Zillow Pulls Climate Risk Scores from Listings After Real Estate Agent Backlash

Zillow has removed climate risk data from its home listings. This move follows months of complaints from real estate agents. The company quietly took down the feature last month.The decision impacts over one million property listings. It reverses a major transparency push started in late 2024. According to TechCrunch, the change was made after formal objections from a major California listing service.

Why Agents Pushed Back Against Flood and Fire Risk Labels

The climate scores showed risks like flooding and wildfires. They were provided by a data firm called First Street. Agents argued the labels scared buyers away unfairly.Art Carter, CEO of the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), led the objection. He told the New York Times the scores hurt a property’s desirability. He also questioned the accuracy of the risk predictions for certain areas.This isn’t the first agent pushback. Last year, an agent in Massachusetts told the Boston Globe the data put “thoughts in people’s minds” that hurt sales. The pressure ultimately convinced Zillow to change course.

The Broader Fight Over Transparency in Real Estate

First Street’s climate models remain on other major sites. These include Realtor.com, Redfin, and Homes.com. The startup defends its data as peer-reviewed and scientifically validated.Matthew Eby, a First Street spokesperson, said removing clear risk information leaves buyers “flying blind.” He argued the risk simply becomes a post-purchase liability instead. The company says its models accurately predicted over 90% of homes burned in recent LA wildfires.The clash highlights a growing dilemma. Official government flood maps are often outdated. A Louisiana State University analysis found twice as many properties face real flood risk than federal maps show. The real estate and insurance industries are struggling to adapt to climate change realities.

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Zillow’s retreat shows the powerful influence of real estate agents on housing data. While the climate risk scores are gone, the physical risks from fires and floods remain. The search for balanced, transparent information for homebuyers continues.

Info at your fingertips

What were the Zillow climate risk scores?

They were risk labels for flooding, wildfires, and other climate hazards. The scores appeared directly on property listings. The data came from the analytics firm First Street.

Why did Zillow remove the climate data?

Real estate agents complained the scores were costing them sales. A major California listing service formally objected to the feature. Zillow then removed the data to appease these industry professionals.

Is the climate risk data still available anywhere?

Yes. First Street’s risk models still appear on Realtor.com, Redfin, and Homes.com. Zillow now only provides a small link to the First Street website for users who seek it out.

How accurate is First Street’s climate risk data?

First Street states its models are based on peer-reviewed science. The company points to its performance during the Los Angeles wildfires, where it identified most burned homes as high risk. Critics, including some agents, question predictions for areas with no recent history of flooding.

What was the real estate industry’s main concern?

Agents argued that displaying probability-based risk scared potential buyers. They believed it unfairly impacted property values and sales. They preferred buyers to seek out this information independently.