The Flood Insurance New Mexico Plan to Save Money | Santa Fe | Albuquerque
Flood Insurance New Mexico
This blog will answer common questions that we get about flood insurance in New Mexico. We will also share some statistics and links if you get really into the research for flood insurance in New Mexico, This page is our attempt to pull all the information you could be interested in precisely the cost of flood insurance in New Mexico. We will also review the difference in New Mexico’s NFIP policies and New Mexico Private flood Insurance Market and finish up with NM’s Lloyd of London Flood Insurance companies. We would like to hear your thoughts so, please share, comment, ask questions or if you want us to explore a topic further let us know. To keep it easy we have some quick jumps to sections that you might be interested in learning more. Enjoy. Your flood Nerd.
Does my New Mexico homeowner insurance cover flooding?
A typical New Mexico homeowners’ policy is written through Farmers, State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive, for instance, excludes flooding as something that will be covered under their homeowner’s policy.
In most cases, the only way to get flood coverage is by purchasing a stand-alone flood insurance policy. However, you should ask your homeowners agent if you can add an endorsement to your homeowner’s policy to cover flooding. Yet, don’t be too surprised if the answer is NO.
Do I need flood insurance in New Mexico?
It is important to have flood insurance coverage in New Mexico because our beloved Cowboy State has seen a fair share of flooding, and there is likely more coming.
We believe that most homeowners think about Flood insurance in New Mexico at some point, maybe before buying a home, or during the closing process. However, many of us only think about it when a big storm is looming, or we have heard on the news that there is flooding forecasted or happening currently too close to our home.
If your home or business is in a flood zone, that is considered low flood risk area. Sadly, many homeowners decide to forgo purchasing coverage because they believe they are safe from flooding. Some real estate agents and some insurance agents may even say you don’t need it.
I ask you to consider the facts: 20-percent of all flooding events across our nation come in areas that are considered low risk. After our last few major storms (Hurricane Harvey), we saw flooding in these low-risk areas. In 80 percent of these individuals, they had water in their home or building and didn’t have flood insurance coverage.
In Harris County, nearly 135,000 homes were damaged. Three-fourths of these properties were considered low to moderate risk.
We hear often that people believe that the government will help, and this is true. However, there are a few things that must align for you to get government assistance.
- The president of the United States must declare the flooding event a state of emergency. If this doesn’t happen, then there won’t be assistance.
- The average amount of assistance that homeowners get after a flood when they do not have flood coverage, is $5,000. The average cost of damage to one’s property after a flood is $38,000+. That $5K you get from the government? It comes in the form of a loan and you will need to pay it back. Are you willing to gamble away your financial future by forgoing flood insurance coverage?
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-fema-faulty-flood-maps/
One more note on these low-risk flood zone maps. Many of these maps are over 40-years old. If the area has been developed, then there is likely more concrete, creating a barrier for land that previously, might have absorbed the massive downpour.
Because of all these factors, it is difficult for property owners to know their true risk of flooding. FEMA admits that their flood maps only give an idea for part of the risk. Our recent storms are facts that it can rain anywhere within New Mexico, and you should consider getting flood coverage, so you are not uninsured when you need it most.
FEMA flood zone maps often take years to go into effect after the terrain was studied, this gives the impression that the area is “more up to date” then it really is.
The average cost for New Mexico flood insurance in these Low-risk areas is $595 per year.
FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and all federally backed lenders rely on these New Mexico flood insurance maps to assess risk, set premiums and determine who is required to purchase flood insurance. Bad information about an area’s flood risk can leave property owners under or uninsured.
How much is flood insurance in New Mexico?
New Mexico NFIP flood insurance.
There are many options available in New Mexico regarding flood insurance, but they basically fall into two main categories.
- The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), also known as FEMA, which is the government option for flood insurance. The NFIP has enjoyed a 50-state monopoly on the flood insurance market.
