Fear of hurricanes, high housing costs, and prohibitive insurance premiums are driving coastal Florida residents north to Atlanta. Real estate agents and developers are happy, but the region is already strained by growth.
"A wave of (Florida) transplants (is) migrating to metro Atlanta from coastal communities, driven by soaring insurance premiums, devastating weather and a volatile real estate market that has priced much coastal housing beyond the reach of average workers."
"This geographic shift is not just being felt inside the city. In fact, every part of metro Atlanta is absorbing a notable share of coastal transplants."
"Georgia State University insurance professor Martin Grace said the uptick in severe hurricane activity in recent years has produced widespread insurance-company re-evaluation of risk levels and loss protection throughout East Coast and Gulf of Mexico communities."
"With insurance companies withdrawing from the Florida market and the remaining companies raising rates to shocking levels, Florida legislators attempted to provide government relief for strapped homeowners, only to discover the loss estimates driving insurance company premiums were accurately calculated...An attempt earlier this year by the Florida Legislature to stem the rising tide of premiums did little to reduce rates."
"Miami's loss is Atlanta's gain, especially for real estate agents like Clifton Gerring, an agent with Jenny Pruitt & Associates who has enjoyed a lot of referrals from his Florida transplants to friends and family who are joining them in metro Atlanta...The problems in coastal communities are also helping to stabilize the Atlanta area by making retirees reconsider their beachcomber dreams."
FULL STORY: Insurance-scarred Florida emigres stream to Atlanta

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

HSR Reaches Key Settlement in Northern California City
The state’s high-speed rail authority reached an agreement with Millbrae, a key city on the train’s proposed route to San Francisco.

Washington State Legislature Passes Parking Reform Bill
A bill that would limit parking requirements for new developments is headed to the governor’s desk.

Missouri Law Would Ban Protections for Housing Voucher Users
A state law seeks to overturn source-of-income discrimination bans passed by several Missouri cities.
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