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The National Association of REALTORS® is calling on Congress to act now to reform and extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which is set to expire on July 31. Allowing the deadline to lapse would deny necessary insurance coverage to homeowners and buyers in more than 20,000 communities nationwide.
The NFIP provides up to $350,000 of flood insurance coverage for federally-backed mortgage in 22,000 communities nationwide. It also provides an alternative to taxpayer-funded disaster assistance. While there is a growing market for private flood insurance, for many, the NFIP continues to be the primary source of asset protection against flooding, the most common and costly natural disaster in the U.S.
In November last year, the House of Representatives passed the NAR-supported 21st Century Flood Reform Act, which contains numerous important provisions for consumers. The Act reauthorizes the NFIP for a full five years, avoiding the uncertainty of short-term extensions and potential shutdowns and provides guidelines for creating better flood maps for the program. It limits maximum flood insurance premiums to $10,000 per year for residential properties, and directs FEMA to develop more granular rate tables to ensure fewer properties are overcharged by the NFIP. The bill sets aside $1 billion for flood mitigation assistance grants and increases access to private market flood insurance, which often offers better coverage at lower cost. The bill also addresses issues with repeatedly flooding properties that account for 2 percent of NFIP policies and 25 percent of claim payments over the history of the program.
The bill is now in the Senate. NAR is urging the Senate to act quickly. The last time the NFIP expired, approximately 1,400 home closings were interrupted each day until the program was reinstated. In all, the program has lapsed on a number of separate occasions for two months combined with a total of 23 separate short-term extensions.
REALTORS® discuss issues with Congresswoman Jackie Speier.
The leadership of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) joined more than 9,000 REALTORS® and guests from across the country in the nation’s capital this week for the 2018 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo to advance policy initiatives that strengthen the ability of Americans to buy, invest, own and sell real estate.
On their agendas this year were visits with members of Congress, regulatory agency officials and top industry leaders; attending some of the nearly 100 available conference sessions on topics ranging from policy to technology; and focusing on the yearlong commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.
REALTORS® are advocating support for several important legislative initiatives, including strong net neutrality protections to ensure the internet is open and competitive for consumers and businesses; renewing and strengthening the long-term viability of the National Flood Insurance Program; indexing homeownership tax incentives for future inflation and permanently extending the tax exclusion on mortgage debt forgiveness; and adopting sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the Fair Housing Act.
NAR is also urging Congress to adopt sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in the Fair Housing Act. As members of NAR, REALTORS® subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics, which includes a commitment to provide equal professional services regardless of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, and as of 2009, sexual orientation, and since 2014, gender identity.
SILVAR leadership met with U.S. Representatives Anna Eshoo, who represents California’s 18th Congressional District, Jackie Speier, who represents the state’s 14th Congressional District and Ro Khanna, who represents District 17. Representing SILVAR at the Hill meetings were SILVAR President Bill Moody, President-elect Alan Barbic, NAR Directors Leannah Hunt and Jim Hamilton, Federal Political Coordinator of Congresswoman Eshoo Carole Feldstein, Executive Officer Paul Cardus and Government Affairs Director Ryan Carrigan. Also at the meetings was Board Director Joanne Fraser.
The National Association of REALTORS® is asking all REALTORS® to urge their Members of Congress to support the reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Without congressional action, the NFIP is set to expire on September 30.
Please respond to NAR’s Call for Action and urge your member of Congress to pass “The 21st Century Flood Reform Act” H.R. 2874 as soon as possible. Persuading Congress to extend this program is very important to the industry, its members and their clients. If the NFIP lapses, more than 40,000 real estate transactions per month will be in jeopardy.
H.R. 2874 contains numerous provisions of critical importance to consumers and REALTORS®:
- Reauthorizes NFIP for a full five years, avoiding the uncertainty of short term extensions and potential shutdowns
- Caps NFIP rates at $10,000 per year for property owners
- Directs FEMA to develop more granular rate tables, to ensure fewer properties are over charged by NFIP
- Sets aside $1 billion for flood mitigation assistance grants
- Increases access to private market flood insurance
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has issued a nationwide Call for Action, urging members to contact their Members of Congress in both houses and bring the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 3370 and S. 1610) to the floor for immediate consideration and a vote in each chamber. This legislation aims to fix some of the unintended consequences from the implementation of the 2012 Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act.
REALTORS® and homeowners across the country are reporting significant increases in annual premium rates as a result of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rate changes that took effect on October 1. This is raising concerns among consumers and REALTORS® about decreased property values and a stalled housing market recovery. This drastic increase in flood insurance premiums for coverage under the NFIP is negatively impacting transactions and the nation’s real estate recovery.
REALTORS® need to ensure that this is a priority for Congress and is brought up for vote immediately. Congress has very few working days left of this session, so it is imperative that members answer this Call for Action. Tell Congress we support the “Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.”
NAR is asking Congress for a four-year time-out to fully correct some of the implementation problems that will threaten real estate transactions where flood insurance is required to obtain a mortgage. Tell Congress to delay changes to the NFIP and that we support the “Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act”.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) extension Congress enacted last month will expire today. NAR is urging Congress to create a 5-year NFIP re-authorization bill. Contact Congress to show support if you haven’t already.
Time is running out on important housing-related issues before Congress. We need REALTORS® to contact their elected representatives in Washington, D.C., today.
Here is what REALTORS® can do:
Reauthorize National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to ensure access for millions of Americans to affordable flood insurance which is not available in the private insurance market. The House has passed its bill. Now we need you to urge the Senate to act.
Without reauthorization, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will expire on September 30, 2011. Today, 5.6 million property owners rely on the program in 21,000 communities where flood insurance is required for federally related mortgages. Both consumers and your fellow REALTORS® are counting on your to help get this bill passed.
Tell Congress to Reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program
Make permanent the current loan limits for FHA, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to ensure the affordability of mortgage credit for hundreds of thousands of responsible and credit-worthy American families.
The cost of a mortgage could rise significantly if loan limits are reduced. If this happens, many of your clients run the risk of being priced out of the American Dream of home ownership. This could hold back the housing recovery. The new loan limits show that more than 669 counties in 42 states and the territories would be negatively impacted by the loan limit change.
Take Action to Ensure Your Clients Have Access to Affordable Mortgages
Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® says ... 