My house stands at 6.13 feet above sea level. Scientists say that by the time I pay off my 30-year mortgage seas may rise by another 2.5 to 3 feet. Feedback loops in the melting Arctic and our insatiable addiction to fossil fuels make that timeline woefully unpredictable. 

But there are other things homeowners need to worry about even before the water begins to lap at our doorsteps: Exorbitant flood insurance costs, property devaluation, contamination of clean drinking water with saltwater intrusion. A rising water table will make our septic tanks inoperable. A warmer climate will affect agricultural productivity and usher in tropical diseases. Warmer waters will adversely affect marine ecosystems, making us more vulnerable to algal blooms. Rising seas will make our flood-insurance costs skyrocket, tax base vulnerable and property values unpredictable.