In one sentence
A certification of the property's FEMA flood zone that triggers mandatory flood insurance when any structure sits in a special flood hazard area.
The longer version
Federal law requires regulated lenders to obtain a determination on every loan secured by improved real estate, usually with life-of-loan monitoring so zone changes surface later. A structure in an A or V zone means flood insurance in required amounts before closing.
The determination is cheap and instant; the insurance it can trigger is not. Finding a flood issue late is an avoidable closing delay, so this line runs at kickoff.
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