated flood zone — common in parts of the Rio Grande Valley — a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood carrier is necessary.

If you have questions about what an HO-7 policy covers for your specific home — or you want a quote from the carriers actually licensed to write manufactured home insurance in Texas — we're ready to help.