# Bright Coast Insurance **Florida-Licensed Independent Insurance Agency** | Florida License #L103957 Phone: (239) 475-0361 | Email: support@brightcoastins.com Address: PO Box 417, Pineland, FL 33945 Website: https://brightcoastins.com Google Business Profile: https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Bright+Coast+Insurance&query_place_id=ChIJ2bHi4scRv4gRzuxlEjQ0a84 --- # Florida Flood Disclosure Homebuyer Checklist A practical Florida homebuyer checklist for reviewing the seller flood disclosure, current effective FEMA map information, lender questions, and insurance timing before signing. ## What Flood Disclosure Must a Florida Home Seller Provide? Quick answer: For a Florida residential real-property sale, the seller must complete and provide the statutory flood disclosure to the buyer at or before the sales contract is executed. The form asks about the seller's knowledge of flooding that damaged the property, flood-insurance claims, and flood-damage assistance. It is an important starting point—not a substitute for an effective FEMA map, lender review, inspection, survey, title work, or the actual insurance policy. Buying a home in Florida can involve several separate flood questions: What does the seller know? What does the current effective FEMA map show? What will the lender require? What flood coverage is available for the property and closing date? These questions overlap, but none answers all of the others. This checklist helps a buyer organize the right questions. It is general education, not legal, lending, title, surveying, engineering, or insurance-coverage advice. ## What Does Florida's Statutory Flood Disclosure Ask a Seller to State? Florida Statute 689.302 requires the seller to provide the disclosure at or before execution of the sales contract. The statutory form asks whether the seller knows of flooding that damaged the property during ownership, whether the seller filed an insurance claim relating to flood damage, and whether the seller received flood-damage assistance, including FEMA assistance. Read the disclosure carefully and keep a signed copy with your contract records. If an answer prompts a concern, ask follow-up questions in writing and consult the professionals involved in your transaction. A seller's disclosure is about the seller's knowledge; it is not an insurer underwriting report or a future-flood forecast. Do not confuse a “no” answer with proof that the property has never flooded or that flood insurance is unnecessary. Use it as one part of a property-specific due-diligence process. ## How Can I Check the Effective FEMA Flood Map for a Property? FEMA says the National Flood Hazard Layer contains current effective flood-hazard data built from effective flood maps and Letters of Map Change. Start with FEMA's Map Service Center or National Flood Hazard Layer tools, then confirm the exact property information with appropriate local and transaction professionals when needed. Map labels matter. A Special Flood Hazard Area is generally an area with a one-percent-or-greater annual chance of flooding. The effective map, preliminary map, local information, elevation data, and a Letter of Map Change are not interchangeable. Ask which source applies to the exact property and why. Bright Coast's Florida Flood Zone Lookup can help start an address-based conversation. It is an educational tool and does not replace FEMA, a lender, a surveyor, local floodplain officials, or an insurer's property-specific review. ## When Could a Lender Require Flood Insurance? Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation explains that homeowners in high-risk areas with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders are required to buy flood insurance. The lender makes the applicable lending determination for a transaction, so a buyer should ask early—not days before closing—whether the property is in a Special Flood Hazard Area and what documentation or coverage it requires. A lender requirement does not define every reason a buyer may want to explore flood coverage, and the absence of a lender requirement does not mean there is no flood risk. Keep the lender's instructions, map information, and any insurance quote or binder communication together so the closing team can address them before the deadline. Do not wait until closing to ask about effective dates, proof-of-insurance requirements, deductibles, or the difference between NFIP and private flood options. Those topics are policy- and lender-specific. ## What Should I Ask Before Signing or Closing on a Florida Home? Bring the seller disclosure, address, current effective FEMA-map information, lender instructions, inspection findings, and any prior flood-policy documents to the appropriate professionals. Ask: What does the effective map show? Has the seller disclosed past flood damage or claims? Does the lender require flood coverage? When must evidence of coverage be provided? What policy limits, deductible, exclusions, and effective date should I review? Which local floodplain office can answer property-specific map questions? For a better insurance conversation, distinguish the home's structure, personal property, additional living expenses, wind, and flood questions. A standard homeowners policy and a flood policy do not use the same coverage framework. The issued policies, endorsements, lender instructions, and property facts control. Learn about Florida flood insurance, private flood insurance, and homeowners coverage before asking for a property-specific review. ## Where Can I Verify Florida Flood Disclosure and FEMA Map Information? Primary sources: Florida Statute 689.302; FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer; and Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Flood Insurance. Important: This general education was last reviewed September 27, 2026. It is not legal, lending, title, survey, engineering, or coverage advice and does not determine flood risk, lender requirements, or insurability for a particular property. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: When must a Florida seller provide the flood disclosure?** A: Florida Statute 689.302 requires the seller to complete and provide the statutory flood disclosure to the purchaser at or before the sales contract is executed. **Q: Does a seller's flood disclosure prove that a home has never flooded?** A: No. The disclosure concerns the seller's knowledge and is one part of due diligence. It does not replace effective FEMA map information, lender review, inspections, or an insurance-policy review. **Q: What is a Special Flood Hazard Area?** A: FEMA describes it as an area with a one-percent-or-greater annual chance of flooding. The effective map and property-specific facts should be reviewed with the appropriate professionals. **Q: When can a Florida lender require flood insurance?** A: Florida OIR explains that homeowners in high-risk areas with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders are required to buy flood insurance. Confirm the requirement with the lender for the exact transaction. **Q: Does a flood-zone lookup determine my final insurance coverage?** A: No. A lookup can begin an educational conversation, but actual policy terms, underwriting, lender requirements, and property information determine coverage and closing requirements. ## Related Florida Insurance Resources - [Florida Flood Insurance](https://brightcoastins.com/flood-insurance) - [Florida Flood Zone Lookup](https://brightcoastins.com/florida/flood-zone-lookup) - [Private Flood Insurance in Florida](https://brightcoastins.com/private-flood-insurance-florida) - [Florida Homeowners Insurance](https://brightcoastins.com/homeowners) --- ## About Bright Coast Insurance Bright Coast Insurance is a Florida-licensed independent insurance agency (Florida License #L103957) specializing in commercial insurance for Florida contractors, builders, property owners, and HOA/condo associations. As an independent agency, we represent multiple carriers including US Assure (builders risk), Employers Holdings, AmTrust Financial, and others — allowing us to find the best coverage at the most competitive rate for each client. **Contact:** (239) 475-0361 | support@brightcoastins.com **Address:** PO Box 417, Pineland, FL 33945 **Website:** https://brightcoastins.com **Hours:** Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM ET *Bright Coast Insurance is an authorized FWCJUA placement agency and an authorized US Assure builders risk agency.*