Choose Your Coverage: Homeowner

As a homeowner, it’s important to insure your home and its contents. Depending on your property location, your home is either considered at high-risk or at moderate-to-low risk for a flood. Your insurance premium will vary accordingly.

Moderate-to-Low Risk
Most homeowners in a moderate-to-low risk area are eligible for coverage at a preferred rate. Preferred Risk Policy premiums are the lowest premiums available through the NFIP, offering building and contents coverage for one low price. In fact, building and contents coverage starts at just $119 per year.

If you don’t qualify for a Preferred Risk Policy, a standard rated policy is still available. Even though flood insurance isn’t federally required, nearly 25% of all NFIP flood claims occur in moderate-to-low risk areas.

High-Risk
If you live in a high-risk area, a standard rated policy is the only option for you. It offers separate building and contents coverage.

The Dwelling Form provides insurance for buildings with one to four units, including single-family condominium units and townhouses. The General Property Form provides insurance for other- residential and commercial buildings. Both forms provide flood insurance on contents, if you have purchased this optional coverage.

Flood insurance premiums are calculated based on factors such as:

  • Year of building construction
  • Building occupancy
  • Number of floors
  • The location of its contents
  • Its flood risk (i.e. its flood zone)
  • The location of the lowest floor in relation to the elevation requirement on the flood map (in newer buildings only)
  • The deductible you choose and the amount of building and contents coverage

If your home is in a high-risk flood area and you have obtained a mortgage through a federally regulated or insured lender, you are required to purchase a flood insurance policy.

Learn your risk, estimate your premium and find an agent, by taking Your Risk Profile.

The average flood insurance policy costs $500 per year.
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Last Updated: Thursday, 23-Apr-2009, 1:45 PM (EDT)

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