Should You Worry About Your House Being in a Flood Zone?

Flood zones are land areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Each flood zone describes that land area in terms of its risk of flooding. To identify a community’s flood risk, FEMA conducts a Flood Insurance Should you worry about your house being a in a flood zone?Study. This study includes statistical data for river flow, storm tides, hydrologic/hydraulic analyses, and rainfall and topographic surveys. All of this information is used to create what is known as FIRMs (Flood Insurance Rate Maps). This is used to not only rate areas in terms of flood risk but also to determine the resulting flood insurance rates.

The important thing to remember however is that everyone lives in a flood zone-it’s just a matter of knowing whether you are in a more dangerous zone or a relatively low-risk zone. Another thing to remember is that buying a home in a flood zone (depending on the level) does not necessarily mean that it will flood…it is only a measure of the likelihood of the event.

Now to describe and define the three types of flood zones: In high-risk areas, there is at least a 1 in 4 chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage. In moderate-to-low risk areas, the risk of being flooded is reduced but not completely removed. In these areas, it is not necessary to have flood insurance for your home but it is still recommended. There are also undetermined-risk areas. No flood-hazard analysis has been conducted in these areas, but a flood risk still exists.

So the question remains, should you worry about your home flooding? Floods are reportedly the most common natural disaster in the US and everyone can experience one in their home-owning career. Floods are not just limited to coastal areas or as a result of tropical storms. The unthinkable scenarios such as heavy snows melting, flash floods, Dams/levees (as in New Orleans during Katrina), or construction and development can all lead to flooding. Thus, everyone should think about and consider getting some type of flood insurance, especially if you live in a moderate to high-risk area. It is very important when moving to look up your area’s flood map and to adequately assess whether or not flood insurance is something you want to consider. The answer to the question is yes, you should be concerned enough to do some preliminary research and make an informed decision.

Now having armed you with this knowledge, go forth and learn more about flood zones…but only if you really want to!

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.

Best Cities To Buy A Vacation Home in Florida

With the housing market continuing to recover, many people are deciding that now is a great time to buy that second vacation home they’ve always wanted. In that spirit, we put together this list of the best cities in Florida to buy a vacation home!

1. Kissimmee – One word: Disney. The city of Kissimmee is located only a few miles from Disney World making it a prime location for homebuyers with young children. The real estate market is ideal for those looking for an investment home with median prices under $300,000 but rising 35% since 2012.

2. Vero Beach – Located on Florida’s east coast, Vero Beach is a small town of just 15,000 people. It’s gorgeous beaches lining Florida’s Treasure Coast are a great allure to homebuyers looking for a quiet home on the east coast. Disney’s Vero Beach Resort is also just a few minutes away.

3. Marco Island – Located on the gulf coast in South Florida, Marco Island is one of the hidden treasures of Florida.  With a complex system of bays, inlets, and waterways, many of the homes in Marco Island are located on the water making it a great area for boaters.  For down time, residents can relax on the beach, take the boat out to calm waters of the gulf, or even hop on a ferry to Key West! It has a population under 17,000 with a median income of $73,000.
panama city beach, one of floridas best cities for vacation homes
4. Panama City Beach – Located in Florida’s panhandle, Panama City Beach (not to be confused with Panama City) contains a 27 mile stretch of pristine beaches renowned for its beautiful sugar-white sand and emerald waters.  And with a slogan like, “World’s Most Beautiful Beaches,” it’s no wonder that Panama City Beach is one of the most popular spring break destinations in the world. The city has a small population of only 12,000 and is perfect for homebuyers looking to live in a beach community with a mix of Southern hospitality.

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.

The Absolute Best Neighborhoods in Orlando, FL

Depending on where you are from, Orlando may not rank as the largest city or the highest populated.  The geographical area does not cover that much but houses around 43,000 people with some excellent neighborhoods.  The urban part of downtown may not have a particular subdivision that could be deemed number one in my book but there are some excellent enclaves to look into if you want to relocate.

If you are looking for a very diverse area with all different kinds of houses, people and things to do I would push you towards College Park.  The name may be deceiving, although the town is just a few miles from Rollins College and the huge College Park orlando Fl - move to Orlandocampus of UCF, this neighborhood has it’s name from many streets named after famous colleges like Princeton, Harvard and Yale.   The most notable could be the excellent schools and the surrounding areas.  The housing has the most unique aspect due to the original homes being built in the early 1900’s while the location and continuous growth of the area has seen an influx of very large and expensive homes (in excess of $1 million and up) and very highly priced condos.  Although the newer places can be seen as slightly unnecessarily costly, there is still housing deals that can be found with the older smaller homes some that are a perfect candidate for renovations.

Another excellent neighborhood that is both charming and walk-able is Orlando’s one and only Thornton Park.  Thornton Park is much known for its location near the Orlando’s beautiful LakeThornton Park - Orlando Florida - Move to Orlando Eola Park along with countless restaurants and bars.  The area is known for being very safe and friendly, just outside of the business district of Orlando, which makes Thornton Park a great location of employment and weekend activities.  The neighborhood is home of a very developed area with it’s brick-lined streets and large oak trees that provide shade for a relaxing afternoon walk.

No matter what you are relocating for or what kind of lifestyle you fancy, Orlando’s 18 neighborhoods will have something you could find perfect for you.

If you enjoyed reading this post you will find the main Mover’s Atlas site even more Interesting! There you can discover important information about what surrounds your current or future Florida home, give it a look: Mover’s Atlas.