Zillow highlights climate risks for real estate in the USA

As Florida residents face flooded homes from Hurricane Helene and others in Rodanthe, North Carolina watch massive beachfront homes washed into the ocean, Zillow is making it easier to find out if a home is at risk from climate-related disasters.

The retail real estate website will now show users flood, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality data for every home in the United States.

The type of data displayed depends on climate risk. For example, if you're looking at a home in a flood-prone area, Zillow will show the frequency and depth of flooding in that particular area. For wildfires, the company shows how many fires there have been recently and what the likelihood is that the home will be affected by fires in the next few decades.

This data, available on Zillow's map, is color-coded to show the different types of disasters, allowing people to check an area for all five risks at once. This data is also property-specific, allowing users to view an accurate home before making an offer.

The feature will roll out on the website and iOS app by the end of the year, with Android support coming in early 2025.

“Climate risks are now a critical factor in home buying decisions,” said Skylar Olsen, chief economist at Zillow. “Healthy markets are markets in which buyers and sellers have access to all relevant data for their decisions. As concerns grow about flooding, extreme temperatures and wildfires – and what that could mean for future insurance costs – this tool also helps agents educate their clients when discussing climate risk, insurance and long-term affordability.”

Zillow worked with First Street to provide forecasts and risk assessments. The company describes itself as a company specializing in financial modeling of climate risks and is providing all the data for Zillow's new feature. According to Zillow, 80% of home buyers consider climate risks when purchasing a home. This may include avoiding the increasing number of wildfires or making sure you have home insurance for a home that could potentially be hit by a hurricane.

According to Zillow, 16.7% of new listings in August 2024 were at high risk of wildfires and 12.8% were at high risk of flooding.