Brevard County · Buying

Buying in a flood or hurricane area in Brevard County

Flood zone, flood insurance, wind and 4-point reports and past flood claims, before you commit.

$339,600typical Brevard home value

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What’s different for you

1. Read the seller’s flood answers. Florida sellers answer three flood questions before you sign.
2. Check the flood zone. With most mortgages, homes in high-risk flood zones must have flood insurance.
3. Get insurance quotes early. Homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding.
4. Book the 4-point and wind reports. Older homes usually need a 4-point; a wind report can lower your price.

When you start in CloseHive from this page, your plan already includes these steps, along with the usual ones for buying in Brevard County. You always see what to do next, and your agent handles the how.

What to know

Florida sellers answer three flood questions

Florida law requires the seller of a home to give you a flood disclosure at or before the time the contract is signed. It asks whether the seller knows of flooding that damaged the home while they owned it, whether they filed a flood insurance claim (including with the National Flood Insurance Program), and whether they got help for flood damage, such as from FEMA. The form also reminds buyers that standard homeowners policies don’t cover flood damage. Read it before you sign, and ask follow-up questions.

What the flood zone tells you

FEMA flood maps label high-risk areas, called Special Flood Hazard Areas, with zones starting with A or V. FEMA says these areas have at least a 1 in 4 chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. Zones starting with B, C or X are moderate to low risk, where flood insurance is recommended but not federally required. You can look up any address for free on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.

When flood insurance is required

If the home is in a high-risk zone and your mortgage comes from a federally regulated or insured lender, you must buy flood insurance. Separately, Citizens Property Insurance, Florida’s state-created insurer, requires most of its home policies with wind coverage to also carry flood insurance: homes in high-risk zones now, and all such policies by January 1, 2027, whatever the home’s value. Condo unit-owner, renter and wind-excluded policies are exempt from that Citizens rule.

Flood insurance basics

Flood insurance is a separate policy from homeowners insurance. Through the National Flood Insurance Program, a home can be insured for up to $250,000 on the building and up to $100,000 on belongings. New flood policies usually have a 30-day wait before they take effect, but buying a home is an exception, so you can have coverage start at closing. Get quotes during your inspection period, because the price can change your monthly budget a lot.

Your hurricane deductible

A hurricane deductible is the part of a hurricane claim you pay before insurance pays. Florida insurers must offer hurricane deductible choices of $500, 2%, 5% or 10% of the dwelling coverage, with exceptions for higher-value homes. It applies once per calendar year for hurricane claims with the same insurer or its group; switching to an unrelated insurer means losing credit for what you already paid that year. A 2% deductible on a home insured for $300,000 is $6,000, so pick a level you could pay from savings.

4-point and roof checks

Citizens requires a 4-point inspection, which checks the roof, electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling, for homes more than 20 years old. Shingle roofs older than 25 years and tile or metal roofs older than 50 years need proof of at least five years of life left. A home that fails may not get a policy until it’s fixed, so book these right after the contract is signed.

Wind mitigation can lower your premium

A wind mitigation inspection records storm-resistant features, like how the roof is attached and whether openings are protected, on a state form. Insurers must give you a notice of the mitigation discounts they offer, and the form is good for up to five years if the home doesn’t change. Ask the seller if they have a recent one.

Your options

What to gather

• The seller’s signed flood disclosure, read before you sign the contract
• The home’s FEMA flood zone from the Flood Map Service Center
• Flood insurance quotes, even if the home isn’t in a high-risk zone
• Homeowners insurance quotes, with the hurricane deductible choices shown
• A 4-point inspection if the home is more than 20 years old
• The roof’s age and type, and proof of remaining life if it’s older
• A wind mitigation inspection, or the seller’s recent one
• Questions for the seller about past storm repairs and any permits
• A savings cushion that covers your hurricane deductible

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming homeowners insurance covers flooding. It doesn’t. Flood insurance is a separate policy.
• Getting insurance quotes after the inspection period. Price and roof or wiring problems can change your decision. Get quotes while you can still renegotiate or cancel.
• Skipping flood insurance outside a high-risk zone. It may not be required, but FEMA recommends it in moderate and low-risk zones too. Get a quote and decide with real numbers.
• Choosing a deductible you can’t pay. Work out the dollar amount of each percentage and match it to your savings.

Brevard County in numbers

• The typical home in Brevard County is worth about $339,600, and 77% of homes are lived in by their owners.
• Typical rent here is about $1,556 a month, including utilities.