Before You Make an Offer: Flood, Wind and Wildfire Numbers for Six South Florida Cities

Price and location are only part of a purchase. Before you offer on a South Florida home, check how exposed it is to flooding, wind and, in some places, wildfire. Redfin publishes climate data from First Street Foundation for each city, and the numbers vary widely. Here is what they show for six markets.

How to read these numbers

Redfin's climate section reports the share of properties likely to be severely affected by a hazard over the next 30 years. These are modeled estimates for a whole city, not a forecast for a single address. A home on high ground in a high risk city can fare differently from a low lying home in a low risk city.

Flood risk

In Miami Beach, Redfin rates flood risk as extreme, with 98 percent of properties, or 9,432, likely to be severely affected over 30 years. In Aventura it is rated major at 92 percent, or 1,307 properties. In Fort Lauderdale it is rated moderate at 87 percent, or 22,330 properties, and Redfin says the risk is increasing faster than the national average.

Plantation is rated moderate at 29 percent, or 1,546 properties, also rising faster than the national average. Davie is rated minor but still shows 49 percent, or 2,638 properties, with risk increasing faster than the national average. Weston is rated minor at 11 percent, or 761 properties.

Wind risk

Redfin rates wind risk as extreme in all six cities, with 100 percent of properties at risk of a severe wind event over 30 years in Miami Beach, Aventura, Davie, Weston, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale. Hurricanes are the main cause. Redfin lists the number of properties with some wind exposure as 55,214 in Fort Lauderdale, 28,721 in Davie, 26,045 in Plantation and 20,239 in Weston.

Wildfire risk

Wildfire is not what most people expect in South Florida, but Redfin rates Weston's risk as major, with 88 percent of properties, or 17,853, having some exposure. Davie is moderate at 28 percent, or 8,106 properties, and Plantation moderate at 13 percent, or 3,424. Miami Beach and Aventura are rated minimal or minor.

What to do with this information

First, find the flood zone for the exact address and ask for an elevation certificate if one exists. Second, get insurance quotes for wind and flood before you finalize an offer, because the cost can change the monthly budget. Third, ask the seller about past claims, repairs and any water intrusion.

For a condo, ask about the building's master policy, the deductible for wind damage and the reserve funding for structural items. A guide by REALTOR Mary Gallo, published October 19, 2026, says insurers now look closely at milestone inspection results and reserve funding when they write or renew association policies.

Use a good home inspection

A licensed inspector can check the roof, windows, doors, drainage and the condition of the air conditioning and electrical systems. Ask about impact windows, roof age and tie downs, since these features often matter to insurers. Ask your insurance agent which features qualify for a lower premium.

Bring it into the negotiation

Redfin's September 2026 data show a sale to list ratio of 93.1 percent in Aventura, 93.2 percent in Miami Beach and 94.7 percent in Fort Lauderdale. When an inspection or insurance quote uncovers a real issue, that room to negotiate can be used for a credit, a repair or a lower price.

Do not treat these figures as a reason to avoid a city. Treat them as a checklist item. A well chosen, well maintained, properly insured home can make sense in any of these markets, and a poor choice can be expensive in all of them.

Source: Redfin housing market pages for Miami Beach, Aventura, Davie, Weston, Plantation and Fort Lauderdale, climate sections using First Street Foundation data, September 2026. Mary Gallo, REALTOR, October 19, 2026. Viewed October 21, 2026.

If you're looking to buy, sell, or invest in South Florida, Dean's the one for all your real estate needs.

Dean Isenberg, call 305-929-DEAN (305-929-3326), toll-free 833-ONE-DEAN (833-663-3326), or visit ONEDean.com