Climate change is reshaping the way consumers think about home ownership. With more frequent and intense weather events like floods, wildfires, and heatwaves, over 80% of homebuyers are now considering climate risk factors when making purchasing decisions.[1]
To address this, Zillow has partnered with First Street, a provider of climate risk financial modeling, and is integrating comprehensive climate risk data into its for-sale property listings. This new feature provides homebuyers with critical data-driven information on five key climate vulnerabilities—flood, wildfire, wind, air quality, and heat—offering risk scores, interactive maps, and insurance recommendations directly on the listing pages.
Figure 1: Source Zillow introduces First Street’s comprehensive climate risk data on for-sale listings across the US
Disclosing climate risk data is not just a matter of transparency, it’s a critical step in addressing the consumer demand for more climate-conscious, responsible decision-making in the housing market. By making this climate data readily available, Zillow empowers homebuyers to more fully understand the scope of risks associated with a property, enabling them to make informed decisions, better prepare for potential challenges, and ultimately protect their long-term investments.
What sets Zillow apart is how it combines the climate risk data with actionable, tailored insurance recommendations. This unique approach further strengthens Zillow’s effort to guide homebuyers in assessing how climate change might impact their property’s long-term value, and demonstrates their commitment to making climate data not only informative, but also practical and accessible to all users.
By helping to standardize climate risk data, Zillow reinforces its focus on corporate responsibility and positions itself as a forward-thinking leader committed to addressing climate change and supporting long-term sustainability in the real estate industry.
If you are interested in reading more about corporate work to lower negative environmental impacts, please see other EP Insights from Terra Alpha here.
Photo: Huduser.gov (US Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Office of Policy Development and Research)