- Not “private flood insurance” but NFIP Resellers
If you have Nationwide Flood Insurance, State Farm Flood Insurance, Progressive Flood Insurance, or any of the of the logos below then you are buying the NFIP flood policy that is just being resold through a government program. These companies are private companies, but their flood insurance is not. Here is a list of the 70 companies that resell the NFIP policy.
https://www.fema.gov/wyo_company
New Mexico private flood insurance market
There are alternatives to the NFIP or government insurance. It is called Private flood insurance most notably Lloyds of London Flood insurance, however, there are other options available in New Mexico. We shop all the options for your property in your region to ensure you are getting the best premium. If you are ready to have us do the work for you, please click here.
There are alternatives to the NFIP or government insurance. It is called Private flood insurance most notablyOur shopping does include the NFIP because sometimes we find that with government subsidies you can get a much better premium.
How to get flood insurance in New Mexico
Lloyds of London Flood Insurance New Mexico Market
New Mexico is fortunate to have many Lloyds of London flood insurance options. Although many Lloyds flood insurance companies will have you assume that there is only one option, nothing could be further from the truth.
Lloyds of London has a rich history and is attributed to have invented the very first modern insurance model. Unlike most of its competition, Lloyds of London is not really a company but rather a corporate body. This structure works quite well since it has been around for over 330 years. Lloyds operates under multiple financial backers that all pool their capital to spread the risk.
I have two blog posts that take a deep dive into Lloyds of London and what they mean to New Mexico’s flood insurance market. If you are interested, the links are below.
Lloyds of London Flood Insurance
Private Flood Insurance vs NFIP
Lloyds also insures the world for flood insurance, meaning they cover flooding events in India, Australia as well as much of Europe. You see the “game” of insurance is to spread your risk since Lloyds is worldwide.
My joke here is that Lloyds is banking on Gods promise that he won’t flood the entire world again, …..so they won’t have to pay out the whole worlds flood claim.
How much does flood insurance cost in New Mexico?
There are many factors that go into getting the cost of flood insurance for New Mexico. If your home is in what is considered low-to-moderate risk, you can get a heavily subsidized policy though the government.
New Mexico flood insurance low-to Moderate Risk rate and cost.
This is Flood Zone X, which is not lender required flood zone.
This is usually identified as an X-flood zone. Then we would suggest the government Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) which is a subsidized policy and has set flood insurance coverage limits (see grid below):
Here a link if you want to really dig into this one. Be ready for an eye chart because every option is public record and should be standardized accost whoever writes these policies.
The average cost for flood insurance in New Mexico with the maximum set limits in these Low-risk flood zone areas is $405 – $700 per year.
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1523307331106-4cf9726b2eb04c3471a3e9d37a58fa6a/09_prp_508_apr2018.pdf
If your property is in higher-risk flood zone, it is usually identified with a Flood Zone AE. Your lender will require you to have flood insurance. The cost of flood insurance in New Mexico depends on many factors that are unique to the structure. We are going to try to give you an idea for the most common homes we see in New Mexico with a slab on grade foundation.
We will look at the New Mexico cost of flood insurance for the NFIP maximum of $250,000 for the (building only) with NO CONTENTS and our recommended deductible of $5,000.
We will be rating this example on the NFIP, as well as on a few of our private flood insurance policies, specifically Lloyds flood insurance options in New Mexico.
Cost of Flood Insurance in NEW MEXICO in high-risk flood zone AE
Our example is in Alamogordo, NM, but the premiums will be the same if in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM, Las Cruces, Hobbs, and many other New Mexico flood zones.
In our example, the Base Flood Elevation (BFE is 4870) and is a home that is built before 1973
NFIP option in New Mexico Flood Zone AE
NFIP – Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
NFIP Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $2,866.00
This option is what we see if the property has had a flood loss before, and either doesn’t have an Elevation Certificate applied or the Elevation certificate showing that the lowest floor is 4 feet under the BFE for the area. You can use 10% of your coverage to cover other structures on your property
New Mexico Private flood insurance – Lloyds of London Flood Insurance (option 1)
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
Lloyds of London (option 1) Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $912
This option is great, and we are very happy when we can get this option. They can be a bit choosey about what risk they will accept and will not take anything that has had a flood loss. They do offer coverage for basements, about $2,000 for loss of use, $2,000 for other structures, but they can’t increase this coverage. They do not require an Elevation Certificate to rate.
