Extreme Weather and Real Estate: A Case Study of the Jamaican Housing Market

Abstract

The damaging effects of extreme weather on residential real estate are concerning for many countries around the world. Results from combining hurricane and rainfall events with 16 years of data on sale prices of land, apartments and the value of mortgages across different localities in Jamaica reveal that the housing market should take urgent adaptation measures. While hurricanes play a role in reducing apartment prices, they do not affect residential housing prices and the value of existing mortgages. The study also demonstrates that extreme rainfall reduces the value of new mortgages. The results point to the importance of climate adaptation for the real estate market and property investment.