Zillow has just put out a press release that estimates the location and number of homes that would be at risk of becoming underwater if sea levels continue to follow scientist's projections by the year 2100. This is speculative, but worth considering if you own or plan on owning a waterfront property or property in areas that would be highly affected.
Florida would be the biggest looser for obvious reasons, with approximately 12.6% of their total housing at risk for becoming underwater. But here in Washington we would have significant issues as well. Camano island would lose 992 homes, or about 9% of their housing. Hoquium in Greys Harbor County could lose up to 58% or more of their homes.
This is based on a recently published article in scientific journal Nature that estimates sea levels could rise as much as 6 feet by 2100 due to melting of Antarctic ice sheets. This is double previous projections, and a lot of things could happen between now and then. Still, when considering ocean waterfront or low-lying properties near the ocean or Puget Sound, people may start to factor in the long-term risk when making a property purchase and/or lifestyle decision that may affect them or their families in the future. Land-locked bodies of water, like Lake Washington, will have less risk and may even increase in value more.
The City of Seattle has put together a map based on a 2012 National Research Council report that uses 3 feet rise to show projected changes from a sea-level rise (that's half the other estimate). Obviously much less area would be affected. However much of the low-lying areas in the south-end of Seattle along the Duwamish waterways could be at serious risk, such as Georgetown and South Park, even at these lower level increased projections.
