Freddie Mac: Flood Insurance Requirements Remain Unchanged During a Lapse in the National Flood Insurance Program
Investor Update
December 21, 2018
Source: Freddie Mac
If the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) authority to issue new and renewal policies and increase coverage on existing policies expires on December 21, 2018, our policies on flood insurance remain unchanged.
During a lapse in the NFIP’s authority, Freddie Mac’s policies on flood insurance in Chapters 3401 and 8202 of the Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide (Guide) remain unchanged, including:
- Seller/Servicers originating mortgages for sale to Freddie Mac must continue to perform flood zone determinations.
- Properties located in Special Flood Hazard Areas securing mortgages owned by and delivered to Freddie Mac must have flood insurance coverage.
- For Servicers, payments to renew expiring policies must be made as scheduled.
If a borrower applies for NFIP flood insurance, acceptable evidence pending issuance of a final NFIP policy may include one of the following:
- A completed and executed NFIP Flood Insurance Application plus a copy of the borrower’s premium check or agent’s paid receipt.
- A completed and executed NFIP Flood Insurance Application plus the final Settlement/Closing Disclosure Statement reflecting the flood insurance premium collected at closing.
- A completed and executed NFIP General Change Endorsement Form showing the assignment of the current flood insurance policy by the property seller to the borrower.
Seller/Servicers that accept interim evidence of NFIP coverage as described above during a lapse in the NFIP’s authority must follow up once the NFIP’s authority has been reinstated to ensure that they have final evidence of coverage meeting the requirements of Guide Section 8202.7.
If a borrower applies for private flood insurance, the insurer’s binder or equivalent of the applicable NFIP form is acceptable. Private flood insurance is not affected by a lapse in the NFIP’s authority.
