We're looking at some homes in what appear to be flood-prone areas and I don't want to get stuck with a place that gets flooded regularly, either during springtime snow melt or the fall rainy season. What's the best way to figure out the flood risk of these properties?

Your best bet is to do a preliminary assessment on FloodSmart.gov, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program. Fill out the address information in the "One-Step Flood Risk Profile" to get the level of risk, which is determined by the location of the property on the local flood map.

To see the most up-to-date maps, go to the town clerk’s office or the local government department that handles floodplain management. You can also access flood maps at FEMA's Map Service Center, but you have to pay for those.

Read our report for information on flood insurance and premiums.