Buying a home has fundamentally changed
The combination of high prices and growing climate threats has transformed buying a home — for decades the quintessential safe investment — into a risky proposition. This doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be homeowners, it means we need a different approach to buying homes.
When my family started looking for a house in 2022, we knew it needed to be resilient to climate impacts. But how would we be able to tell resilient homes from vulnerable ones?
I dug in and studied extensively to teach myself to evaluate the climate resilience of homes. Building on fundamentals I learned in my undergrad coursework in civil engineering, I looked at weather patterns, studied residential construction, reviewed the history of FEMA flood maps, and more.
Based on my research, I developed a climate resilience framework that served us well. Today we enjoy the peace of mind of a climate resilient home.
Worry about climate risk now and you won’t have to later.
A climate resilient home may end up being the best investment you ever make - emotionally and financially. And I can help you find the right one.
I can do this in two ways:
In New York State, where I live (Hudson Valley) and am licensed, I can serve directly as your realtor.
In the other 49 states, I can find you the right realtor and serve as your resilience guide throughout your search.
The second scenario is like having a coach for your climate resilient home search. We’ll co-develop a plan for what you’re looking for, create a checklist for home visits to ensure rigor, and discuss key decisions as you proceed. The cost is $2,750 and it includes ten (10) hours of my time.
The stakes are too high to work with a realtor who can’t offer substantive guidance on the key judgments now involved in buying a home.
