Zillow, the giant of U.S. online real estate searches, has quietly removed climate risk scores from over a million property listings, leaving prospective buyers with less information about potential hazards like flooding, fires, and extreme heat.
The move has sparked frustration among homebuyers and climate advocates alike, who had relied on these scores to make informed decisions.
A Quick Rewind: Why the Scores Mattered
Introduced in September 2024, Zillow’s climate risk scores aimed to highlight the chances of natural disasters affecting individual properties.
At the time, more than 80 percent of buyers said they considered climate risks when shopping for a home.
The scores were praised for giving homebuyers a clearer picture of long-term risks, especially in regions prone to flooding or wildfires.
Pressure From the Real Estate Industry
Just over a year after launching, the scores were removed in late November 2025, following complaints from real estate agents.
The California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), the largest MLS in the U.S., objected to the data’s accuracy, calling the statistics inconsistent.
CRMLS, which powers many Zillow listings and serves over 103,000 agents, argued that displaying flood probabilities could hurt property sales.
“Showing the likelihood of a home flooding within the next five years can greatly affect a property’s perceived desirability,” CRMLS CEO Art Carter told the New York Times.
He also questioned whether areas without flooding for decades could realistically face immediate risk.
A Shift From Scores to Links
Instead of the full climate risk scores, Zillow now directs users to First Street, the climate risk analytics startup that produced the original data.
While the link is still available, the easy-to-read, on-page warnings are gone.
First Street’s CEO, Matthew Eby, expressed concern:
“When buyers lack clear climate-risk information, they make the biggest financial decision of their lives while flying blind.
The risk doesn’t disappear; it just becomes a post-purchase problem.”
Zillow defended the change, emphasizing compliance with MLS requirements and a “consistent experience for all consumers,” but did not clarify why the original scores were removed from the platform itself.
Mixed Reactions From Buyers and Agents
Homebuyers voiced frustration online.
On Reddit, one user said, “Finding that info separately is much more difficult,” while another lamented, “Now I have to go back to county assessor websites to get the flood data. Buh-bye Zillow, hello Redfin!”
Meanwhile, agents welcomed the change, arguing that the scores caused unnecessary anxiety and could kill deals, particularly in Florida, South Carolina, and California.
Zillow insists that users can still access the data through the link and that FEMA flood zone information continues to be displayed on listings.
Why Climate Risk Data Remains Critical
Despite the controversy, Zillow’s chief economist Skylar Olsen pointed out that climate risks are increasingly important in home-buying decisions.
Buyers and agents need access to information about flooding, wildfires, extreme temperatures, and potential insurance implications.
“Healthy markets are ones where buyers and sellers have access to all relevant data,” Olsen said.
“This tool helps agents discuss climate risk, insurance, and long-term affordability with their clients.”
Other Platforms Keep Climate Data Visible
Zillow isn’t the only site showing climate risks—Redfin, Trulia, and Homes.com still include the scores in their listings.
For buyers wanting an at-a-glance view of potential hazards, Zillow’s shift from on-page scores to external links may complicate the search for safe, future-proof homes.
What Buyers Can Still Do
Home shoppers on Zillow can still enable the climate risk layer on the map view to explore flood, wildfire, wind, heat, and air-quality risks.
Clicking the link in a listing directs users to the First Street website, where property-specific scores remain accessible for free.
For now, buyers hoping for quick, integrated insights may need to juggle multiple sources or turn to other platforms to see climate risks at a glance.
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