Homebuyers Pay More Attention to Climate Risk After Disasters, Redfin Finds

Homebuyers become much more aware of climate risk when natural disasters strike but that attention often fades faster than expected. New data from Redfin shows that interest in climate-risk information spikes right after major events like wildfires and hurricanes, then gradually returns to normal levels.

Redfin, a real estate brokerage powered by Rocket, found that visitors to its website are far more likely to click on the climate-risk section of home listings during and immediately after disasters. However, once the event fades from headlines, engagement drops back to typical levels.

Wildfires Spark Short-Term Awareness

Redfin pointed to the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires as a clear example. In the 90 days before the fires began, users clicked on the climate-risk section of California home listings 4.2% of the time on average.

That changed quickly once the fires started:

• Jan. 8 (day after fires began): 5.7%
• Jan. 12 (peak): 7.8%

By the end of March, click activity had returned to pre-fire levels and has remained steady since.

“People tend to focus on climate risk when a disaster feels immediate,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather.
“But that urgency fades quickly. Disasters should be viewed as ongoing risks, not rare events.”

She added that the short window after a disaster is critical for educating homeowners about preparedness and long-term planning.

Climate Risk Is a Priority—At Least in Surveys

A Redfin-commissioned survey of 4,000 U.S. residents, conducted by Ipsos in May 2025, found that 67.6% of respondents said living in a low-disaster-risk area is non-negotiable.

In reality, many people still buy homes in higher-risk areas. Redfin says this often happens because buyers want to stay near family, jobs, or communities they already know. That may be starting to change, though.

For the first time since 2019, more people moved out of flood-prone areas than moved in last year, suggesting climate concerns may be slowly influencing relocation decisions.

Hurricane Season Drives Similar Behavior

Florida showed a sharp rise in climate-risk interest during the 2024 hurricane season, which included Hurricane Helene in late September and Hurricane Milton in early October.

In the 90 days before Helene, users clicked climate-risk data on Florida listings 8% of the time. That number rose to:

• 9.4% three days after Helene made landfall
• 16.3% on Oct. 7, when flood watches were issued ahead of Milton

Many Florida cities declared states of emergency during this time. Helene became the deadliest U.S. mainland hurricane since Katrina, while Milton ranked among the strongest Atlantic storms on record.

By mid-October, Florida’s clickthrough rate returned to pre-storm levels.

Disasters Affect Local Searches More Than National Behavior

Other states affected by the hurricanes, including Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, saw smaller increases in climate-risk engagement.

Nationally, the effects were noticeable but muted:

• Before Hurricane Helene: 3.3%
• Peak during Hurricane Milton: 4.1%
• Returned to normal by late October

During the Los Angeles wildfires, the national rate rose from 3.5% to 3.9%, then fell back to normal by late March 2025.

It took about three months for wildfire-related concern to fade nationally, compared with less than one month following the hurricanes.

A smaller national bump also occurred in July 2025 after severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in Central Texas, which killed 27 people. Climate-risk clicks rose from 3.3% to 3.6% during that period.

Local Impact Drives Behavior

“Even small national changes matter,” said Redfin Senior Economist Yingqi Xu.
She explained that national increases are limited because most users are not searching in disaster-hit areas.

“Disasters mainly affect home search behavior near where they occur,” Xu said.

As of late October 2025, the national climate-risk clickthrough rate stood at 3.2%.

States With the Highest Climate-Risk Interest

During the third quarter, Mississippi recorded the highest climate-risk engagement, with users clicking the section 9.6% of the time. Other high-ranking states included:

• Louisiana: 9.2%
• Vermont: 8.9%
• West Virginia: 8.3%
• Florida: 7.2%

The lowest engagement rates were seen in:

• Washington, D.C.: 2.4%
• Nevada: 3.2%
• Nebraska: 3.3%
• Minnesota: 3.4%
• Arizona: 3.4%

Mississippi and Louisiana rank as the most climate-vulnerable states according to the Climate Vulnerability Index by the Environmental Defense Fund and Texas A&M University.

Insurance Costs Add Pressure for Buyers

High climate risk often leads to high insurance costs. Louisiana, for example, has some of the highest homeowner’s insurance premiums in the country.

The average annual cost in Louisiana reached $10,964 in 2024, up 38% from the year before. Only Florida reported higher average premiums.

“Insurance costs are stopping deals,” said Jason Gale, a Redfin Premier agent in New Orleans.
He noted that many buyers walk away after learning the true cost of coverage.

“Buyers need lenders who understand local insurance risks,” Gale said.
“You don’t want to plan for $150 a month and end up paying $500.”

What This Means for Homebuyers

Natural disasters clearly influence buyer behavior but often only for a short time. While awareness spikes after major events, long-term decision-making still depends on affordability, location, and lifestyle.

Experts say climate risk should be treated as a constant factor, not just a concern after headlines fade. As disasters become more frequent and insurance costs rise, buyers who factor in climate data early may be better prepared in the long run. For direct financing consultations or mortgage options for you visit 👉 Nadlan Capital Group.