Why don’t home prices reflect Florida flooding issues? See 5 takeaways

Mayra Cruz, a University of Miami doctoral student, experienced firsthand the challenges of owning a flood-prone home in South Florida. Despite repeated flooding, she sold her house for a significant profit, highlighting the paradox of the region’s heated real estate market.

FULL STORY: Climate change is coming for Florida’s real estate. Why don’t prices reflect it?

Here are the highlights:

• Cruz and her husband bought flood insurance for their inland Miami Springs home, but frequent flooding led them to sell, disclosing the flood risk to potential buyers.
• The South Florida real estate market remains resilient despite flood risks, with property values often increasing even after significant flooding events.
• Experts warn of a “climate denial bubble” in real estate, with predictions of potential value corrections due to flood risks, though these have yet to materialize.
• While some buyers are becoming more aware of climate risks, many still prioritize affordability and location over potential flooding concerns.
• Recent trends show a slow shift in buyer behavior, with some moving away from high-risk areas, suggesting a gradual change in response to climate risks.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.

This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM.