In the wake of natural disasters, some real estate investors are finding opportunity for profit.
So-called “disaster investors” are buying up properties damaged by floods, wildfires, hurricanes and other catastrophic events — and flipping them for a gain.
The practice is becoming increasingly common as the number of natural disasters climbs in the U.S, the Wall Street Journal reported. Last year saw the fourth-most natural disasters since 1980, causing an estimated $1 billion in damages, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI.)
A string of wildfires in the Los Angeles region over the last few years have caused extensive damage, including last year’s Woolsey Fire, which led to an estimated $5 billion in real estate damage.
Lakeland, Florida-based investor David Dey, 45, has invested in multiple properties following disasters, including Hurricanes Michael, Katrina and Harvey, which hit southern states including Louisiana, Texas and Florida.
“Any place that there’s a need, there’s an opportunity,” Dey told the Journal. “I’m not hoping for the storms, but they happen.”
Investors are driving up the number of sales in affected markets. After Hurricane Michael hit Panama City, Florida, last October, sales dipped but ultimately increased. In Santa Rosa, California, home sales jumped 17 percent in the five months following a 2017 fire, according to data from Zillow. Home prices, on the other hand, can be volatile.
In areas affected by disaster, homeowners often choose to sell their properties, and those without insurance may be forced to — sometimes at a low price.
While disaster investors argue they are helping communities rebuild, the practice has faced criticism from storm-affected residents who believe they are exploiting vulnerable communities.
“It’s insulting,” Scott McElroy, owner of a damaged property in Mexico Beach, Florida, told the Journal. “You’re already looking at monetary loss. And then somebody offers you some ridiculously low price.” [WSJ] — Sylvia Varnham O’Regan