Buying a home is a big investment, so it’s smart for potential buyers to consider the cost of home maintenance and repairs. But they need to think about more than just annual upkeep, they should also consider the potential for something worse: a natural disaster. Fortunately, according to a new survey, they are. In fact, the survey found 69 percent of homeowners said they took the risk of a natural disaster into account when buying their house. Similarly, 61 percent said they fear a disaster could destroy their home. But while homeowners and buyers are clearly concerned about the risks their home may face due to extreme weather and storms, few are confident they know what to do. Among respondents, just 7 percent said they believe their homes are fully prepared for a disaster and 11 percent said they’re not even sure they understand the risks in their area. Still, one in three Americans said they’d buy in an at-risk area, as long as the house came with a deep discount. (source)
