10 Cities Where Homeownership Could Be a Risky Investment

Sundrenched cities in the southeastern region of the United States and California are beautiful but could carry a lot of risks for homeowners. 

“With the increase in costs, interest rates and inflation, owning a home is now more expensive than ever,” said Christina Hsu, a real estate investor at Noblivest. “You also have to consider the ever-increasing occurrences of natural disasters such as storms, hurricanes, tornados, wind, earthquakes, fires, etc.”

In addition, ClaimGuide, a nonprofit that “bridges the gap between homeowners and insurance companies,” ranked cities across the United States based on their risk of extreme weather, crime rates, and home vacancies.

Here are the top cities where homeownership could be a risky investment. 

An estimated 98% of the homes in Houston are built on land susceptible to extreme heat and flood risk. Of those homes, 64% are prone to flooding within the next three decades. The tax rates also rise if the weather conditions aren’t good enough. 

“In Texas, median property taxes rose by 26% between 2019 and 2023,” Hsu said. “Nationwide, we find a whopping increase in home values by over 40% between 2019 and 2023. This is a risk to consider as home values continue to rise.”

Nearly all of the properties in San Bernadino are at risk of extreme heat, and 91% are in wildfire zones. According to World Population Review, a global population data nonprofit, San Bernadino is also listed among the top 20 most violent cities in the United States, with 1,291 incidents per 100,000 residents. 

Like many California cities on the list, Glendale is often in the path of the region’s most notorious wildfires. About 99% of the homes are at risk for wildfire activity, and only nine fire stations are within city limits. With 80, Glendale has been among the top 10 U.S. cities to issue a natural disaster declaration.

The Big Easy may be challenging for homeowners despite installing a $14.5 billion flood protection system after Hurricane Katrina. Nevertheless, 99% of the homes in New Orleans remain at risk of severe flooding within the next three decades. The median age of homes in the city is 62, leaving homeowners at a high risk for property damage. 

Over one in five homes or 21.4% of homes in Fort Lauderdale, are currently unoccupied. That doesn’t seem like a major factor until the city is at risk for extreme heat (100% of homes) and severe flooding (79%). Living next to an unoccupied home means no one is preparing for natural disasters, exposing your home to large debris and other communal damage from storms and floods. 

Watching waves hit luxury skyscrapers on television and in films may look cinematic, but not so much if you live in Miami. About 55% of the city’s homes are at risk of severe flooding within the next 30 years, and all homes (100%) are at risk for extreme heat. In addition, there are only 3.3 fire stations per 100,000 Miami residents, which could mean slower emergency response times and the potential for more property damage. 

The average home in Hollywood, Florida, was built in 1968 before regulators implemented modern safety codes. Like the other cities on this list, 56% of its homes are at risk of flooding, and 100% are at risk of extreme heat. With a home vacancy rate of 15.9%, protecting all homes from community storm damage is challenging. 

Crime is rampant in Louisiana’s capital, with an average of nearly 5,900 incidents of property crime per 100,000 residents. Baton Rouge reports the most crime of any city on the top 10 list. Nearly all homes are at risk of extreme heat, and only 34% are at risk for flooding within the next three decades. 

While St. Petersburg enjoys 361 days of sunshine a year, the city’s homes (100%) are at risk of extreme heat, and 47% face flood risks in the next 30 years. 

Touted as an “Urban Green Oasis,” all (100%) of the homes in Rancho Cucamonga bear the burden of being affected by a wildfire, 90% of homes face extreme heat, and 36% of homes are likely to be affected by flooding within the next 30 years.