If Congress does not reauthorize the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP) by September 30, major parts of the program will
expire—a lapse that could cause major problems in the
mortgage industry.
In past NFIP lapses, borrowers were not able to purchase flood
insurance to close, renew or increase loans secured by property
that required flood insurance. The Congressional Research Service
(CRS) estimated that during a lapse in June 2010, each day more
than 1,400 home sale closings were canceled or delayed. That
represents more than 40,000 sales each month
The House has passed. H.R. 5371, legislation that would fund
much of the government—and reauthorize the NFIP– until
Nov. 21. However, the Senate has rejected that legislation.