Two-Thirds of Americans Say Climate Change Has Made Homeownership Riskier

Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) worry that natural disasters will increase in frequency and severity in their area, and only 7% believe their homes are fully prepared for a disaster.

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Over two-thirds of Americans (68%) believe homeownership is riskier now than it was 10 years ago due to climate change and natural disasters, according to a new report from Clever Offers, a platform owned by Clever Real Estate that allows home sellers on tight timelines to explore their selling options.

Nearly 7 in 10 homeowners (69%) say they took disaster risk into account when buying their home, while almost half of non-homeowners (46%) say climate change has made them rethink the practicality of buying a home someday.

61% of homeowners fear a natural disaster could destroy their home, and 48% worry they may have to relocate at some point due to climate risks.

Just over a quarter of homeowners (26%) feel confident their homes are safe from future climate threats, while 1 in 10 (11%) admit they're not confident in their understanding of local climate risks.

About a third of non-homeowners (35%) say they've ruled out a place to live due to climate or disaster risks. Most commonly, Americans would avoid buying a home in California (40%), Florida (36%), and Texas (21%) and are most concerned about tornadoes (31%), wildfires (26%), and hurricanes (16%).

Two-thirds of Americans (74%) would pay more for a home protected from local climate threats, and 63% would pay a premium to live in a low-risk area.

Still, 1 in 3 Americans (35%) would consider buying a home in a high-risk area, and 48% say a steep discount could convince them.

Nearly half of Americans (46%) say buyers who select high-risk areas deserve long-term financial fallout — and 39% say no discount is worth the risk of living in a risky area.

As Americans brace for what the future may hold, 30% expect a shortage of "climate-safe" areas within the next 10 years.

Read the full report at: https://cleveroffers.com/research/climate-change-best-places-to-live/

About Clever Offers
Clever Offers is a platform that empowers sellers who need to sell quickly or for cash to compare their options and make informed decisions. Clever Offers' free service connects sellers with vetted cash buyers and top local realtors, allowing them to evaluate traditional cash offers alongside options such as cash offers with a second payment upon resale, listing on the MLS for as little as 7 days, and standard open-market listings.

About Clever
Clever Real Estate's content reaches over 10 million readers annually, and its nationwide agent matching service has a 5.0-star Trustpilot rating across 3,600+ customer reviews. Since launching in 2017, Clever has reached $13.7 billion in real estate sold, matched 171,000+ customers with realtors, and saved consumers over $200 million on commission fees. Clever's network spans 17,000 agents across all 50 states.

CONTACT: 
Alyssa Evans
Clever Real Estate
[email protected]
315-690-1518

SOURCE Clever Offers