Brief 0 — Climate Risk Is the Most Underpriced Variable in Real Estate

Ep0-01  ·  S1 Insurance Repricing  

Colorado homeowners premiums rose sharply and carriers retreated from the state.

Figure

+51.7% premiums; ~76% of carrier groups shrinking

Data-as-of

Jan 2019 – Oct 2022

Source

Colorado Division of Insurance (DORA) report

Source date

2023

Source URL

https://doi.colorado.gov/homeowners-insurance-affordability-availability

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Dated regulatory source; 51.7% and 76% confirmed.

 

Ep0-02  ·  S1 Insurance Repricing   

Colorado homeowners insurance costs among fastest-rising nationally.

Figure

~+58% (≈60% over 5 yrs)

Data-as-of

2018 – 2023

Source

Colorado State Univ. REDI; Rocky Mountain Insurance Assoc.

Source date

2023

Source URL

https://csuredi.org/redi_reports/homeowners-insurance-trends-in-colorado-implications-of-natural-hazard-dynamics/

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Corroborated by KUNC/Colorado Sun (~60% over 5 yrs). Verify CSU REDI link.

 

Ep0-03  ·  S1 Insurance Repricing   

Colorado opened a last-resort residential insurer, signaling voluntary-market failure.

Figure

FAIR Plan residential apps opened; ACV coverage

Data-as-of

Apr 2025

Source

Colorado FAIR Plan Assoc.; Colorado Division of Insurance

Source date

Apr 2025

Source URL

https://www.coloradofairplan.com/consumercoverageresources

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Status current as of access date; re-verify coverage terms.

 

Ep0-04  ·  S5 Acute Climate Hazard   

Large wildland-urban-interface exposure concentrated in Colorado Springs / Front Range.

Figure

>51,000 homes in wildfire hazard zones

Data-as-of

2024 mapping

Source

Colorado State Forest Service wildfire risk mapping

Source date

2024

Source URL

https://csfs.colostate.edu/wildfire-mitigation/colorados-wildland-urban-interface/

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Verify CSFS mapping link.

 

Ep0-05  ·  S6 Chronic Climate Stress  

Greeley experiencing chronic heat-day increase (not an acute event).

Figure

~+142% days over 94 F

Data-as-of

~30-yr trend (1990s–2020s)

Source

Climate Central / regional climate records (per Ep 0 fact-check)

Source date

2023-2024

Source URL

https://climatecheck.com/colorado/greeley

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Confirm exact baseline window + Climate Central link.

 

See Also:

  • McKinsey Global Institute. Global real estate market value exceeds $630 trillion, larger than global stock and bond markets combined.

  • NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2025 property damage data: inland events exceed coastal damage for first time in recorded history; >$100B in annual losses.

  • Heitman & Urban Land Institute. 2025 guidance: institutional investors incorporating climate costs adjust year-one operating expenses upward 8-14% relative to TTM financials.

  • National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). 2025 Operating Cost Report: high-exposure climate zones show 31% insurance growth (36 months) vs. 12% in lower-exposure zones.

  • First Street Foundation. Property-level climate risk assessment data covering flood, wildfire, heat, and compound risk exposure.

  • Insurance Information Institute. Property insurance premium trends: 2019-2024 average increases 18-25% nationally; flood-exposed markets 40-80%.

Brief 1 — Why Climate Risk Is an Underwriting Variable

Ep1-01  ·  S1 Insurance Repricing   

Structural P/C underwriting losses signal premium repricing across markets.

Figure

$15.2B U.S. underwriting losses

Data-as-of

FY 2023

Source

AM Best 2023 Annual U.S. P/C Report

Source date

2023

Source URL

https://www.carriermanagement.com/news/2024/07/26/264765.htm

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Underwriting losses, not catastrophe losses. Verify AM Best link.

 

Ep1-02  ·  S1 Insurance Repricing   

Deal-level insurance repricing on an unchanged 80-unit Mid-Atlantic portfolio.

Figure

$180K → $450K (~16%/yr; ~$4.9M value erosion)

Data-as-of

2017 – 2023

Source

CRREI deal-level case study (first-party)

Source date

2024

Source URL

N/A — first-party modeled case

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Modeled/illustrative case (B2B methodology note); ~$4.9M at going-in cap.

 

Ep1-03  ·  S2 Credit & Mortgage Markets   

GSEs dominate the mortgage market; climate underwriting transmits to prices.

Figure

~70% of U.S. mortgage market

Data-as-of

2024

Source

FHFA oversight reporting; Fannie Mae climate research

Source date

2024

Source URL

https://www.fhfa.gov/blog/insights/incorporating-climate-related-risks-into-governance

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Exit-cap impact (25–75 bps) is modeled. Verify FHFA link.

