Florida homeowners are running out of time. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused over $100 billion in damage across the state, according to NOAA. Now, with hurricane season looming, the fight isn't just to buy a home—it's to keep it. The affordability crisis is colliding with a property insurance meltdown. Premiums in Florida have surged more than 40% over the past two years, according to the Insurance Information Institute, and several major insurers have pulled out of the state, leaving homeowners with fewer options and higher costs. Families are struggling to pay for upgrades that could save their homes—and their finances.

The Big Picture

The affordability crisis is colliding with a property insurance meltdown. Families are struggling to pay for upgrades that could save their homes—and their finances. Stronger roofs, impact-resistant windows, and energy-efficient retrofits can mean the difference between a home that weathers a storm and one that doesn't. But for many, the upfront cost is prohibitive. A new roof can run $10,000 to $30,000, and impact windows can add $15,000 or more. For a median-income family, that's a stretch without financing.

President Trump's recent executive order on mortgage credit access and his push to cap credit card rates are steps in the right direction. However, credit access must extend beyond the purchase. Homeowners need tools to invest in resilience. That's where Residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (R-PACE) financing comes in—a program that has already funded over 155,000 projects in Florida, totaling $3.9 billion. R-PACE allows homeowners to finance improvements through a property tax assessment, with payments spread over 20-25 years. But Biden-era regulations that took effect in early 2026 are creating confusion and delays, threatening to stall the program just when it's needed most.