Elevation Certificate - Santa Ana, CA?

Question

Has anyone in the Santa Ana, California area obtained an elevation certificate? Insurance rates are so expensive! I just want to get a feel to see if the $700 (for the certificate) is worth it. I'm currently paying $2775/year for flood insurance because according to the FEMA maps. Help please!

Answer 1

If it enables you to get a Letter of Map Amendment (document that removes your house from a Special Flood Hazard Area), it will more than pay for itself.

Answer 2

Well, the elevation certificate is done by the surveyor, theoretically, before the house is built, if it was built after 1978.  Unless your house is unusually elevated in your neighborhood, most likely it's not going to change anything for you.