My Real Estate Agent Dumped Me: Climate Change

Climate resilience in properties for real estate buyers, sellers, and their agents is of high value.

A recent property search showed me how dramatically the real estate landscape is shifting—and why we all need to adapt.

My Reality Check: When Traditional Real Estate Falls Short

I'll be honest—I've been a real estate agent before and really didn't love it. The 24/7 availability and legal gray areas just weren't for me. But recently, while looking forreal estate,in another state, I found myself learning more.

After booking a week-long hwy hotel stay to explore properties, I connected with a recommended agent from a friend. I had one particular property I'd reviewed on Zillow—great location, solid layout, promising investment potential. But there were red flags.

When Expertise Gaps Become Deal Breakers

What I discovered was that my due diligence needs went far beyond typical home inspections. This property was in an estate with few disclosures. It would require more than a regular home inspection, providing deeper knowledge about construction, health and safety, old HVAC systems, plumbing, and electrical work. Repairs of the size that you can lose sleep over, as well as money.. 

The agent, understandably, wasn't prepared for heading into a deep dive. I needed time to analyze long-term costs and benefits before making an offer, but she terminated our professional relationship before the end of the week —no hard feelings here —just a mismatch of expectations. I think this is worthy of an article about an industry challenge agents are not prepared for. 

The Perfect Storm: Why Everything Is Changing

There are three converging forces reshaping real estate investment decisions nationwide.

1.Water and Infrastructure Strain

Local aquifers are under increasing pressure from population growth and changing weather patterns. This means rising utility costs, and seasonal limits. (Often serious questions about long-term local sustainability.) Meanwhile, aging infrastructure for water, sewer, energy, and roadways are  struggling to keep pace with demand, creating mounting costs and social tensions.

2.Insurance Market Disruption

Home insurance costs are spiking due to extreme weather events. Many insurers have stopped writing new policies in high-risk states like California, Florida, and Louisiana, forcing homeowners into limited state-run programs. The result? A huge increase in buyer concerns about securing adequate coverage, with some areas seeing policyholder numbers double between 2018-2023.

3.The True Cost of Climate Risk

Properties with obvious incidences or obvious fire or flood risks now sell for less than similar properties. But what property doesn't have some risk?  As example: I moved from Florida and hurricanes only to be evacuated from a huge wildfire while living in the Rocky Mountains. 

These aren't thoughts for the future —they're current market realities.

How Smart Professionals Are Adapting

Real Estate Agents: Beyond Traditional Practice

The old "sphere of influence" strategy and local connections aren't sufficient anymore. Successful agents are building networks of environmental specialists, climate risk assessors, advanced building inspectors, and insurance specialists. They're researching local Climate Action Plans (CAP), understanding insurance availability before showing properties, and focusing on climate-resilient market data specific to their local marketing area.

Most importantly, they're learning to navigate climate data responsibly—providing resources rather than offering definitive opinions, all the while helping clients find unbiased expert information that is not greenwashing in marketing something.

Sellers: Getting Ahead of Scrutiny

Smart sellers are anticipating increased buyer scrutiny around climate risks. This means understanding state and local disclosure requirements, researching flood history and wildfire risk, and highlighting community preparedness as a competitive advantage.

 The most successful are investing in resilience upgrades like proper drainage systems, weatherproofing, fireproofing, and indoor air quality improvements. These aren't just protective measures—they're value-adding improvements that may qualify for insurance discounts and attract health and climate-conscious buyers. The chef's kitchen and spa bath have new marketplace competition.

Buyers: Thinking Beyond Purchase Price

Today's informed buyers are evaluating location-specific hazards, future demand patterns, and insurance realities. They're using real estate platforms with integrated climate risk data, consulting resources like the EPA Climate Resilience Screening Index, and obtaining insurance estimates before purchasing.

The smartest buyers are considering proactive protection measures: advanced drainage systems, foundation technology for shifting soil conditions, wind-resistant features, and solar heat reduction strategies. They understand that when they want to sell, the next home buyer will most likely consider climate risk as important in decision-making.

The Hidden Health Impact

Climate change doesn't just threaten property values—it affects the people living inside. Rising outdoor allergen levels infiltrate indoor spaces, particulate pollution from droughts and wildfires enters buildings, and increased dampness creates ideal conditions for mold growth and pest problems.

The solution involves effective moisture control systems, proper ventilation during weatherization, and air filtration strategies. These aren't luxury upgrades anymore—they're basic health and safety requirements.

What This Means for Your Next Transaction

The real estate industry is evolving whether we're ready or not. Traditional approaches to buying, selling, and representing properties are insufficient for current market realities. Success now requires specialized knowledge, expanded professional networks, and a willingness to address complex, interconnected risk factors.

Back to my story and the property I looked at, I'm running the numbers for a bit longer, while viewing it as a long-term investment. Friends often laugh when I say, “It looked good on paper.”  We all know there is more to everything every time.  Resale is never guaranteed, and due diligence is becoming more valuable and complex every year. 

Communities and real estate agents that proactively address climate resilience will likely outperform those that don't. The key is staying informed, building the right networks, and never assuming that "business as usual" will suffice in this rapidly changing market.

The question isn't whether climate considerations will affect your next real estate transaction—it's how prepared will you be..

Ready to adapt your real estate practice and decisions for this new reality? Start by identifying the climate risks and resilience factors most relevant to your local market.

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