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Here's the description for a five-bedroom beachfront estate listed at $6.5 million on Sanibel Island—a location along Florida’s western shore that suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022, followed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
When the roof collapsed during a storm, causing water damage inside the house, raising the building might be necessary, according to Yvonne Burnham from DomainRealty, who authored the listing. Most of the property’s value lies in the land itself, she explains, estimating it at around $4 million due to its size—an entire acre—and prime location offering unobstructed ocean vistas directly accessible from the site.
Hurricanes, wildfires, mudslides, and flooding have impacted many desirable residential areas across the nation, including pristine white-sand shores in Florida, stunning peninsulas in California, and mountainous regions in North Carolina. Properties once considered quick sells are now more challenging to market effectively, particularly as the remnants of burned structures linger with their acrid smells or local enterprises remain shuttered long after the disasters occurred.
The task of making sales in these regions has become even tougher due to heightened awareness about the dangers posed by climate change. A study commissioned by Redfin from Ipsos, which surveyed 2,000 homeowners and renters in September 2024, reveals that 56% of Millennials and 50% of Generation Z respondents indicated that climate change influences their choice of living location. Conversely, just 31% of Baby boomers and 40% of Generation X expressed similar concerns, as stated by Daryl Fair weather, who serves as Redfin’s chief economist. This finding aligns with a previous report published by Redfin in 2022, indicating that homebuyers equipped with information regarding flood risk tend to opt for properties less prone to flooding.
In regions affected by natural calamities, striking a balance between promotional tactics and factual accuracy can be quite nuanced. Real estate professionals aim to cater to both property owners and potential purchasers by employing various techniques intended to present houses in an appealing manner. However, they typically mention, oftentimes discreetly at the end of the listing details, that there could potentially be certain "problems."
The wildfires that ravaged Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadenain January posed a significant challenge for real estate professionals. Ruslan Shkurenko, an agent at Carolwood Estates, owns a listing for a two-bedroom, 1,708-square-foot property in Pacific Palisades priced at $2.35 million. While his promotional materials describe it as situated in "one of Los Angeles's most sought-after areas," this wording must be updated, according to him.
The residence sustained partial damage; however, it stands amidst debris, he mentions. Given the inevitable construction-related commotion expected over the coming several years, he states, "It’s going to be challenging." In fact, everything around has been entirely incinerated. The seller intends to maintain the listing of the home, implying that Shkurenko must determine an adequate pricing strategy. He notes that at present, aside from some opportunistic bidders who contacted him with offers of $400,000 for the place, he hasn’t received inquiries from potential buyers in the Palisades area.
Certain outdated property listings remain active on real estate platforms despite the homes having been demolished due to disasters. According to Susan Kastner, a real estate agent at Compass, sellers aim to keep these listings accessible so that insurance firms can review the photographs and information to assess the former value of the properties. She cites an example from her own experience where a listing in Pacific Palisades persisted on Zillow for approximately two months post-Palisades Fire, advertised at $5.959 million without disclosing that the residence had been obliterated by flames. "It’s beneficial too when marketing land to include some pictures showcasing what the structure used to look like prior to the blaze, particularly if potential buyers intend to reconstruct it exactly as it was," she explains.
In the Portuguese Bend Beach Club area of Rancho Palos Verdes, California—a region heavily affected by ongoing landslides—one luxury property stands out: a $2.599 million residence spanning two bedrooms over 1,159 square feet. Its promotional description begins with "location, location, location." As per the listing details, this abode boasts an expansive 180-degree vista of both sea and sky, along with recent submissions to local authorities regarding renovation plans aimed at addressing small-scale earth movement damage. Nevertheless, potential buyers might not learn from the listing that significant portions of the community remain without electricity or natural gas due to precautionary cutoffs implemented by utilities back in the previous year. This particular dwelling will go under auction as-is; however, whether these essential services have been reinstated remains uncertain. Efforts to seek clarification directly through the listing representative were met with silence.
In a part of Rolling Hills where concerns about ground instability led to cutoffs of gas and electricity for several residences, a spacious four-bedroom home spanning 3,165 square feet is up for grabs at a price tag of $3 million. This property is marketed as "an opportunity to become entirely self-sufficient and environmentally friendly." Initially priced at $4.15 million when it first hit the market back in June, the asking price has been reduced by approximately $1 million due to slower sales. Currently under contingency—meaning specific conditions have yet to be met—the prospective purchaser intends to live in this place rather than invest with resale in mind. According to Leslie Stetson, the listing agent representing Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, the future owner will reside here themselves instead of flipping it for profit.
Stetson mentions that it was challenging to sell the property lacking utility services. She also states that she has never recommended whether someone should purchase or avoid properties in areas experiencing ground shifts since "she’s not a geologist." Nonetheless, she describes the home as being located in a tranquil setting with breathtaking vistas. Stetson acknowledges that some individuals might be ready to accept such risks. She concludes by saying, "Everyone is entitled to make their own choices."
