Houston Flood Zones Slash Home Values 18%, Buyers Pause
FEMA Flood Maps Create Stark Value Divisions Across Harris County Properties Invisible lines from federal flood mapping now cut through Harris County's real estate, sharply dividing property values. Neighbors can see dramatic wealth differences with properties just feet apart. Homes within FEMA's 100-year floodplains face an 18% drop in value. Meanwhile, nearby homes outside these zones keep their full market price. This makes buyers wary of flood-zone properties. Real estate sales in flood areas often drag on as buyers carefully check insurance requirements and lender restrictions. Market activity slows significantly for homes marked with federal flood zone designations. A looming expansion threatens to add thousands more Harris County properties to high-risk categories by early 2025. Updated maps will stretch flood zones from 150,000 to almost 200,000 acres. Properties within the floodway face the strictest regulations as this zone closest to water bodies is heavily regulate...