Life @ Home eNewsletter: October 2021 for Buyers
OCTOBER 2021 | WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
» Why house hunters should be considering climate change
» How to handle repairs in a historic home
» 5 best U.S. cities for fans of fall
Flood insurance is critical
Why house hunters should be considering climate change
What things do you consider when house hunting? Probably square footage, condition, age, nearby amenities and schools. But what about climate risks?
As our weather keeps moving toward greater extremes, these are three environmental hazards that may affect your search for a new home.
Flooding. It’s common to check FEMA flood insurance maps before closing on a home. If the house is in a low-risk area, it’s thought that future major flooding is unlikely.
Unfortunately, rising ocean levels and high energy storms are changing things. “Low-risk” doesn’t always mean low-risk these days. To minimize the chance of catastrophe, be wary of buying property adjacent to high-risk flood zones. Wildfires. Climate change has led to more severe wildfires across the Western United States. In the past, developers sometimes built homes in moderately risky areas. They bet that the risk wouldn’t go up, and in the meantime they argued it was a good way to meet demand for property in desirable areas. Now, some homeowners are paying the price.