New Mexico Private flood insurance – Lloyds of London Flood Insurance (option 2)
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
Lloyds of London (option 2) Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $1002.48
This option is great, and we are very happy when we can get this option for our clients as well. They seem to be writing almost all risks; however, they do not write any property that is in a designated floodway or has the depth of -4 under the BFE. In our example, with our BFE being 5368, if the lowest floor is 5364, then they will not accept this risk. They will not take anything that has had a flood loss. They do offer limited coverage for basements and do not require an Elevation Certificate to rate, and as a percentage of coverage for loss of use. If you want coverage for other structures, then that will need to be added.
Private Flood insurance option (option 3)
Coverage of $250,000 building coverage (no Contents coverage) and $5,000 deductible
Private flood insurance (option 3) Not Lloyds,
Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $2,208.32
This option will take properties that have had one flood loss as long as it has been more than five years, and the payout was under $100,000 on the claim. Their coverage matches the NFIP. They will write practically all risks, don’t need an elevation certificate to rate, and are a bit lower in premium than the NFIP.
Private Flood insurance – Lloyds of London (option 4)
This option must be written on the Replacement Cost Value (RCV) of the building, otherwise there is a co-insurance penalty that kicks in. So, $250,000 might be a bit low in California, but to keep this going, let’s just use that for this option
Coverage of $250,000 (RCV) building coverage, No Contents and $5,000 deductible
Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $819.20 (great price).
This options rating system is all over the board. Sometimes we get a crazy great price, but other times the premium is way higher than the NFIP will consider taking a property that has had one flood loss before as long as it has been more than ten years and the payout was under $50,000 on the claim. Their preferred coverage is at replacement cost, which is a bit different from some of our other Lloyd’s flood options. We usually reserve this one if the property doesn’t fit into any of our options above. We can adjust coverages to control premium. As mentioned before, this underwriters’ rates are all over the board. It is worth shopping through to make sure we are getting you the best premium we can. They don’t need an elevation certificate to rate.
Private Flood insurance – Lloyds of London (option 5)
Coverage of $250,000 (RCV) building coverage, No Contents and $5,000 deductible.
Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $1015.00
This option came out of the company that used to run the NFIP program, so the coverage almost exactly matches the NFIP coverage with two differences. They offer living expenses which will cover your cost, when you are displaced from your home during repairs (most Lloyds flood policies offer this). They also offer swimming pool clean out, which is kind of unique so if you have a pool ask for this coverage.
Private Flood insurance – Lloyds of London (option 6)
Coverage of $250,000 (RCV) building coverage. No Contents and $5,000 deductible.
Annual premium in High-Risk flood zone is $731.52
This options rating system is also all over the board. Sometimes we get a crazy low price; other times the premium is way higher than the NFIP. They will consider taking a property that has had one flood loss before as long as it has been more than ten years and the payout was under $25,000 on the claim. They have been rumored to give a low price the first year and then non renew following years or sometimes they jack the price way up so we will watch them. They have a slick system, and their underwriting is managed by a 3rd party, which also seems to be a glitch sometimes.
There are more options coming online every day, and we are working to be looking into every viable option.
Flood Insurance Rate Map New Mexico
Flood Insurance Rate Map New MexicoCurrently, Flood Insurance New Mexico has 12,405 NFIP policies in force to date with the total cost of $10,462,171. That would make the average for New Mexico $843. Of course, some will pay more, and some will pay less.
Click here to have us shop and save you money.
Albuquerque flood insurance
Hello, New Mexico! Thanks for visiting our page for all your flood insurance needs. Let’s start with Albuquerque, who has 742 active flood policies. The average flood rate for Albuquerque is $623 which includes $462,502 in written premiums.
Bernalillo New Mexico flood insurance
In Bernalillo, New Mexico, the average flood rate is $751. The written premium is $653,890 with 871 active flood policies.
Corrales, Los Ranchos and Rio Rancho New Mexico flood insurance
Corrales, Los Ranchos, and Rio Rancho have 267 flood policies in effect with $136,359 in premiums. This allows the average flood rate for these areas to be $511.
