The home appraised for 25k more than what I purchased it for, and I put a 20k downpayment, plus the improvements that I've made during the 4 months I've owned the home (paint, flooring, etc.. ) My lender notified me that even if I refi into a conventional loan with them (I currently have an FHA) that the Flood insurance premium would still be there. 

There are certain criteria such as new floors, appliances, etc., but I am looking for some clarification.

Cat urine horror stories,, are you prepared to replace dry wall up from the floors at least 2 feet and all the base trim,, carpeting, and probably sub floor...

This will be a total strip down including the cabinets which have already been removed, acoustic ceiling, flooring, wall paneling windows, doors, interior walls, floors, appliances, (water heater will be replaced with a much smaller tankless water heater which will give us an additional 32 cubic feet (4sfx8') of living space.Above the furnace will be replaced with a sub floor heating system which will allow us an additional 32 cubic feet.

I am a flooring contractor in Abilene tx and I own two single family rentals and one duplex (owner finance).

Passed VA appraisal/inspection even though one of the duplex units was barely habitable and the noticeably buckled floor under the floor ended up being due to ongoing water damage.

It needs a new roof, windows, appliances, flooring, & TLC inside.

I once bought a property from a wholesaler that had items from the the floor to the ceiling.

So i redone my living room, redone the floor and bath, the kitchen was fine, but I added new counter tops and a open box oven that cost 60% its retail price and after 1year later I got an appraisal of $87,500, and sold it for 86k and some change.During that time I was always scared to continue my venture in either quitting, and ponder why did I blow so much money on a crappy home?

One of the items was that the duct going to a vent in the living room was too close to a floor beam.