Think of it like this: when you're looking to buy a house, would you want to know if there's a chance your new living room might someday be underwater or on fire?

The official story is that housing markets are strong. But beneath the surface, home buyers are starting to worry about unseen risks.

What's happening now is reminiscent of my late husband’s concerns decades ago: people are becoming aware that their dream homes might not be as secure against natural disasters as they once were.

Imagine you're putting together a budget for your household. You've planned everything from groceries to vacations, but suddenly there’s a big unknown expense looming over your head because of potential flooding or wildfires. How does this affect how much house you can afford?

The alarming reality is that climate change isn’t just an abstract concept anymore; it's hitting home in the form of higher insurance premiums and harder-to-obtain mortgages for homes in high-risk areas.

For younger generations, these risks mean they could be paying more now to secure a future where natural disasters are even more frequent and severe.

I stayed up late thinking about this. It's not just my worry; it's the concern I have for those who will follow in our children’s footsteps and wonder what their homes might face in years to come.

What will it take for home buyers to start negotiating a disaster discount? Will they ask harder questions, demand more transparency from sellers?