Podcast Summary:

All Of It – “How Climate Change Changes Homeownership Choices”
Host: Alison Stewart (with guest host David Furst)
Date: October 13, 2025
Guests:

• Ron Lieber, NYT “Your Money” columnist
• Tara Siegel Bernard, NYT personal finance reporter

Overview

This episode explores how climate change is reshaping the decision-making process around homeownership and renting. Drawing from their New York Times guide, “How to Shop for a Home That Won’t Be Upended by Climate Change,” guests Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard discuss why and how consumers should account for new types of risk—flood, fire, water scarcity, and insurance availability—when buying, renting, or maintaining a home. Listener questions reveal the complexity, urgency, and deeply personal dimension of these choices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Fears Driving the Reporting

[02:02–03:34]

• Ron Lieber shares that “intense personal fear” about climate risk and its impact on his home and financial security motivated this project.
  • Quote: “A pretty decent chunk of my net worth is in that Park Slope apartment. …Who would want my apartment if Sandy to the 10th power came and knocked out all of New York City electricity for six months?” – Ron Lieber [02:12]
• Both he and Tara saw a gap: no comprehensive guide existed for prospective homeowners regarding climate risks.

2. Real-Life Examples: Sacrificial Spaces

[03:44–05:00]

• Tara Siegel Bernard recalls reporting on post-Hurricane Sandy damage in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
  • Quote: “She had what she called a sacrificial space. Like, she had to, you know, basically sacrificed the entire first floor of her home…to ensure that this wouldn’t happen again.” – Tara Siegel Bernard [04:37]
• Explanation of ‘sacrificial spaces’—rooms intentionally left unfinished to absorb damage in future floods.

3. Understanding and Diversifying Climate Risk

[05:00–05:59]

• Assessing and managing personal risk is now vital; defining what “safe” means varies.
  • Quote: “It can be different by the block. …Whether your risk is simply too high.” – Ron Lieber [05:25]
• Diversification, as used here, is not about buying many homes, but carefully choosing where to live based on a range of climate risks.

4. Resources for Assessing Risk

[06:32–08:53]

• FEMA maps offer one metric, but are imperfect; digital real estate tools (Redfin, Zillow, First Street) now include flood/fire risk data.
• Quote: “There’s a large percentage of floods that happen to homes that aren’t on the flood maps. … Even that is not a fail safe.” – Tara Siegel Bernard [06:56]
• Both recommend flood insurance—even for those not strictly in FEMA flood zones, as private and public options exist, though costs may be high.

5. Water Security & Drought

[10:29–12:57]

• Listeners asked about the downside of water scarcity (e.g., dried-up wells in Vermont).
  • Assess your water source: is it a well or municipal supply? Ask to see recent inspections and talk to neighbors.
  • Consider future drought projections and nearby water users (e.g., industry).
  • Quote: “If you’re in Vermont, there’s a decent chance your water may come from a well. And so…you’re going to want to ask for the most recent inspection papers from the well. …Talk to neighbors about whether they’ve had issues.” – Ron Lieber [11:43]
• Home buying must now include long-term resource planning.

6. The Deepening Burden for Buyers and Renters

[12:57–15:17]

• The emotional and logistical toll of researching climate risk is acknowledged:
  • Quote: “It’s a lot. …This may well be the biggest investment you will ever make.” – Ron Lieber [13:13]
• Renting may be an increasingly wise option; renters must also check insurance, as standard policies often exclude flood and may need riders.
  • Quote: “As a renter, you still need to consider your risks. And for renters, it’s going to be your belongings…you may need to get, you know, additional coverage or a special rider…” – Tara Siegel Bernard [14:09]

7. Rising Insurance Hurdles

[15:17–17:12]

• In high-risk flood or fire areas, securing insurance is getting tougher (or costlier):
  • Work with independent agents who track which companies are offering policies locally.
  • States like California and Louisiana have seen major insurers pull out—trend is spreading.
  • Quote: “It’s best to pair with an independent agent…who might be able to find a policy for you.” – Tara Siegel Bernard [16:17]

8. Disclosure Rules and ‘Buyer Beware’

[17:12–18:40]

• Disclosure laws regarding flood history, defects, and risk vary widely by state.
  • Only a minority of states require full disclosure; NY is not one.
  • Ask many questions, and work closely with real estate agents attuned to the area.
  • Quote: “Most home sellers generally disclose all their known material defects …and a majority of states require them to disclose flood risks.” – Tara Siegel Bernard [18:01]

9. Where Is It “Safe” to Buy?

[19:03–21:17]

• There are no truly “safe” places, only safer ones.
  • Midwest (e.g., Detroit), western Massachusetts, interior Maine, and parts of upstate NY rank lower for catastrophic risk but may have other drawbacks (cold, economic factors).
  • Emotional risk matters: “What actually scares you most?”
  • Quote: “There really isn’t anywhere that is 100% safe, but you may be able to get a lot safer than you are right now.” – Ron Lieber [21:10]
• Decision-making involves weighing personal feelings about drought, heat, flood, or fire.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Intense personal fear. I have been… a homeowner, a pretty decent chunk of my net worth is in that Park Slope apartment.”
  – Ron Lieber [02:02]

• “She had… a sacrificial space. …She had to basically sacrifice the entire first floor of her home…”
  – Tara Siegel Bernard [04:37]

• “There’s a large percentage of floods that happen to homes that aren’t on the flood maps.”
  – Tara Siegel Bernard [06:56]

• “If you’re in Vermont…ask for the most recent inspection papers from the well. …Talk to neighbors about whether they’ve had issues…”
  – Ron Lieber [11:43]

• “This may well be the biggest investment you will ever make…How can you not ask the questions?”
  – Ron Lieber [13:13]

• “There really isn’t anywhere that is 100% safe, but you may be able to get a lot safer than you are right now.”
  – Ron Lieber [21:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:02] Ron Lieber on personal fear and financial risk as a homeowner
• [04:37] Tara Siegel Bernard on “sacrificial spaces” post-Hurricane Sandy
• [06:36] Evaluating flood risk with public and private data
• [11:43] How to assess water security in drought-prone regions
• [13:13] Emotional and practical burden of modern homebuying
• [15:43] Insurance challenges in high-risk zones
• [17:32] Disclosure laws for climate-related risk
• [19:03] Where is “safe” to live?
• [21:10] Nowhere is 100% safe, but some places are safer

Tone

The episode balances journalistic rigor, personal resonance, and pragmatic advice. The hosts and guests are direct, empathetic, and thorough, offering actionable steps while acknowledging the emotional and mental tax of planning for an uncertain climate future.

Takeaway

Climate change has become inescapably central to the homebuying and renting experience. The most prudent move—whether you own, rent, or are considering a move—is to constantly educate yourself, ask hard questions, and remain flexible, since no place is immune. This episode serves as a primer for anyone seeking to safeguard both home and financial future in an age of climate upheaval.