Flood Certificate question

**jaytown7** · 06-29-2011, 11:57 AM

Here is a scenario that I am wondering about. A home was purchased whith a flood certificate stating that it was in flood zone X, which does not require the homeowner to purchase flood insurance. Now the owner comes to find out that it is actaully in flood zone A which means the lender is forcing flood insurance on the owner. The problem is this: The home was always in flood zone A when the home was purchased, but somebody botched the flood certificate. So now the home owner is stuck with having to provide flood insurance for a home that was not disclosed in the right flood zone, which could have made the deal not go down in the first place. What kind of rights would the home owner have in this sort of case?

**Greg** · 06-30-2011, 05:36 AM

FEMA changed a lot of the X zones to A zones about 7 years ago and put a lot of home owners in a bind.

The elevation certificate is what is used to determine the need for flood insurance. These certificates are created by surveyors who determine the elevation of the house and the flood zone the house is in. If the elevation certificate was created incorrectly then you should go after whoever created the certificate.

If the designation was changed, you might want to talk to your insurance provider to see if can get grandfathered in under the old designation.

**jaytown7** · 06-30-2011, 09:31 AM

Greg thanks for your reply, this situation is a little different than just FEMA changing it. The flood certifictae stated that the house was in flood zone X when the home was purchased in 2008 but in all reality they messed up because it was in flood zone A the whole time. The buyer now feels liek soemone needs to take responsibilty and does not know who is liable.

**tttyyy22** · 06-30-2011, 11:21 PM

The buyer now feels liek soemone needs to take responsibilty ..
Cochin bantam chicken.Although that law had long since been overwritten by the time young Flannery came into the world, the Irish were still keeping their heads down.

**Greg** · 07-01-2011, 05:23 AM

Originally Posted by jaytown7

Greg thanks for your reply, this situation is a little different than just FEMA changing it. The flood certifictae stated that the house was in flood zone X when the home was purchased in 2008 but in all reality they messed up because it was in flood zone A the whole time. The buyer now feels liek soemone needs to take responsibilty and does not know who is liable.

When was the certificate created? Sometimes an old certificate will be passed along form one owner to the next.

**jaytown7** · 07-01-2011, 08:51 AM

Greg, it was created in 2008 when the home was purchased by the most current owner.

**Greg** · 07-02-2011, 08:29 AM

Then it was created long after the changes were made and the surveyor who created it should have known what the actual flood designation was. This is the enitity to go after.

Court might be too expensive, especially when you have to prove how you have been damaged and how much the damage has cost you. Try going to their licensing authority and see if there is any recourse there. Sometimes just the threat of this might get them to pay up.

The worst part is if you have any living area below the flood level it might not be covered by the flood insurance even if you are paying on a flood policy.

**MarticiaLancaster** · 07-04-2011, 06:13 PM

Yeah right, bringing that matter in court may takea lot of time and effort aside from the expenses.

**jessicahunny3** · 07-07-2011, 10:10 AM

A fixer upper is a real-estate property that will require maintenance work (redecoration, reconstruction or redesign) though it usually can be lived in as it is.

**jessicahunny3** · 07-09-2011, 11:34 AM

When a community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, the federal government requires that they meet certain guidelines for the construction of new properties. You will need to hire a surveyor who will complete a Flood Certificate for you. You will need to take the completed Certificate to an insurance agency who writes Flood Insurance. Your flood insurance rate is based on how many inches you are above flood level in your zone. After your home is completed, you will have to obtain an updated Flood Certificate based on the information on the new home. The good thing is that since you are building new and above flood plain, your flood insurance premium will be lower than someone in your same area with an older home that was not built use NFP guidelines. Good Luck!!