Realtor.com listings now display 5 climate risk factors
Buyers can see heat, wind and air quality ratings in addition to the existing flood and wildfire ratings, which can “help reduce surprise costs.”
Key points:
- The search portal says the data can help buyer and seller clients make informed decisions when listing or purchasing a property.
- Realtor.com first introduced climate risk data in 2020 when it added flood risk to listings.
- The risk factor scales show both current climate risk and any changes to risk in 15 or 30 years, corresponding with a typical mortgage term.
Realtor.com is making it easier for homebuyers and sellers to make informed decisions based on a property's risk of experiencing severe climate events.
On March 13, the company announced it will include three new climate risk factor scores on property pages: heat, wind and air. Using a 1-10 scale, the portal will display current risk factors for a property as well as the expected change for each risk in 15 and 30 years, the length of a typical mortgage.
In 2020, Realtor.com became the first major home search portal to offer climate risk data when it began including flood risk information on property listing pages. It added wildfire risk in 2022, and with the latest additions, now provides buyers and sellers with a comprehensive picture of current and future climate risk.
All climate risk data is provided by First Street Foundation.
Climate risk on the minds of buyers — and insurers
The new tools come at a time when most buyers are weighing climate risk when shopping for a home. And with destructive climate events on the rise, some insurers are no longer offering homeowner policies in high-risk areas, or are sharply increasing insurance rates in those regions.
Climate risk data can help buyers weigh the benefits and potential downsides of buying a home with a higher risk factor.
What the risk scales show
Heat factor indicates how many days a property experiences a heat index at or above the local definition of a hot day, what the high temperature in the hottest month actually feels like, and how the heat index is expected to change in the future. According to Realtor.com, nearly a third of U.S. homes will experience "severe or extreme" heat this year.
Wind factor assesses property-level risks of being exposed to wind gusts exceeding 50 mph. Realtor.com estimates that around 18% of homes are at risk of hurricane wind damage in 2024.
Air factor measures poor air quality days, defined as an AQI above 100, which is expected to affect about 9% of U.S. homes this year.
How agents can use the data
While agents may be concerned that risk information could make it harder to close a deal, Realtor.com said the data will improve transparency and help agents provide their clients with accurate and actionable insights.
For buyer agents, the company said, offering the information to clients could help buyers avoid unknowingly purchasing a high-risk property, or enable them to decide whether they're willing to accept the risks.
And for listing agents, the data could give their sellers an opportunity to mitigate potential risks before putting the house on the market.
"It may also help reduce surprise costs related to insurance by helping buyer and seller clients perform better due diligence and plan accordingly," the Realtor.com website stated.