U.S. homeowners expect extreme weather to damage their homes: Kin

U.S. homeowners are concerned about climate and insurance costs, according to Kin's Homeownership Trends Report. 

Ninety-three percent of respondents said they expect extreme weather events, driven by changing climate, to damage their homes over the next three years. Nearly half, 49%, are considering moving due to climate concerns. 

Kin's Homeownership Trends Report was conducted online Dec. 10, 2025 by Pollfish, which polled a nationally representative sample of 1,000 American adults between the ages of 18 and 65 who currently own a single-family home in the U.S.

Sixty-eight percent of the respondents said they expect the frequency of extreme weather events in their area to increase in 2026 compared to last year.

The Digital Insurance Predictions 2026 survey also shows the vast majority of insurance professionals are expecting an increase in the frequency and severity of major climate events this year.

The survey was fielded online, October to December 2025, among 100 insurance industry professionals. Respondents represent a range of organization types including agencies/brokerages, 33%, P&C carriers, 18%, multi-line carriers, 15%, health insurance carriers, 12%, and life insurance carriers, 7%.

The survey results suggest if there is an increase in the frequency and severity of major climate events this year, as expected, the vast majority anticipate this to negatively impact the insurance industry. 

The respondents from the Kin Homeownership Trends Report said they would avoid moving to certain states: Florida, 58%, and California, 52%, were the most common states homeowners say they would avoid moving to because of extreme weather risks.

Sean Harper, founder and CEO of Kin, said in a statement: "Elevated inflation was one of the big drivers of premium increases in previous years, but inflation is now occurring at a more predictable pace. Substantial premium increases were the story in 2024, but they weren't the story in 2025 except in a few places like California. And they won't be the story in 2026. … Since prices won't be fluctuating as much in 2026, shopping behavior is going to be driven by customer service.

More insights:

• Forty-nine percent of respondents said the cost of insurance is weighing "very heavily" or "seriously" on home purchase decisions.
  
• Forty-three percent of the respondents said they expect their home insurance premiums to increase between 1 to 5% this year. 
  
• Ninety-percent of respondents said they plan to switch home insurance providers.