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How Do Buyers Learn About Flooding?

Writer's picture: barefoot realtybarefoot realty

Buyers who want to purchase homes at Americana Cove have the right to know whether properties have flooded and to what extent, and Realtors have an obligation to inform buyers about the information they know about a property. Yet, if a buyer doesn’t use a real estate professional to assist them with a home purchase, they may not be aware of issues such as flooding and flood zones.


Even before the 2024 storms, Realtors had an obligation to tell buyers whether a property had flooded or was located in a flood zone. In addition to being notified by a real estate professional, there are a number of documents that buyers sign as part of a purchase contract when they purchase property in a flood zone; however, a buyer may not receive these disclosure documents if they try to purchase on their own.


The following is the list:


·       It is a requirement in the Multiple Listing Service to show what flood zone a home is located in. Americana Cove is in an AE zone, which is a FEMA designation given to properties close to a body of water, such as the canals found in the community.

·       Barefoot Realty includes and has included for the past six years a Flood Insurance Notice that is included in every purchase contract and is signed by every buyer that Barefoot Realty represents. “We rarely see any other real estate office include this form or any form notifying buyers of the flood insurance status in Americana Cove,” says Broker Marty Pozgay.

·       The Seller’s Property Disclosure document that sellers are required to fill out about their property specifically asks if there has been any flooding problems with the property. Obviously, sellers are supposed to fill the form out honestly or if not, could be open to legal action if a buyer purchases and discovers that flooding has occurred and the seller did not disclose.

·       After the 2024 storms, a new flood form is now required by the state that specifically asks sellers whether they have filed an insurance claim related to flooding and if they had ever received FEMA assistance for flood damage.


In addition to the Multiple Listing Service, national real estate websites including realtor.com, Zillow and Homes.com have climate or environmental designations within each listing so potential buyers can see that a property is in a flood zone or is susceptible to flooding.


If a buyer doesn’t use a real estate professional and simply purchases a home on their own, they may not be informed and most likely they will not receive the disclosure documents required.


Pozgay noted: “If I’m purchasing a large ticket item like real estate, I would want a professional to assist me. It would be like going to court without an attorney. I may be able to represent myself, but do I really want to do that?”




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