It’s hurricane season in Tampa Bay, which officially runs from June 1st to November 30th. Buyers often ask if they should buy a home in hurricane season, or if there are any implications of doing so.
Can a Named Storm Stop My Tampa Bay Closing?
If you are under contract to close and the National Hurricane Center declares a named storm, the chances are you will not be able to close until after the storm is no longer a threat to our area. Usually you can close 48-72 hours after the threat has passed. Storms are typically not a surprise and the standard As Is Florida sales/purchase contract already has provisions that dictate what happens if closing is delayed because of a storm threat. A storm won’t typicallty stop the closing, but it will delay it and the contract is specific on what happens in theses circumstances.
How Does A Storm Actually Impact Closing?
The issue is insurance. Insurance companies stop underwriting polcies if there is a named storm. Mortgages require a home to be insured so a mortgage will not be funded until insurance is bound (in place and active). Cash buyers theoretically can go ahead with the closing, but they would not have insurance in place until after the storm. The As Is contract protects cash buyers in the same way it protects those buying with a mortgage. If you can’t get insurance in these circumstances then closing will be delayed, regardless of how you are purchasing.
What Happens to Closing if there is a Named Storm?
When a named storm is declared and closing is impacted, the As Is contract Paragraph 18 G Force Majeure covers what happens. This allows all periods in the contract to be extended, if they are affected, for a reasonable time. They can be extended up to 7 days, until the threat has passed. This is conditioned on the Close Date not being extended more than 30 days out. If close is to extend past 30 days, then the buyer or seller can terminate and the buyer’s deposit will be returned.
What is the Home I’m Buying is Damaged By A Storm?
If a storm impacts the area and causes damage to the home then the As Is contract has provisions that cover how to proceed. In this case the seller is obligated for repairs up to 1.5% of the purchase price, and the Seller may make the repairs or give a credit (in escrow) to the buyer to make the repairs post close. If you are in this situation, I highly recommend you involve an attorney to review how to apply the contract to your specific challenges.
Is there a Benefit to Delaying my Tampa Bay Home Purchse Until After Storm Season?
The official hurricane season in Tampa Bay runs for 6 months, with the peak typically being August to November. Closings were impacted in 2017, 2022 and 2024, so while this is something to be prepared for, thankfully it’s not an every year occurrence. The As Is contract has provisions to protect the buyer and seller in such circumstances. Should you delay? I recommend you purchase a home when it is right for you and your finances. If you try to work around Tampa Bay’s hurricane season you will severely you limit your exposure to the market and circumstances may have changed by the time you get to it.
I do recommend you consider the impact of storms when looking for a home. Consider insurance requirements, flood zones, age and condition of the home, specific storm readiness features (eg. hurricane windows, shutters, flood barriers, well maintained trees) and get the right inspections.
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