Sorry guys for the rant, just a little venting.
So I have a client closing on 3 houses today and closing cancelled because last minute lender says they need flood insurance because of flood determination. So guess who gets a call. :mad::mad:
What puts the burr under my saddle, is these blasted determination companies. In full Disclaimer, the flood line does get on the property for about 30' but is well away from the houses. What makes it worse, these houses are next door to mine and we just went through a historic flood and no water even cross the property line ( I got the pics to prove it). So anyway, the client gets a copy of the determination and all, and sends me a copy of it. The location is a flippin' 0.50 mile south of the true location of the property, I will give props to the appraiser, he did get within 0.10 of a mile, but north.
I read over the determination, and it clearly states on there the structure is in the flood zone and also gives a BFE. I checked the BFE where they say the property is and they are even off a 1'. So client sends me number of underwriter and powers to be on other side of sale. Talk to them, tell them the paper isn't even worth toilet paper in a very respectful way. I get "we have to go by what FEMA tells us", excuse me, FEMA does not make these determinations, it is on a FEMA form and a company fills it out. So I ask the stupid question, if you receive an elevation certificate is that done by FEMA also? Of course, the answer I get is no that they are from surveyors. So I went on to explain the Elevation Cert is a FEMA form just like the determination. I got told it was not, they must uphold the Determination over the Elevation Certificate, the survey & the permit from the parish (which issued the permits in Flood X). After a little banter back and forth, I final get the guy to pull an elevation cert and determination, I point out the headers and such. So then I ask about FEMA issue the flood cert, I get crickets. Then silence was broken, and I was told thanks for calling and that they will look into, then phone was hung up.
My thing is, how are these determination guys not shut down? They are misleading the banking community and the public for $25.00 a determination. Is there anything we as surveyors can do? Should we start turning these guys into the board, it is dealing with boundaries per say. How can someone with no liability, that does not even visit the property can over rank us. I don't know, I am just fed-up, I go through this 2-3 times a year.
sorry for the rant and the disjointed sentences, just really had my cup today.
Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving
Ralph
shrthrn, post: 400279, member: 8020 wrote: Sorry guys for the rant, just a little venting.
So I have a client closing on 3 houses today and closing cancelled because last minute lender says they need flood insurance because of flood determination. So guess who gets a call. :mad::mad:What puts the burr under my saddle, is these blasted determination companies. In full Disclaimer, the flood line does get on the property for about 30' but is well away from the houses. What makes it worse, these houses are next door to mine and we just went through a historic flood and no water even cross the property line ( I got the pics to prove it). So anyway, the client gets a copy of the determination and all, and sends me a copy of it. The location is a flippin' 0.50 mile south of the true location of the property, I will give props to the appraiser, he did get within 0.10 of a mile, but north.
I read over the determination, and it clearly states on there the structure is in the flood zone and also gives a BFE. I checked the BFE where they say the property is and they are even off a 1'. So client sends me number of underwriter and powers to be on other side of sale. Talk to them, tell them the paper isn't even worth toilet paper in a very respectful way. I get "we have to go by what FEMA tells us", excuse me, FEMA does not make these determinations, it is on a FEMA form and a company fills it out. So I ask the stupid question, if you receive an elevation certificate is that done by FEMA also? Of course, the answer I get is no that they are from surveyors. So I went on to explain the Elevation Cert is a FEMA form just like the determination. I got told it was not, they must uphold the Determination over the Elevation Certificate, the survey & the permit from the parish (which issued the permits in Flood X). After a little banter back and forth, I final get the guy to pull an elevation cert and determination, I point out the headers and such. So then I ask about FEMA issue the flood cert, I get crickets. Then silence was broken, and I was told thanks for calling and that they will look into, then phone was hung up.
My thing is, how are these determination guys not shut down? They are misleading the banking community and the public for $25.00 a determination. Is there anything we as surveyors can do? Should we start turning these guys into the board, it is dealing with boundaries per say. How can someone with no liability, that does not even visit the property can over rank us. I don't know, I am just fed-up, I go through this 2-3 times a year.
sorry for the rant and the disjointed sentences, just really had my cup today.
Everyone have a Happy ThanksgivingRalph
They are not misleading the banking community, they are the banking community, follow the corporate ownership trail. Built in 25 bucks for every closing in America, charged to the borrower, for 5 minutes of work by a minimum wage serf, that has essentially no value, lobbied to be required by federal law. Nice work if you can get it. Probably if they weren't so over-regulated they wouldn't treat people this way.
shrthrn, post: 400279, member: 8020 wrote: sorry for the rant and the disjointed sentences, just really had my cup today.
Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving
Hey, we're all in this together and "rants" are as helpful to you as well as us. I don't even want to get myself started about those idiots. I run across this weekly.
And you have a happy Thanksgiving too! 😎
You think it is bad now trying to get people to pay for flood insurance that they don't need... wait until the losses for the latest hurricane fully hit the system. Sharpen your elev cert skills, we are all going to be busy.