Chaves and Roswell New Mexico flood insurance
310 flood policies are in effect in Chaves and Roswell, New Mexico. Roswell, you all have a TV show named after you! I would love to see an alien. There are $266,807 in written flood premiums for your areas. This allows your average flood rate to be $861.
Cibola, Grands and Milan New Mexico flood insurance
The average flood rate jumps up to $1,044 for Cibola, Grants, and Milan, New Mexico. There are 88 active flood policies and $91,835 in written premiums.
Clovis New Mexico flood insurance
It jumps a bit more up to $1,203 for Clovis, New Mexico. Clovis, you have 309 active policies with $371,591 in flood premiums.
Dona Ana New Mexico flood insurance
$622 is the average flood rate for Dona Ana, New Mexico. There are 482 active flood policies in Dona Ana with $299,765 in written premiums. Thanks for looking us up Dona Ana!
Hatch New Mexico flood insurance
The highest average rate of $1,981 in the state belongs to Hatch, New Mexico. This includes only 43 flood policies and $85,196 in premiums.
Las Cruces New Mexico flood insurance
Las Cruces, New Mexico has 818 flood policies in effect. This allows the average flood rate to compute to be $959 which includes $784,717 in premiums.
Sunland Park New Mexico flood insurance
Hello Sunland Park, New Mexico! Thanks for stopping by! You have 106 active flood policies, and your average flood rate is $657. Your total premiums are $69,602.
Artesia New Mexico flood insurance
105 flood policies are active in Artesia, New Mexico. These policies total up to $88,906 in written premiums which allows the average flood rate to be $847.
Carlsbad New Mexico flood insurance
The average flood rate goes up to $1,174 when we look at Carlsbad, New Mexico. Carlsbad has 239 active flood policies and $280,490 in written premiums.
Eddy, Grant and Silver City New Mexico flood insurance
In Eddy, Grant, and Silver City, New Mexico, your average flood rate $1,076 which is higher than the state average. Maybe we can help you all find a lower rate! This includes 104 active flood policies and $111,909 in flood premiums.
Hobbs New Mexico flood insurance
Hobbs, New Mexico – you all have quite a few flood policies – 853 to be exact! Your average flood rate is $597 which includes $508,829 in written premiums.
Jal, Lea, and Lovington New Mexico flood insurance
Let’s look at Jal, Lea, and Lovington, New Mexico to find 104 flood policies in effect. The premiums written total up to $95,142 which causes the average flood rate to be $915.
Lincoln and Ruidoso New Mexico flood insurance
The average flood premium drops to $646 when we look at Lincoln and Ruidoso, New Mexico. There are 232 flood policies in effect with $149,840 in written premiums.
Alamogordo New Mexico flood insurance
Hello Alamogordo! You all have 1,239 active flood policies. Your premiums total $752,039. The average rate for Alamogordo, New Mexico is $607.
Otero New Mexico flood insurance
$503 is the average flood rate for Otero, New Mexico. The total premium written is $100,650 in Otero which includes 200 flood policies in effect.
Espanola and Rio Arriba New Mexico flood insurance
171 flood policies are active in Espanola and Rio Arriba, New Mexico. The total premiums for this area are $175,593 which allows the average flood rate to be $1,027.
Portales New Mexico flood insurance
Portales, New Mexico has 399 active flood policies. The average flood rate is $629 for Portales. The total premiums are $251,161.
Farmington and San Juan New Mexico flood insurance
There are 197 flood policies in effect in Farmington and San Juan, New Mexico. The average flood rate for this area is $844. The total premiums written is $166,351.
Las Vagas & San Miguel New Mexico flood insurance
The average flood rate goes up to $1,143 when we look at Las Vegas and San Miguel, New Mexico. There are 114 flood policies here with $130,355 in premiums.
Bernalillo and Sandoval County New Mexico flood insurance
In the town of Bernalillo in Sandoval County, there are 257 active flood policies. The average rate here is $1,063 which covers $273,167 in written premiums.
Sandoval New Mexico flood insurance