http://www.bexarfloodfacts.org/

http://www.bartoncocarpets.com/

Carver Communications - Index

Carver Communications - 4.1.08 - Index

By Barbara Coker
University Mortgage
Flood Maps Are Changing
Flood Insurance? Didn’t you
read somewhere that something might
be changing? That the proposed
changes to Bexar County’s officially
designated flood plain maps are now
available for public comment? It is
time to pay attention to these potentially
expensive updates, before it’s
too late to have the opportunity for
input.
Why should you as a real estate
professional pay attention to these
upcoming changes? What if you are
involved in a sale which closes before
the new maps are adopted, and your
buyer isn’t required to purchase flood
insurance? What if that buyer then
finds himself required to purchase
flood insurance because he falls in the
new flood zone? Do you think they
might contact an attorney because you
failed to disclose that the proposed
maps were available for viewing? He
might have been able to purchase
flood insurance at the lower rates
available to him under the old maps. .
.if only you had told him to check on
it with his insurance agent.
What else can you do as a real
estate professional to benefit folks in
your current data base of past clients?
Could you reach out to them with an
alert to the opportunity to purchase
flood insurance before their rates
would rise, if their property were
about to be brought into a new flood
zone? Could you learn how to navigate
through the Bexarfloodfacts site
in order to help them find their own
property? It can be a little confusing.
. .try it, you’ll see!
As professionals in the real
estate business, it behooves us all to
be aware of the upcoming protest and
appeals period that will allow us to
dispute any errors we believe will
exist in the new maps. . .not only for
our own properties, but for those of
our clients.
The Bexar Regional Watershed
THE BARTON
CO., CARPETS
Maureen Roberts, Robert Guerra,
Vallerie Newman and Armando Olazabal
655-8269
April 1, 2008 REAL ESTATE NEWSLINE 25
Management Program, with input
from the City of San Antonio, Bexar
County, and its suburbs, has updated
the maps with data accurate to 2005
conditions. Now they are asking the
citizens to help with their latest personal
data. We have the right to be
heard, and we can help.
A 90 day comment period will
begin shortly, and the teams will
review all disputes that we citizens
submit. Then the maps will be finalized.
If your property will be included
in the new flood zones, you might
be able to save money now by purchasing
flood insurance under the old
maps. The news maps are expected to
be adopted sometime in 2009.
FEMA can’t draw an exact line
on a piece of paper which will predict
where the flood waters will stop, of
course. They base their calculations
on an expected rain fall of 10 inches
in a 24 hours period. And it also
depends on where those inches fall.
Regular home owners insurance won’t
cover sudden rising water. What if
your fence traps a short but intense
down pour from escaping normally
from your back yard? You aren’t covered
unless you have flood insurance.
People often don’t realize that they
can purchase flood insurance even
though they aren’t in an actual flood
zone. It would be prudent to discuss
the cost of flood insurance with your
agent, even if you aren’t in a flood
zone, especially if you might be
close.
We can view the proposed maps
at www.bexarfloodfacts.org. Then go
to “Review the Proposed Flood
Changes for Bexar County.” Be sure
to turn off popup blockers, and then
enter the address you wish to check
on. You can also use this site to view
the current maps, the proposed maps,
appeals which have been submitted,
and potential project for water management.
You can even overlay the
current boundary onto the proposed
map to see the effect of the proposed
update. Finally, you can phone
Yolanda McGinnis (210) 306-3630
with any questions.
Professionals keep in touch
with their clients, and this topic
would be a prime opportunity to
demonstrate your continued concern
for their welfare.
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