Weather Warning: Read if you are coming into Houston! (Victoria: insurance, houses)

[TootsieWootsie]

Should you buy a home in Houston--and it is suggested or required (many areas require you purchase) to purchase a Flood Insurance Plan--DO IT!
I lived in Bellaire for over 20 years, which is the center of town about next to the Galleria. Great area.
Bellaire did not flood for the 20 years I lived there, and then whomp! 2001 we flooded out. Lost one Camaro and one room in my house. The last flood that happened there was 1963, so the Hundred Year Plan Flood Insurance is really in a forty year span.
Luckily, I was working with a contractor at the time of the flood. He fixed my house within a week, but he DOUBLE OR TRIPLE charged me. And, since I knew that so many, many houses were flooded throughout the entire Houston area, I had no choice but to let him do the work.
My neighbor--who thought she would save the $250 a year and did not get the insurance--LOST her entire house as it flooded a foot and a half inside. They had to tear it down after three months as the mold started to grow, and they could not get any contractors to repair it..plus, it was too expensive to do so. SAD! She was literally in shock the next day. First time I ever say anyone really in shock except on tv. Very sad situation.
Friendswood (south of Houston by Clear Lake area) floods with such regularity that the natives roll with the punches. They must have the insurance guy on speed dial by now. Personally, I wouldn't want the hassle. Even if your house is on pier and beam like mine was, and sitting very high up, there are trees fallen into the roadway by lightening, and floods in the streets.
Look on the net here for the 2001 flood in Houston, and you will get an idea of how bad it can get. They have some of the photos of the downtown loop intersections on the expressways that were impassable and flooded. It gets bad at times.
I have been reading all the advice on this board for you folks moving to Houston, and cannot believe nobody has warned you about this very strongly, anyway.

[sierrajude]

Hey Tootsie, do you have any idea how far north of Houston this might be a concern? Thx.

[momof2dfw]

I'd go all the way up to Huntsville. But finding flood insurance might be hard to do.

[TootsieWootsie]

It seems as if the Heights never flooded in Houston while I was there, anything south of I-10 does.
There are websites that will give the stats on this, so you just have to play around and type things in your address bar on the computer and find them. Unfortunately, I don't have them available as I will not move back, most likely, so have no interest.
The Heights is still predominantly Hispanic, I am sure. However, gays started moving in ten years ago--thank heavens--and the area will be gorgeous soon. Not a prejudiced comment about gays, but having no kids = having some available cash to fix your house up it seems. I, personally, LOVE the Heights as iti is quaint as all get out. It has a very Victorian lined street up the middle of it with lots of B&B's there. Really cool.
It seems the areas north of I-10 in Houston seem more immune to flooding.
If it were me, and I was moving back, I would do TONS of homework on flooding areas before I bought again. I was so flip about the flood insurance and then, after my home flooded and we lost a car, I would love to kiss the insurance gal who told me I had to purchase flood insurance. Saved my bacon!
I cannot emphasize enough to check on flooding areas in Houston or the suburbs before buying. Just trying to help.