Southwest Florida Waterfront Market Remains Strong as Buyers Move Past Hurricane Concerns

Written by:

Rudi Davis

Date:

05 Nov 2025

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Despite repeated hurricanes and widespread attention to Florida’s storm risks, waterfront property buyers in Southwest Florida continue to show notable resilience, according to Samantha Hoagland Corrochano. The Vice President and Broker Associate at The Dellatore Real Estate Company, who specializes in Gulf access properties in Bonita Springs, reports that hurricane fears are not stopping transactions as often assumed.

Market Reality vs. Perception

“Florida people forget,” Corrochano explained, capturing the reality of her market. “You go out on your boat, like a week later, and the skies are crystal clear and the water is bright blue. I mean, you forget like that. You just forget. You look at it and think, ‘This is great. Who cares? We’ll take it.’”

Corrochano, who holds an MBA and has worked in Southwest Florida real estate for nearly a decade, has seen how quickly buyer attitudes rebound after storms. Her experience suggests that hurricane risks are not fundamentally changing buyer behavior in coastal markets as much as many believe.

The Hurricane Impact in Practice

The region has faced major storms, including Hurricane Ian, which caused significant flooding, followed by Helene and Milton. However, Corrochano points out that storm impact varies widely by property type and elevation. Many older homes built at four-foot elevation experienced flooding, but this has led to new opportunities rather than a market standstill.

“I have a lot of those homes under contract that are renovated actually,” she said. “People have bought them and said, ‘Listen, we’re going to put the money in that we need to put into them. We’re going to live in them. If it floods again, we’ll figure it out after that.’ And then others are buying them to tear them down and build big, fancy houses.”

This practical attitude highlights a market where buyers factor storm risks into their decisions but remain undeterred.

Buyer Behavior Patterns

Corrochano’s observations show that hurricane concerns influence different buyer groups in distinct ways. Cash buyers, who make up most of her clientele, tend to be especially resilient to storm-related hesitation. Purchasing without financing eliminates some complications related to insurance and flood zone requirements.

“Storms have certainly affected buyer mindset. They’ve also affected seller hesitancy,” Corrochano acknowledged. She emphasized that this mostly affects the timing of deals rather than reducing overall demand.

Market Dynamics at Work

Corrochano’s analysis points to a market where specific location factors outweigh broad regional worries. Bonita Springs, located between Naples and Fort Myers, benefits from what she calls a “bubble” effect, with waterfront properties holding strong appeal despite storm risks.

Limited inventory of quality waterfront homes and ongoing migration to the region mean buyers are willing to accept hurricane risks as part of living in a desirable coastal area.

Looking Ahead

Corrochano believes that while hurricanes cause short-term disruptions, the core attraction of Southwest Florida’s waterfront lifestyle remains strong. This resilience challenges common assumptions about how climate risks will change coastal real estate markets, particularly in luxury segments dominated by cash buyers.

Her insights reveal a market where buyers are becoming more informed about risk, rather than avoiding it entirely. This suggests that coastal real estate markets may be more adaptable to climate challenges than often assumed.