As a Florida native of 30 years, I live with the fear of getting hit with a hurricane. However, it wasn’t until I bought my first house in St. Petersburg in 2023 that I faced another grim realization: Owning a home in a storm-prone area comes with a ton of hidden costs.
Floridians aren’t the only homeowners who need to worry, either.
In 2024, approximately 18.1% of homes in the country—mainly in Louisiana, South Carolina, Florida, and Texas—were predicted to face potential damage from hurricanes and tornadoes, according to the 2024 Realtor.com®Housing and Climate Risk Report. Beyond that, 19 states plus Washington, DC, require additional hurricane deductibles, raising the cost of repairing the damage when it happens…