Loan application defects increased due to the wildfires of 2018 that ravaged California. Additionally, reconstruction costs have the potential to reach $8.5 trillion from the over 30.7 million homes that are at risk across the country, according to CoreLogic's 2019 Wildfire Risk Report.
Wildfires burned 8.8 million acres of land in 2018 alone — the sixth-highest total on record since the mid-1900s. In addition, the annual average of acres burned between 1970 and 1999 has more than doubled between the turn of the century and the present day. These trends are in direct correlation with climate change's impact. Younger generations take that into account when securing a loan and buying a house.
While all states face some risk of wildfire, that risk is highest for the 13 most westerly states, which are the most often affected. California led in total acreage burned last year with over 1.8 million, followed by Nevada's 1 million and Oregon's 897,262.
From Texas to California, these are the 15 most-at-risk metro areas with the highest wildfire reconstruction costs.
CoreLogic evaluated the combined number of single-family and multifamily residences at risk of wildfire damage by state, reconstruction cost, and associated losses from recent wildfires. It then ranked metro areas based on the combined values of high and extreme-risk residences.
No. 15 Houston, Texas
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $6.27 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 36,004
Ryan Conine - stock.adobe.com
No. 14 Salinas, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $6.39 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 11,314
Landscape in Fort Ord National Monument, Salinas, California
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No. 13 Redding, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $6.44 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 21,057
The Sundial Bridge, in Redding, California.
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No. 12 Santa Fe, N.M.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $7.28 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 23,546
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No. 11 San Antonio, Texas
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $8.43 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 30,696
River Walk in San Antonio Texas.
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No. 10 Colorado Springs, Colo.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $9.36 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 31,323
Aerial view to Pioneers museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado
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No. 9 Oxnard, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $10.17 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 19,555
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No. 8 Truckee, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $10.85 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 31,987
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No. 7 Denver Colo.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $15.32 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 49,734
Denver Cityscape Colorado. Downtown Denver Skyline and the Mile High Stadium. Colorado, United States.
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No. 6 San Francisco, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $16.32 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 32,174
View of colorful San Francisco row homes looking down a steep city street
Andy Konieczny/Focqus, LLC - stock.adobe.com
No. 5 Austin, Texas
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $16.35 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 536,984
a nice clear day by the lake in downtown Austin Texas
Brandon Seidel/Brandon Seidel - Fotolia
No. 4 Sacramento, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $27.5 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 68,056
Sacramento, California.
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No. 3 San Diego, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $35.81 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 75,096
San Diego, California, USA downtown city skyline.
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No. 2 Riverside, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $40.94 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 108,787
Twilight view of the city of Riverside, from Mount Rubidoux Park, in Riverside, California.
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No. 1 Los Angeles, Calif.
High- and extreme-risk reconstruction cost value: $71 billion Total high- and extreme-risk residences: 121,589
Aerial view of complex highway interchange in Los Angeles California.
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