Miami Beach, Florida, laptop screen showing Radar of Hurricane Ian, category 4 storm, eye and feeder ... [ ] bands in Gulf of Mexico approaching landfall. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

When you're on the brink of one of life's biggest milestones—buying a home—it's natural to focus on the excitement of the moment. The backyard barbecues, family dinners, and memories you'll make. But just like couples at the altar don't want to think about the possibility of divorce, home buyers often resist thinking about catastrophic natural disasters when committing to purchase a home. However, in the era of climate change, failing to research climate risks, insurance coverage, and insurance costs is like getting married without learning about your partner's finances or goals in life.

Climate disasters—floods, fires, hurricanes—are outside of any one individual's control. However, home buyers can control how prepared they are with information.

No one likes thinking about worst-case scenarios. After all, who wants to imagine their future home submerged in floodwaters or threatened by wildfires? Yet the risks are real, and they're growing.

As climate change drives up the frequency and severity of natural disasters, homeowners face significant financial and emotional stakes. Financially, home buyers must grapple with how a changing climate makes homes more costly to insure and maintain. Both insurance costs and maintenance costs are increasing faster than the overall inflation rate. Consumer prices increased 3% in 2023. Meanwhile, according to the National Association of Realtors, average home insurance rates increased 10%, and according to Thumbtack, home maintenance costs increased 8% in 2023. Climate change also makes it more expensive for communities and governments........

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