Houston Metropolitan Flood Zones - What To Know

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shoulders the responsibility of designating flood zones throughout the United States. Flood zone sources within the Houston metropolitan area are primarily made up of:

Rivers – Flooding results from overflow due to heavy rainfall which breaches the riverbanks and spreads to adjacent land areas.

Precipitation – Excessive rainfall leads to surface water accumulation across rural and suburban areas.

Coastal Waterways - Occurs when coastal waters such as storm surge, high-tide or sea-level rises inundate coastal areas.

Commonly, homeowners across the Houston area purchase special flood insurance in addition to regular homeowner’s insurance. In the event your home faces a flood, the flood insurance will handle the coverage for the water damages. Your realtor can help you determine if the home you’re looking at is located in a flood zone and if flood insurance is mandatory or simply a smart choice based on the available data. Some mortgage lenders may require the purchase of flood insurance when you secure your home loan. Be sure to ask questions and discuss all of your options with your financial lender.

To Make an Offer or Not, If the Home is in a Flood Zone

Imagine you’ve fallen in love with a home that is beside a river or another waterway. You may wonder if you should make an offer or find a different home that’s farther from water, even though your family enjoys watersports and being able to launch a boat from your own slip has been one of your bucket list dreams. This is exactly the type of conversation to have with your agent. Your agent has the experience to help you see both the Pros and Cons of the property. Yes, a home bordering a waterway has an increased risk of flooding but with proper flood insurance and looking at the past experiences on the property you can make an informed decision.

FEMA flood maps will help in determining if your dream home is in a zone that is classified as a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHAs), which include zones beginning with letters A or V. These areas carry B, C, or X. These zones receive one-third of federal disaster assistance related to flooding, according to FEMA.
 
When you work with an experienced realtor, this is the type of information we’ll discuss early in your homebuying process. Before you make an offer, you can have your insurance agent do a search to check for claim history on the property to determine if there has been previous damage and to what extent. Still have questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Since 2004 Sara Lyn Nguyen continues to bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling real estate around the Houston area to those she serves. Sara is a multi-year award winning REALTOR® and relocation specialist where her clients trust her to have up-to-date information on the real estate market. She has been one of Gary Greene’s Multi-Million Dollar Top Producers, and citywide was the #2 Top Producing agent in 2020, #3 in 2021, and #2 in 2022. When it’s time to buy, sell, invest, or relocate speak with a trusted professional knowledgeable in the homes and neighborhoods of Fort Bend/Sugar Land and the surrounding region.