AREAA Report: U.S. AANHPI Community on Resiliency, Resourcefulness, Real Estate

From flooding to fires and more, numerous natural disasters have struck communities across the U.S. recently. These occurrences had profound impacts upon those affected, threatening the stability of their everyday lives – including the homes they live in. In the wake of devastation, it begs the question: What does resiliency and restoration amid trying times truly look like?

That was the primary focus of the latest REMAX sponsored State of Asia America Report from the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA). Each year, AREAA takes a data-driven approach to increasing visibility of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in the U.S by curating a comprehensive rundown of the current barriers and opportunities impacting housing for these specific cohorts. In its 2025 rendition, the report zeroed in on the ways in which members of AANHPI populations have had the American Dream impacted by natural disasters – and how they are rebuilding homes, towns and relationships stronger than ever before.

Since 2003, AREAA has remained dedicated to improving the lives of the AANHPI community through sustainable homeownership. The organization brings attention and action to matters that aid in their mission – something REMAX is helping further.

“REMAX has been a proud supporter of AREAA for many years – in part because both organizations are very much aligned in supporting homeownership opportunities for all,” Abby Lee, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Events for RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., shared in an AREAA press release.

“We’re also proud to sponsor the State of Asia America Report, because it’s the most comprehensive compilation of Asian American and Pacific Islander real estate, demographic and economic data available today. The insights in the report can help real estate agents elevate their knowledge and level of service, leading to an even better experience for their buyers and sellers.”

Climate-caused complications

Recent weather events have challenged the stability homeownership provides for individuals and families, including those from AANHPI populations.

“For AANHPI families, homeownership represents more than just a roof over their heads; it’s a legacy of resilience, a foothold in a land where they’ve built and rebuilt for generations. Yet, as climate-related disasters surge – a staggering 83% increase in frequency since 1980, with 2024 alone witnessing 27 separate billion-dollar events – the stability that homeownership provides is increasingly under threat,” the report says.

Certain storms have impacted areas with high populations of AANHPI individuals. For example, the 2023 wildfires in Lahaina on the Hawaiian island of Maui destroyed over 2,000 buildings – the majority residential homes. And the Eaton fires of 2025, which demolished multiple neighborhoods in Los Angeles, California, destroyed over 16,000 structures. During the Eaton fires, more than 12,000 AANHPI residents needed emergency alerts in languages other than English – but many did not receive them.

Building back homes and communities in the aftermath of these events has proved to be a long and complicated process for many. The report explains how the rising costs associated with home rebuilding present challenges – especially as more than 60% of AANHPI homeowners rely on mortgages to attain homeownership.

However, AREAA shines light on bright spots that have emerged in the wake of disaster – ones that serve as a reminder of the importance of community and value of compassion. Multiple AANHPI individuals in different locations have gone above and beyond to help heal their communities, playing vital roles in recovery efforts, offering free childcare for displaced families, implementing culture-preserving protocols in rebuilding initiatives and so much more.

Reflecting on past natural disasters, the report adds, “These events revealed complicated truths about AANHPI homeownership, pointing to the need for greater assistance and climate resilience. Beyond challenges in accessing in-language emergency information, many homeowners also face gaps in mortgage and insurance literacy, leaving them vulnerable to coverage shortfalls and financial instability when disaster strikes – often compounding the crisis with devastating effects.”

To learn more about the current state of housing for the AANHPI community across the U.S. – and for a regional breakdown of today’s homeownership trends – download the 2025 State of Asia America Report today.

Written by REMAX News