Kingston, Jamaica — 27 January 2026
Jamaica is assessing damage and disruption following Hurricane Melissa, as households, communities, and institutions continue the slow work of recovery. While the immediate focus remains on safety, repairs, and humanitarian response, the storm has once again drawn attention to deeper questions about housing security, land use, and resilience across the island.
For Jamaica’s real estate landscape, the moment is not about short-term market shifts or transactional opportunity. It is about exposure — which homes held up, which communities were most vulnerable, and how long-standing pressures around housing quality, affordability, and planning are increasingly intersecting with climate risk.
A reminder of housing vulnerability
Hurricane Melissa did not affect all Jamaicans equally. As with previous storms, the greatest impact has been felt in areas where housing stock is older, informally expanded, or poorly serviced by drainage and infrastructure. Roof loss…
