How Climate Risk is Reshaping Housing with Dr. Jeremy Porter
Thu Feb 05 2026
In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Dr. Jeremy Porter, Chief Economist and Head of Climate Implications Research at First Street Foundation, for a timely conversation on how climate risk is already reshaping housing, insurance, and mortgage affordability.
Drawing on years of peer-reviewed research and real-world data, Dr. Porter breaks down why insurance has become the most tangible way homeowners and buyers experience climate risk. From rapidly rising premiums and carrier exits to repeated disasters outside traditional FEMA flood zones, he explains how climate-driven risk is changing the true cost of homeownership—and why insurance now takes up a growing share of the average monthly mortgage payment.
The conversation explores how climate hazards like flooding, wildfire, wind, and extreme rainfall are becoming more frequent and widespread, impacting regions once considered “safe.” Dr. Porter also discusses climate-informed migration, the growing role of property-level risk data in real estate decisions, and why transparency—not avoidance—is key to serving homeowners responsibly.
For lenders, real estate professionals, and housing leaders, this episode offers practical insight into why climate risk belongs in modern risk assessment, how better data can support smarter decisions, and what the next five to ten years may hold for housing and affordability.
Lending Forward is the home for real conversations about the industry we love. Hear firsthand perspectives from mortgage professionals, real estate leaders, policymakers, and economists as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending.
So tell us—how are you lending it forward?
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In this episode of Lending Forward, host Hannah McManus sits down with Dr. Jeremy Porter, Chief Economist and Head of Climate Implications Research at First Street Foundation, for a timely conversation on how climate risk is already reshaping housing, insurance, and mortgage affordability. Drawing on years of peer-reviewed research and real-world data, Dr. Porter breaks down why insurance has become the most tangible way homeowners and buyers experience climate risk. From rapidly rising premiums and carrier exits to repeated disasters outside traditional FEMA flood zones, he explains how climate-driven risk is changing the true cost of homeownership—and why insurance now takes up a growing share of the average monthly mortgage payment. The conversation explores how climate hazards like flooding, wildfire, wind, and extreme rainfall are becoming more frequent and widespread, impacting regions once considered “safe.” Dr. Porter also discusses climate-informed migration, the growing role of property-level risk data in real estate decisions, and why transparency—not avoidance—is key to serving homeowners responsibly. For lenders, real estate professionals, and housing leaders, this episode offers practical insight into why climate risk belongs in modern risk assessment, how better data can support smarter decisions, and what the next five to ten years may hold for housing and affordability. Lending Forward is the home for real conversations about the industry we love. Hear firsthand perspectives from mortgage professionals, real estate leaders, policymakers, and economists as we cultivate transparency around the future of lending. So tell us—how are you lending it forward?