Hurricane Risk Grows Across the US

The rising risks of flooding and wind damage caused by hurricanes are making it harder to sell and buy homes in coastal cities. Ahead of hurricane season, a report from property data provider Cotality shows the growing threats of hurricanes on the housing market. Spanning from Texas to Maine, the report identified 33.1 million properties at risk of hurricane wind damage that have a combined reconstruction cost of $11.7 trillion.

The risk of hurricane damage has grown far beyond traditional at-risk markets, such as those in Florida. Now, cities including Charleston, S.C.; Wilmington, N.C.; and Virginia Beach, Va., are now in the danger zone. For instance, in Virginia Beach, Va., homes were on the market for 32% longer in 2025 than in 2024. Likewise, in Wilmington, N.C., homes stayed on the market for 19% longer than in 2024. 

Still, some buyers look to these markets in hopes of finding better deals. 

Buyers increasingly expect discounts for flood zone properties. A Cotality study found that homes sitting within Miami’s 100-year flood zone saw a reduction in value of between 9% and 18% per square foot. But those discounts are often offset by the increasing cost of insurance. And that’s if insurance is available.

In high-risk states like Florida and Texas, some insurers have gone bankrupt or exited the market, putting pressure on state-backed insurers. While Virginia and South Carolina haven’t seen exits on the same scale as other states along the Gulf, rising premiums from providers signal strain, especially in coastal areas.