OUR STORY Part 14: PIN THE TAIL ON THE FLOOD ZONE!

Short blog to educate you on what I deem to be one of the biggest forms of fraud in the real estate industry today; online flood determinations generated by Internet agencies.  It goes without saying that our two-story home and the five (5) acres it sits upon have never been moved.  So how do you explain this scenario?

There are a total of five (5) flood determination companies involved.  Please note that two (2) of these companies show the property as located "IN" the "100 Year Flood Plain" also known as the "Special Flood Hazard Zone".  This determination is supported by the FEMA Firm Map Panels dating back as far as September 1991.

The other three (3) online flood determination companies determined that the property was located "OUTSIDE" of the "Special Flood Hazard Zone".  Note:  All three determinations pulling the property out of the flood zone were obtained by individuals involved in our escrow; individuals who profited off of the sales transaction of our property.

SUMMARY TIMELINE:

09/27/91: 

FEMA Firm Map Panel #4805201050-B

Property Located in “100 Year Flood Plain”

Special Flood Hazard Zone (Zone A)

09/11/07: 

Daniel’s Make Offer on Property

09/11/07: 

First Seller Disclosure - “100 Year Flood Plain” 

Box marked as:(NO)

09/13/07:  

Mortgage Broker - “LandSafe Flood Determination”

Property Located in “100 Year Flood Plain”

Special Flood Hazard Zone (Zone A)

 

09/15/07: 

Second Seller Disclosure - “100 Year Flood Plain” 

Box marked as:(Left Blank)

09/17/07: 

Seller’s Realtor Acquires “FIS Flood Services Determination” using sellers' mortgage account.

Determination: Not in a Special Flood Hazard Zone – Determination:  Zone X

9/18/07:

Mortgage Broker gets 2nd determination - "First American Flood Data Services"

Determination: Not in a Special Flood Hazard Zone – Determination:  Zone X

10/16/07: 

Performance Appraisal “Intra-Flood Inc. Determination”

Determination: Not in a Special Flood Hazard Zone – Determination:  Zone X

11/09/07: 

HUD Settlement Documents –“Flood Hazard Certification”  

As prepared by Title Company for Signature: 

09/26/08: 

FEMA Firm Map panel number 48367C0325E

Property Located in “100 Year Flood Plain”

Special Flood Hazard Zone (Zone A)

10/23/08: 

Chase Home Finance acquires:  “Quantrix LLC Determination”

Property Located in “100 Year Flood Plain”

Special Flood Hazard Zone (Zone A)

01/29/2009: 

Chase Home Finance: “Mandated Flood Insurance Enforced!”

*NOTE:
No flood determinations were ever provided to us during escrow.  The first time we would receive a flood determination, or know what one was; was approximately seven (7) months after the close of escrow on, May 8, 2008.  And this only occurred after we contacted our Realtor, quite upset, reporting that we had endured flash flooding on our property and were notified by the county that we were located in the "Special Hazard Flood Zone".