Wednesday, 3 May 2017

What You Need To Know About The Private Flood Insurance CA Homeowners Choose

By Shirley Howard


California homeowners who live in areas where there is the possibility, or probability of flooding, know how much devastation it can cause. Some of these same homeowners are under the mistaken impression that their homeowner's insurance will cover the damage. They couldn't be more wrong. Without the protection of the FEMA or private flood insurance CA underwriters provide, homeowners are out of luck when it comes to getting reimbursed for the costs of repairing or replacing their residences.

During the Obama administration several laws were passed regarding rate hikes and the policies subsidized by the federal government. Independent underwriting for flooding was introduced, and many homeowners have opted for it as an alternative to FEMA. The independent companies offer rates that are competitive or better, and individuals receive the exact coverage they had under the government plan. FEMA and the commercial underwriters even share claims adjusters.

Not everyone can get commercial flooding policies however. It is not offered to residents of all fifty states, although more than half are currently eligible for enrollment. Policies will only cover structures with one to four units, other buildings, and nonresidential structures. Renters can also get coverage, but only for their contents of the homes they rent or lease.

People who own or live in condominiums and mobile homes are not eligible for protection. Homes that had flood damage within the last five years will not qualify for a policy, nor will properties still recovering from flooding events. Property that does not meet their state's floodplain management regulations are exempt from coverage. When FEMA puts affected real estate in the severe repetitive loss category, companies will not insure them.

Homeowners need to clearly understand how much coverage they will get with one of these policies. The limit for a residential or commercial structure is five hundred thousand dollars. Underwriters allow up to two hundred fifty thousand for residential contents and five hundred thousand for commercial contents.

Many applicants are interested to know how long it takes for a policy to become active. Underwriters tell them that it depends. If the applicant is purchasing a home, and a federally regulated lender requires a policy be in place, there is no waiting period. There is not a wait time if a homeowner decides to change companies insuring their property, if the current policy is still in effect, and the company they are moving from is part of an approved network.

Prospective homeowners can reduce their policy costs substantially by purchasing property that is elevated. Even though may be in a low lying area or in close proximity to a large body of water, it much more likely to survive a flooding event than its neighbors located at a lower elevation.

Some people risk the threat of flooding because they love living in areas with large expanses of water and beautiful views. Those with experience make sure they have a policy in place in the event floods occur.




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