FHA issue private flood insurance rule

On November 21, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a final rule allowing private flood insurance for FHA-insured mortgages in special flood hazard areas.  Read NAR’s release applauding HUD’s new rule.  For the rule itself, please click here.

Previously, only National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies were allowed for FHA loans. However, a broad NAR coalition helped persuade HUD that a) many private insurers now offer higher quality, lower cost options than the NFIP, and b) FHA borrowers should not be excluded from options which have been available to more conventional borrowers since 2019.  For the NAR and coalition letters, please click here and here.

Please note that while the new HUD rule will significantly expand the flood insurance choices available to FHA borrowers, not all private policies will meet its definition of private flood insurance.  NAR will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to expand that definition as part of a long-term NFIP reauthorization and reform measure next year.