The association's master policy covers the building structure, common areas, and shared systems-but it stops at your unit's walls (or at the original interior finishes, depending on the policy type). Your HO-6 fills the gap: it covers your interior walls-in, personal property, personal liability, and additional living expenses after a covered loss. In New Mexico, master policies and bylaws vary between adobe complexes, modern high-rises, and territorial-style developments, so reading both documents together is essential.

The answer is in two documents: the master policy certificate and the insurance section of your condo bylaws or master deed. A bare-walls (studs-out) policy covers the structure up to the unfinished interior surface-drywall, flooring, cabinets, and fixtures are your responsibility. An all-in (single-entity) policy covers standard original finishes too, leaving you responsible only for upgrades and personal property. A modified all-in sits in between, with specific carve-outs. We'll read these documents with you and size your Coverage A accordingly.

Loss Assessment coverage pays your share of a special assessment levied by the HOA after a covered loss that exceeds the master policy's limits or triggers its deductible. For example, hail damage to roofs in Albuquerque or wind losses in the southeast. New Mexico HOAs often carry higher deductibles for weather events, so we recommend a limit that matches or exceeds the master policy deductible. Ask your board or property manager for that figure.

Water backup from drains, sewers, or sump pump overflow is excluded from most standard HO-6 policies but can be added as an endorsement. Monsoon season flash flooding and heavy summer rains cause widespread sewer backups, even in higher elevations. Units on lower levels face higher exposure. Water backup is separate from flood-flood requires its own NFIP or private policy.

No-flood is excluded from both the HOA master policy and your HO-6 policy. A separate flood policy (NFIP or private) is required for flood coverage. New Mexico faces flash flood risk from monsoons statewide, plus riverine flooding in Rio Grande Valley areas. We assess your building's risk using FEMA maps and NM Flood Commission data.

When a covered loss triggers repairs to your unit's interior, local building codes may require upgrades beyond simply restoring what was there before-seismic retrofits, energy efficiency, or accessibility. Ordinance or Law coverage pays those costs. In New Mexico's historic districts (Santa Fe, Albuquerque Old Town) and traditional adobe construction, this endorsement prevents out-of-pocket code upgrade expenses.

Not adequately. A standard HO-6 is written for owner-occupants; once a tenant moves in, coverage gaps open up-particularly around liability and loss of rental income. We'll rewrite the policy on the appropriate landlord or condo-landlord form, adding loss of rents and reflecting rental liability exposure. New Mexico habitability laws apply; we'll ensure compliance and issue required certificates.

$300,000-$500,000 per occurrence is a common starting point on an HO-6. If you host guests, have a dog, rent the unit, or significant assets, add a Personal Umbrella for $1M-$10M extra liability above your HO-6. Your liability covers incidents affecting neighbors-like water leaks between units-so adequate limits are crucial.