Certain real estate agents in the regions affected by landslides are adopting a proactive strategy for marketing damaged properties. They are obtaining cost estimates and arranging for contractors who can implement improvements they believe will reduce the physical susceptibility of these homes to further land movement.
Charlie Raine is representing a $2.25 million property, a spacious five-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home located in Portuguese Bend, an area particularly devastated by the recent Palos Verdes Peninsula landslides. This Tuscan-styled mansion, offering beautiful ocean vistas and steeped in history, experienced significant damage as cracks appeared throughout its exterior areas. In order to tackle this problem head-on, Raine highlighted in the promotional materials that the homeowner "rose to the challenge" by fitting so-called 'helical' piers, which appear to have stabilized the situation according to the listing details.
Raine informs potential buyers that he has obtained engineering designs for reinforcing the house with steel beams as an alternative to using piers, adding that these plans "can be utilized if necessary." This additional work might cost less than a million dollars, according to him. The property experienced a price reduction of $250,000 back in January and has lacked electricity and gas since last summer. While several individuals have shown interest mainly due to the home’s historical significance and its century-old architectural charm, Raine emphasizes that although the original design remains intact and appeals to those who value such qualities, purchasing this residence will require significant investment. His aim is to help future owners understand ways they could potentially preserve the structure more effectively. "This isn’t the end," he comments optimistically.
The promotional description for a property in the Seaview area of Rancho Palos Verdes, which Raine is selling, noted that the home had experienced issues due to ground instability. However, it also stated that "various techniques can be employed to reinforce the foundation and separate the impacted section of the dwelling from further movements." The Seaview residence has now been marked as unsafe to occupy, indicating an official condemnation.
In an effort to boost sales, real estate professionals operating along Florida’s western coastline, particularly in regions prone to hurricanes, are presenting themselves as experts capable of guiding homeowners through making their properties more resilient against storms. According to Tiffany Burns, a real estate advisor affiliated with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty located in Captiva, Florida, her group provides clients with a catalog of so-called mitigation strategies. These include raising the home above ground level or installing flood barriers at entry points such as doors and windows.
In storm-ravaged regions, understanding the listing descriptions may demand close attention; terms like "the home experienced no harm from recent storms" frequently appear in properties listed around Sanibel Island and neighboring Fort Myers Beach. This refers specifically to the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, excluding the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Ian back in 2022, according to local real estate professionals. Additionally, you might encounter the phrase "As Is Where Is," indicating that the property is offered in its current state with limited guarantees about its condition from the seller.
One hurdle for agents in disaster-affected regions is marketing. Additionally, finalizing current sales following such events poses another difficulty.
Marilyn C. Wright, a real estate agent working with Premier Sotheby’s in Asheville, North Carolina, found herself dealing with an unusual challenge when Hurricane Helene hit in September 2024. She had listed a property under contract just outside of Linville, also in North Carolina. This particular residence—a spacious 5,200 square foot, four-bedroom sanctuary constructed from stone and timber—sat majestically across over five acres atop a ridge. Built back in 2007, this impressive abode relied solely on generator power and sat along a roadway obstructed by toppled trees. Nearby homes suffered roof damage as well.
To finalize the sale worth $14 million, Marilyn needed reliable communication despite the lack of internet or cell coverage around her listing. As a result, she made a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, where she could better manage communications via limited AM radio broadcasts. "We were down to relying entirely on AM radio," she recalls. Despite these hurdles, closing took place after what felt like an intensely challenging period lasting nearly four days.
In the wake of the storm, Wright emphasizes that the key factor has been personally visiting the homes she was listing to assess the extent of the damage. She has had to manage every detail—from recruiting neighbors with chainsaws to clear fallen trees to arranging roof repairs and ensuring propane tanks are secured—to maintain the viability of these potential sales. Her relationships with contractors enabled her clients to expedite their tasks. "Despite whatever is happening globally, people continue to have plans, wishes, and timelines," she states. "This situation demands our utmost effort."
Art Carter, the CEO of California Regional MLS—a platform serving more than 100,000 members—stated that their team consists of 20 individuals dedicated to monitoring listings. They ensure agents adhere strictly to the National Association of Realtors' Code of Ethics, emphasizing principles like integrity and honesty. According to him, penalties for infractions such as breaching the Fair Housing Act or utilizing unauthorized photographs can be assessed at amounts ranging from $100 to $2,500. Despite these rules, he noted they've had to show flexibility recently due to challenging circumstances caused by wildfires across parts of California. However, efforts continue toward keeping all listed data current.
The effects of natural disasters can complicate the process of selling a home, even if it’s located far away. Gayle Probst currently has an offering for a four-bedroom, 2,497-square-foot property priced at $1.995 million in a community known as Ladera Linda. This area lies approximately one mile from an ongoing landslide impacting part of the Seaview district on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
The property hit the market recently, and she believes it'll attract buyers soon; however, it could require extra patience as potential purchasers often misinterpret the extent of the landslide zone. "Many assume the entire Seaview neighborhood is sliding down the slope, which isn't true at all," she explains. "It's absurd."
Write to Nancy Keates at Nancy.Keates@wsj.com