 

Ep1-04  ·  S4 Valuation & Appraisal Gap   

Millions of properties carry flood exposure outside FEMA designations.

Figure

>3.2M properties (later vintages: 4M+ outside SFHA / 6M unaccounted by FEMA)

Data-as-of

2020 – 2024

Source

First Street Foundation — First National Flood Risk Assessment

Source date

2020-2024

Source URL

https://assets.firststreet.org/uploads/2020/06/first_street_foundation__first_national_flood_risk_assessment.pdf

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Confirm 3.2M vintage; current First Street figures are 4M+/6M.

 

Ep1-05  ·  S5 Acute Climate Hazard  

FEMA flood-map backlog leaves high-risk properties with outdated designations.

Figure

Unmapped exposure quantified by First Street

Data-as-of

2023

Source

FEMA NFIP data; First Street Foundation

Source date

2023

Source URL

https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance

Accessed

Jun 2026

 

See Also:

  • FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Risk Rating 2.0 implementation data; updated flood zone maps affecting 8-12% of US properties.

  • Marsh McLennan. 2025 Property Insurance Market Report: Gulf Coast multifamily showing 14% compound annual growth rate in premiums over 4 years for wind/flood exposure.

  • Insurance Information Institute. Flood-exposed markets: +40-80% premium increases; wildfire zones: +50%+ increases.

  • British Insurance Brokers Association. UK flood insurance: Properties in risk postcodes face 40-150% premium increases; insurers withdrawing from high-risk zones.

  • German Insurance Association (GDV). Post-2021 flood insurance repricing: premiums doubled or tripled in affected regions.

  • Moody's & S&P (Credit Rating Agencies). 2024-2025 guidance: property risk models now include climate exposure as primary factor; investment grade downgrades underway.

Brief 2 — Building a Climate-Adjusted Pro Forma — Houston Class B Multifamily

Ep2-01  ·  S1 Insurance Repricing  

Houston multifamily insurance well above national norms; carriers selective.

Figure

>$1,200/unit/yr; Texas >20% YoY multiple years

Data-as-of

2026

Source

NAA Premium Pulse

Source date

2026

Source URL

https://naahq.org/news/premium-pulse-national-multifamily-insurance-cost-acceleration

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Asset: Houston 184-unit Class B, Harris County. Verify NAA link.

 

Ep2-02  ·  S2 Credit & Mortgage Markets   

Lender covenant tightening + utility cost shock add DSCR pressure.

Figure

CenterPoint +38% utility rate increase

Data-as-of

2024-2025

Source

CenterPoint Energy rate filings (per brief)

Source date

2025

Source URL

[https://tccfui.org/centerpoint-to-increase-electric-rates-to-pay-for-system-restoration/

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Confirm filing/approval date + PUCT docket link.

 

Ep2-03  ·  S5 Acute Climate Hazard   

Repeated federal disaster declarations; storm recurrence intervals shortened.

Figure

7 federal disaster declarations since 2017; 100-yr storm now ~25-yr

Data-as-of

2017 – present; Atlas 14 revision

Source

FEMA disaster declarations; NOAA Atlas 14

Source date

2018 (Atlas 14) / 2026 access

Source URL

https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/noaa-updates-texas-rainfall-frequency-values

Accessed

Jun 2026

Caveat

Atlas 14 Texas published 2018; declarations cumulative. Verify links.

 

See Also:

  • Heitman & Urban Land Institute. 2025 Guidance: institutional investors adjusting year-one operating expenses upward 8-14% relative to TTM financials based on climate exposure.

  • National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC). 2025 Operating Cost Report: high-exposure zones 31% insurance growth vs. 12% lower-exposure zones (36-month trailing).

  • Marsh McLennan. 2025 Property Insurance Market Report: Gulf Coast multifamily segment shows 14% compound annual growth rate in premiums over 4 years.

  • NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Atlas 14 rainfall frequency update: Harris County (Houston) one-percent storm depth increased approximately 20%.

  • NOAA. Grid reliability degradation post-Winter Storm Uri (2021); Houston area reliability materially declined.

  • FEMA. 100-year floodplain map data; updated rainfall estimates showing expanded flood zones.

  • Insurance carrier non-renewal trends in Gulf Coast multifamily market; regional specialty writers exiting high-risk zip codes.

  • Building science: Roof (composite shingle, 20-year design life), HVAC condenser (12-15 year life), drainage infrastructure end-of-life projections under climate stress loads.