Yahoo Finance Could This Developer's Hurricane Resistant Housing Save Florida Real Estate?
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a hurricane slamming into a new real estate development on the Florida coast? Your assumption would be perfectly reasonable if you envision total devastation and multimillion-dollar hurricane claims. However, an 86-unit community called Hunters Point in Cortez, Florida was built to defy those expectations.
Hunters Point was meticulously designed by its developer, Marshall Gobuty, to withstand hurricanes that would typically devastate coastal real estate. In line with his theme of over-engineering, Hunters Point is also a net-zero community that contributes excess power back into the energy grid. Hunters Point has already survived hits from two hurricanes since opening its doors to residents in 2022.
Perhaps most significantly, Gobuty's development company, Pearl Homes, has the capability to construct properties to such high standards that residents can obtain home insurance. While this may not seem noteworthy to those unfamiliar with Florida, nearly every homeowner in the state is acquainted with the Sunshine State's insurance crisis. However, achieving this feat was no easy task for Gobuty.
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During the construction phase, insurers withdrew from the project while. Nevertheless, Gobuty secured insurance coverage for his community by showcasing the additional measures his team implemented during construction. He went above and beyond the building code requirements and equipped Hunters Point with several features specifically engineered to make them hurricane-resistant.
One notable innovation is the use of ground-floor vents, allowing water to flow through the property during storm surges instead of accumulating inside and causing interior damage. Additionally, full-home metal straps increase wind resistance by anchoring homes in Hunters Point to their foundation. These innovations have caught the attention of Insurers, signaling that Gobuty's approaches may foreshadow the future.
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He is among the first developers to recognize that merely meeting existing building codes is no longer adequate. Many of these codes were written decades ago when Florida was not at year-round risk of extreme weather events and massive hurricanes due to climate change. Gobuty expanded on his philosophy during a recent interview with Business Insider, saying, "They're covering us because of the way we built our homes."
Each home in Hunters Point is elevated 16 feet above sea level, providing ample protection against most storm surges. They also feature insulation boards that measure 2"x 6" instead of the industry standard 2"x 4". This modification allows builders to create a much more rigid structure. According to Gobuty, "It creates resiliency, strength, and as well keeps this envelope tight."
Gobuty expanded further on his vision during the Business Insider interview, saying," People say they build to code, and my answer is ‘Great.' Building over code and doing things that haven't been done — that's something to be proud of." The company spent 18 months putting its prototype houses through various testing and weather simulations before settling on a final design. If early indications are anything to go by, Gobuty's commitment to "overbuilding" is paying off.
Hunters Point had 20 residents when Hurricane Ida smashed into the Florida coast in 2023. It produced an incredibly high storm surge that flooded the area. However, Hunters Point was spared, thanks to its 16 feet of ground clearance. One resident who rode out the storm told the Wall Street Journal, "We woke up the next morning just like normal. It's a d*** strong house."
It's also worth noting Hunters Point had only constructed three units when Hurricane Ian hit in 2022. That storm destroyed 5,000 homes, but the Hunters Point properties were not among them. In addition to Hurricane resistance, Hunters Point homes are net-zero and independently powered through a hybrid solar and battery power source provided by a German startup company.
That means Hunters Point homeowners have no utility bills. Perhaps more importantly, it means they won't be stuck waiting days or weeks for local utility companies to restore power after a storm. They can also probably get home insurance for a lot cheaper than their contemporaries who don't live in Hunters Point. That might be the single biggest bonus of being a Hunters Point homeowner.
It's obvious Gobuty is proud of what his company has put together. He summed his company's efforts by telling Business Insider, "We built these homes to be able to deal with the climate crisis." Insurers, developers, and local governments will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on Hunters Point. Gobuty's project could be the way forward for home construction during climate change.
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