Sell a Flood Damaged House in Houston, As Is, for Cash
Did your house take on water in a storm, a bayou flood or a burst pipe? You don’t have to gut it, rebuild it or wait on contractors. Wally Joe buys flood damaged houses in Houston for cash, in any condition, including homes with mold, open insurance claims or a history of flooding more than once.
- Any water damage
- Mold is fine
- Open claims are fine
- Flooded more than once
Tell Us About the Flooded House
Share the address and when the house flooded, and Wally Joe will call you back with a fair cash offer. Rough answers are fine. Prefer to talk first? Call 713 231 8030.
Moved out because of the water? We can work from photos.
713 231 8030- Your details stay private
- No obligation offer
- Any stage of cleanup
Can I Sell a Flood Damaged House in Houston?
Yes. You can sell a flooded house as is to a cash buyer, repair it and list it, or apply to a county buyout program if the house qualifies. In Texas, you must tell buyers about past flooding, flood insurance claims and FEMA or SBA aid on the seller’s disclosure. A cash sale lets you skip the repairs and close on your timeline.
Flooding and Houston homes: key facts
- Hurricane Harvey flooded 154,170 homes in Harris County in 2017. A little under half were outside the 100 year and 500 year floodplains.
- In February 2026, FEMA released draft flood maps for Harris County, the first countywide update since 2007. They may not be final until 2028.
- In Houston, a house is “substantially damaged” when repairs cost 50% or more of the building’s market value. In the floodplain, it may then have to be raised to current elevation rules.
- Texas sellers must disclose past flood insurance claims and FEMA or SBA flood assistance (Texas Property Code section 5.008).
- A new federal flood insurance policy usually has a 30 day waiting period before it takes effect.
General information, not legal or insurance advice.
Why Flood Damaged Houses Are Hard to Sell in Houston
A flooded house runs into problems on the regular market.
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Buyers’ lenders want it fixed first. Many loans won’t close on a house with open water damage, missing drywall or active mold.
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Insurance can be hard to get. Buyers ask about flood history, and a past claim shows up in their research.
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Rebuilding costs add up fast. Drywall, flooring, cabinets, HVAC ducts and electrical often all need replacing after water sits in a house.
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The 50% rule can change everything. If Houston or Harris County officials decide the house is substantially damaged, a home in the floodplain may need to be raised before it can be fully repaired.
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New flood maps. Research presented at a Rice University Baker Institute conference in May 2026 found the draft FEMA maps could add more than 200,000 Harris County homes to higher risk areas. That could mean required flood insurance for buyers with a mortgage.
We buy it exactly as it is.
Get My Cash OfferWhat Is Houston’s 50% Substantial Damage Rule?
If repairing a flooded house would cost 50% or more of the building’s market value, not counting the land, city or county officials can declare it substantially damaged.
Inside the City of Houston, Chapter 19 of the city code has applied since September 1, 2018. Under it, new construction and substantial improvements in the 100 year and 500 year floodplains must be built 2 feet above the 500 year flood level. A substantially damaged home in the floodplain may have to be raised, rebuilt or torn down instead of simply repaired.
If you have federal flood insurance, Increased Cost of Compliance coverage can pay up to $30,000 toward raising, moving or tearing down a substantially damaged home. Raising a house often costs more than that.
Unincorporated Harris County has its own floodplain rules through the Harris County Engineering Department. Check with whichever office handles your address before you start repairs.
