The HOA's policy stops at the studs. Everything inside your unit is on you.
Your condo association insures the building and common areas — not the inside of your unit, not your belongings, not your liability, and not the assessment they can bill you after a big common-area loss. A condo policy (HO-6) is "walls-in" coverage that fills exactly that gap. The trick is knowing where the master policy stops and yours begins — and that's a conversation, not a guess. From an independent agency that places Nationwide.
The short answer
A condo policy (HO-6) is "walls-in" coverage: it protects the interior of your unit that you're responsible for (drywall, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, and improvements), your personal property, your personal liability, your loss of use if you're displaced, and — importantly — loss assessment, your share when the HOA bills unit owners after a covered common-area loss. The association's master policy covers the building and common areas. How much HO-6 you need depends entirely on whether that master policy is bare walls, single entity, or all-in — which is why we read it before setting your limits.
Two policies, one condo — and a gap in between.
"The HOA has insurance" is one of the most expensive assumptions in a condo. The master policy and your HO-6 do two different jobs, and the space between them is where owners get caught underinsured.
vs walls-in two different jobs
The HOA's master policy covers the structure and common areas — roof, exterior, hallways, elevators — paid through your dues. Your HO-6 covers the inside of your unit and everything you own.
The gap is exactly where your money is.
The master policy generally stops somewhere around your unit's walls. Everything on your side of that line — the flooring you installed, the cabinets, the fixtures, the upgrades, your furniture and electronics, and your liability if a guest is hurt inside — is yours to insure.
And there's a second gap most people never see coming: when a common-area loss costs the association more than its master policy pays, it can assess unit owners for the difference. That bill lands on you whether or not the damage touched your unit — which is what loss assessment coverage is for.
Bare walls, single entity, or all-in?
This one detail decides how much interior coverage your HO-6 needs. Get a copy of the association's master policy — we'll read it with you and size your unit coverage to fit the gap it leaves.
Bare Walls
The master insures only the basic structure. You're responsible for everything from the drywall in — fixtures, cabinets, flooring, and any upgrades. Your HO-6 dwelling limit needs to be highest here.
Single Entity
Adds the original fixtures inside your unit — the countertops, sinks, and built-ins as they were when built. You still insure your upgrades, belongings, and improvements.
All-In
The most comprehensive master policy — covers the structure, fixtures, and even improvements and additions. Your HO-6 dwelling need is smallest, but your belongings and liability are still yours.
Your unit, your stuff, your liability, your share.
Dwelling / Interior
The interior you're responsible for — drywall, flooring, cabinets, fixtures, and the improvements and betterments you've made to the unit.
Personal Property
Furniture, electronics, clothing and more — at home and away — against covered losses like fire, theft, and water backup. Add Brand New Belongings® to beat depreciation.
Personal Liability
Covers legal costs and settlements if you're responsible for someone's injury or property damage — inside your unit or elsewhere — up to your limit.
Loss of Use
Pays additional living expenses — a hotel, meals — if a covered loss makes your unit unlivable while it's repaired.
Medical Payments
Covers minor medical bills for a guest hurt in your unit, regardless of fault — a small limit that quietly heads off disputes.
Loss Assessment
Helps pay your share when the association assesses unit owners after a covered common-area loss — including your part of the master deductible.
Loss assessment is the one to get right.
Why a low default limit can hurt.
Here's the scenario: a fire or storm damages a shared building, the loss exceeds the association's master policy, and the HOA bills every unit owner for their share of the shortfall. Loss assessment coverage pays your portion — and it can also cover your share of the master policy's deductible when that's assessed. Since some associations carry deductibles of $25,000 or more, a bare default loss-assessment limit (sometimes as low as $1,000) can leave you badly exposed. Raising it is inexpensive, and it's the first thing we check on a condo policy.
Flood and earthquake aren't in it.
Neither the master policy nor your HO-6 includes flood, and earthquake is typically excluded too — worth a look in Arkansas, which sits near the New Madrid seismic zone. Both can be handled separately; we'll tell you honestly whether your building needs them.
Townhomes and condos, hail overhead.
Condo and townhome living has grown fast across Northwest Arkansas — Bentonville, Bella Vista, Rogers, and Fayetteville all have associations of every size. Two local realities shape the coverage. First, your lender will require an HO-6 at closing, and they'll want it sized correctly against the master policy. Second, this is hail country: when a storm batters a shared roof, that's a master-policy claim — but if the repair (or the deductible) gets assessed back to owners, your loss assessment coverage is what answers for your share.
That's why we start every condo quote the same way: get the association's master policy, see whether it's bare walls or all-in, size your interior coverage to the gap, and set a loss-assessment limit that reflects a real special assessment — not a token default.
The pieces we'll talk through.
Priced on your unit — and your master policy.
Condo coverage is usually modest, but the price depends on your unit and on how much the master policy already covers — which is another reason to read it first. This isn't a quote or a guarantee. What moves the number:
Backed by an A (Excellent) carrier.
On November 7, 2025, AM Best affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), stable outlook, for the members of the Nationwide Property and Casualty Group.
Where Nationwide fits condo owners
- A full HO-6 with the pieces that matter — walls-in dwelling, personal property, liability, loss of use, and loss assessment — plus options like Brand New Belongings.
