Coastal multifamily developers, owners expect huge jump in insurance costs

Multifamily developers in coastal areas are expecting big increases in insurance costs this year, according to a report by Yardi Matrix.

In Texas and Florida, where Hurricane Ian caused $50 billion in damage last year, insurance costs are nearly 50% higher than in 2022. Some property owners could face far higher increases, though.

An executive with the largest affordable developer in Florida is bracing for 200% to 300% price spikes, according to a report by Multifamily Dive. Such great leaps in insurance costs threaten new development and property sales, Yardi Matrix says.

Yardi Matrix noted that increases in construction costs from inflation, labor, and supply chain issues along with the growth in property values are driving higher insurance costs.

Yardi Matrix added: Not only are costs increasing but insurers are covering less wind limit on replacement costs with large increases in deductibles, new exclusions for damages such as mold or flood endorsements, and limits on payouts. That forces property owners to layer wind on top of other policies to reach the replacement cost values required by lenders.

Across the country, multifamily rents have skyrocketed. Year-over-year rents are up by double digits in nine of the top 30 markets, while national YoY rent growth is up 6.3%. Emerging from the pandemic, a perfect storm of migration, enhanced government stimulus and a hot housing market, among other factors, has enabled this extremely strong growth.