Impact of climate-fueled disasters seen in insurance, real estate data

By Robert Slavin

Excerpt from the article:

(December 11, 2025) "Climate has and will continue to influence property values (and eventually valuations, which come back to credit profiles) in Southwest Florida," said John Mousseau, vice chairman and chief investment officer of Cumberland Advisors, which is based in Sarasota, Florida. 

The major hurricanes that hit Florida in recent years "have had a dampening effect on real estate ranging from Sarasota to St. Petersburg," Mousseau said. Real estate is certainly down 15-20% from its peak in the Sarasota area and is stalled out in Ft. Myers as a holdover from Hurricane Ian, he said.

"The climate issues of the past four to five years have also slowed the migration to Florida from the Northeast," Mousseau said. "The drivers of that migration were no income tax in Florida, the ability to sell a house in the Northeast and pocket a sizable difference for a similar house in Florida, and the lower cost of living in Florida — assisted by the ability in many cases to work remotely. The boom in Florida real estate during COVID removed much of the house differential and the higher insurance and home owners association fees has raised the cost of living in Florida. The difference in state income tax is still there, of course, but the other two advantages are largely gone." 

Click here to read the full article on the The Bond Buyer website. 

John R. Mousseau, CFA
Vice Chairman | Chief Investment Officer
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