Problem with dovecot on CentOS 6.2 when connecting

Hello

I'm getting the following error when attempting to connect to the imap server using an outside mail client

Aug 14 01:33:33 li124-135 dovecot: imap(jaowl): Error: chown(/home/jaowl/mail/.imap/INBOX, -1, 12(mail)) failed: Operation not permitted (egid=500(jaowl), group based on /var/mail/jaowl)

Aug 14 01:33:33 li124-135 dovecot: imap(jaowl): Error: mkdir(/home/jaowl/mail/.imap/INBOX) failed: Operation not permitted

I have the following for mail_location in 10-mail.conf

mail_location = mbox:~/mail:INBOX=/var/mail/%u

mboxwritelocks = fcntl

When i use a local imap client (mutt i'm able to access mail that i send and recive however not with an external imap client

Any help would be greatly appericated as i think it may be something simple im over looking