- A yearly On Your Side® Review to keep your coverage matched to changes in your unit and your association's master policy.
- Bundles with auto for a multi-policy discount, and placed through an agent who can read the master policy with you.
- A policyholder-owned mutual, rated A (Excellent) by AM Best for the P&C group that writes this coverage.
What we'll tell you honestly
- Read the master policy. We won't set your limits until we know whether it's bare walls or all-in — guessing is how condo owners end up under- or over-insured.
- Raise the loss-assessment limit. The default is often far too low for a real special assessment or master deductible.
- Flood and earthquake are separate — we'll flag whether your building needs them.
- We'll tell you when Nationwide isn't the fit. It's one of 40+ markets we place, and we don't adjust your claim — but we advocate for you.
The policies around your condo.
Nationwide condo (HO-6) questions.
If the HOA has insurance, why do I need my own condo policy?
Because the HOA's master policy covers the building and common areas — the roof, exterior, hallways, elevators — not the inside of your unit or anything you own. Your HO-6 is "walls-in" coverage: it protects the interior you're responsible for, your personal property, your liability, your living expenses if you're displaced, and your share of an association assessment.
The master policy and your HO-6 are two different jobs, and the gap between them is exactly where owners get caught.
What is loss assessment coverage, and why does it matter?
When a covered loss to a common area costs the association more than its master policy pays, the HOA can bill the difference back to unit owners as a special assessment — and you owe your share. Loss assessment coverage helps pay that share, and can even help with your portion of the master policy's deductible if it's assessed.
That matters because some master deductibles run $25,000 or more. The default limit on a policy is often low, so raising it is one of the smartest cheap moves a condo owner can make.
What's the difference between a bare walls and an all-in master policy?
It's the single most important thing to know about your condo coverage. A bare-walls master policy insures only the basic structure — you're responsible for everything from the drywall in, including fixtures, cabinets, flooring and upgrades. A single-entity policy adds the original fixtures inside your unit. An all-in policy covers the most, including improvements.
How much dwelling coverage your HO-6 needs depends entirely on which one your association carries, so we read your master policy before setting your limits.
Does my condo policy cover the roof or the building?
No — the building structure, roof, and common areas are the association's master policy. Your HO-6 covers the interior of your unit that you're responsible for, your belongings, and your liability.
If hail damages the common roof, that's a master-policy claim; but if the repair triggers a special assessment on unit owners, your loss assessment coverage is what responds to your share.
Does condo insurance cover flood or earthquake?
Not by default. Flood is excluded from both the master policy and your HO-6 and must be written separately if it's an exposure. Earthquake is also typically excluded and can be added by endorsement — relevant in Arkansas, which sits near the New Madrid seismic zone.
We check both for your building and tell you honestly whether you need them.
How do I get a Nationwide condo quote in Northwest Arkansas?
Start at our personal lines quote form or call (479) 286-1066. The most useful thing to have is a current copy of your association's master policy or declaration, because that determines how much interior coverage you actually need.
Bring that and a rough value of your belongings, and we'll size the HO-6 correctly, set a real loss-assessment limit, and put it up against our other markets.
If our coverage guides are helpful, mark Cribb Insurance as a preferred source so more Northwest Arkansas condo owners find our local explanations.
Bring us your master policy. We'll size the rest.
Send us your association's master policy or declaration and a rough value of your belongings. We'll figure out whether it's bare walls or all-in, size your walls-in coverage to the gap, set a loss-assessment limit that survives a real special assessment, and put it up against our other markets. If another carrier fits your building better, we'll say so.
Cribb Insurance Group Inc. is an independent insurance agency licensed in Arkansas. We are not Nationwide, and this page is not endorsed, sponsored, reviewed, or approved by Nationwide. "Nationwide," the Nationwide N and Eagle, "Nationwide is on your side," "On Your Side," and "Brand New Belongings" are service marks or trademarks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, used here nominatively to identify products we are appointed to place. Nationwide's Arkansas condominium (HO-6) policies are issued by Nationwide-affiliated underwriting companies.
This page describes coverage in general terms for informational purposes only. It is not a policy, not an offer of insurance, and not a guarantee of coverage, availability, eligibility, or price. Coverages, optional features, limits (including loss assessment and dwelling/interior limits), and availability vary by state, by policy, by your condominium association's master policy, and over time, are set by the carrier, and are subject to underwriting review and to the terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy actually issued. How much HO-6 coverage you need depends on your association's master policy (bare walls, single entity, or all-in), which you should confirm directly. A condo policy does not cover the building structure or common areas (the association's master policy) and does not include flood; earthquake is typically excluded and may be available by endorsement. If anything on this page conflicts with the issued policy, the policy controls.
Financial strength ratings are opinions of an insurer's ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations, are subject to change, are not recommendations to purchase, hold or terminate any policy, and do not address an insurer's claims-handling practices; current ratings are at ambest.com. The A (Excellent) rating referenced applies to the members of the Nationwide Property and Casualty Group; a separate Nationwide life/annuity company carries its own rating. Statements about Arkansas seismic exposure, lender requirements, and association assessments are general information; confirm your specific master policy and exposures. If anything here conflicts with the issued policy, the policy controls.
Last reviewed July 2026.