Your 3 Options for a Flooded House in Houston
| Compare | Our Offer Sell to us for cash | Repair, then list with an agent | Harris County buyout program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs | None. We buy it as is | You pay for all of them, often up front | None |
| Timeline | As little as 7 to 14 days, depending on title | Months of rebuilding, then time on the market | Can take a long time, and funding is limited |
| Price | A cash offer based on the house’s current condition | Can be highest if the work is done well | Usually based on the home’s pre flood appraised value |
| Who qualifies | Any house, anywhere in the area | Any house, if you have the money and time | Only homes in areas the county targets for buyouts |
| What happens to the house | We repair it or rebuild it | A new buyer moves in | It’s torn down, and the land can never be built on again |
| Best for | Owners who want it done now, or can’t afford to rebuild | Owners with insurance money, time and a good contractor | Homes deep in the floodplain that flood again and again |
If you think your home might qualify for a buyout, it’s worth asking first. The Harris County Flood Control District takes a Notice of Voluntary Interest at any time, and filling it out doesn’t commit you to anything. Call the Home Buyout Hotline at 346 286 4020. Harris County Housing and Community Development runs separate buyout programs at 832 927 4955.
How Selling a Flood Damaged House to Us Works
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Tell us what happened
Call or fill out the form. Tell us when it flooded, how high the water got, what’s been torn out and whether you filed an insurance claim. Rough answers are fine.
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Get a written cash offer
We walk the house, or work from photos if you’ve moved out. You don’t need to finish muckout or mold work first.
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Close on your date
A Houston title company handles the paperwork, pays off your mortgage and any liens, and pays you the rest.
What You Must Disclose When Selling a Flooded House in Texas
The Texas seller’s disclosure notice asks:
- Whether the house is in a 100 year or 500 year floodplain, a floodway, or a reservoir flood pool
- Whether water ever got into the house
- Whether you ever filed a flood insurance claim, with any insurer or the National Flood Insurance Program
- Whether you ever received FEMA or SBA assistance for flood damage
Honesty protects youAnswer every question honestly, even if the damage was repaired years ago. We’ll never ask you to leave anything out. Hiding past flooding can lead to a lawsuit after the sale.
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a Texas real estate attorney about your disclosure.
Dealing With Insurance and FEMA After a Flood
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Keep every claim number and payment letter
The title company may need them, especially if your mortgage lender is named on an insurance check.
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Ask about Increased Cost of Compliance
Ask your adjuster about Increased Cost of Compliance if the house is declared substantially damaged.
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An open claim doesn’t stop a sale
Talk to your insurer about what happens to unpaid claim money once you sell.
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Watch for unlicensed contractors
Watch for unlicensed contractors asking for large deposits after a storm. Get written bids and check reviews.
Each policy is different. Ask your insurance agent or adjuster about your coverage.
Flood Damage Questions We Hear From Houston Homeowners
Do you buy houses that flooded more than once?
Yes. Houses that have flooded more than once are often the hardest to sell on the open market, and we buy them as is.
Do I need to remove the drywall or treat the mold first?
No. We buy the house in whatever stage it’s in, whether it’s untouched, half torn out or partly repaired.
Can I sell if I have an open insurance claim?
Yes. Tell us about the claim, and talk to your insurer about how a sale affects any money still owed to you.
Will you buy a house that’s been declared substantially damaged?
Yes. We factor the rebuilding or raising costs into the offer, so you don’t have to deal with it.
Does a house have to be in a flood zone to have flooded?
No. In Harvey, a little under half the homes that flooded in Harris County were outside the mapped floodplains. Street flooding, slab leaks and burst pipes all cause water damage too.
How do I check if my house is in the new floodplain?
Search your address on the Harris County Flood Control District’s MAAPnext viewer at hcfcd.org/MAAPnext. It shows both the current and the draft FEMA maps.
Should I try the county buyout first?
If your house sits deep in a floodplain and floods often, ask. Buyouts have more volunteers than funding, so it can take a long time. If you need to sell sooner, a cash sale is an option.
What areas do you buy flood damaged houses in?
All over Houston, from neighborhoods along Brays, Buffalo, Greens and Cypress Creek to Pasadena, Baytown, Kingwood, Katy and Pearland.
Ready to Stop Paying for a House That Flooded?
Call Wally at 713 231 8030 or fill out the form. You’ll get a fair, no obligation cash offer for your flood damaged house. No repairs, no muckout, no commissions, and a closing date that works for you.
- No repairs
- No muckout
- No commissions
- Your closing date
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.
Your details stay private. Asking costs nothing.